Fishing reports for April 16 30

[Randy Stinchcomb]

I think ALL you Skate Champs need to start "tagging" them, maybe you all are catching the same one over and over and over again

[Dave]

Originally Posted by Randy Stinchcomb

I think ALL you Skate Champs need to start "tagging" them, maybe you all are catching the same one over and over and over again

lol, all skates caught were various sizes, some were light tan while others were tan with white lines, the doggies had white circle spots on them. will post pics shortly.

[Randy Stinchcomb]

ok, well this raises a question then (remember, Im new to surf fishing)
Skates are primarily bottom feeders, right so maybe you all's baits are to close to the bottom

[Coop]

From the beach today, 1 short and quite a few big dogs.

[ffemtreed]

Originally Posted by Coop

From the beach today, 1 short and quite a few big dogs.

Spiny or Smoothies?

Reason I ask is aren't smoothies usually in the warmer water and thus a good sign the water is warming up.

[Sam]

Originally Posted by ffemtreed

Reason I ask is aren't smoothies usually in the warmer water and thus a good sign the water is warming up.

Yup!

[Pier_man0909]

Originally Posted by Randy Stinchcomb

I think ALL you Skate Champs need to start "tagging" them, maybe you all are catching the same one over and over and over again

I don't make enough money to tag every skate I catch! I don't think anyone here does!

[Coop]

Originally Posted by ffemtreed

Spiny or Smoothies?

Reason I ask is aren't smoothies usually in the warmer water and thus a good sign the water is warming up.

smoothies

[trimlc]

Making the trek down from Hampstead, MD tomorrow. Water temp looks good....where be the fish??I'll be out on the beach Friday midday, lowtide, huntin' for holes, through Saturday afternoon / eve. If any of you see a silver '01 Toyota Tundra w/ a matching cap, stop by and say hi!
Bringing a buddy and his wife (weather permitting), for her first surf fishin experience.
Mark

[jal7884]

Well I fished Sandy "no fish" Point on Wednesday. Beautiful day with light wind and sun. Got the Big skunk. Fished with bloods and artificials. never saw a fish landed the whole morning. Hopefully next time

Jeff

[Coop]

Originally Posted by trimlc

Making the trek down from Hampstead, MD tomorrow. Water temp looks good....where be the fish??I'll be out on the beach Friday midday, lowtide, huntin' for holes, through Saturday afternoon / eve. If any of you see a silver '01 Toyota Tundra w/ a matching cap, stop by and say hi!
Bringing a buddy and his wife (weather permitting), for her first surf fishin experience.
Mark

Stripers seem to be null and void but that will change very shortly...Make sure you toss out a rod ot two with clam, crab (you can use fishbites), or sand fleas. Black drum are starting to show up and should increase in numbers in a week and then will start tailing off quickly. It seems to be about a 2 or 3 week window (end of a April and beginning of May) of catching these fish and somewhere in the middle they can be plentiful. Talked to a guy who caught one a couple days ago. Very fun to catch and strong as an ox. I treid hard with 3 rods with clam yesterday and got zipp. I think you would here alot more caught, but most people are chucking bunker...blacks will not eat.

Good luck and catchem up!

[Mighty Quinn]

Coop.....No Skates? BTW my doggie was smooth as well.

[trowpa]

Originally Posted by Coop

Black drum are starting to show up and should increase in numbers in a week and then will start tailing off quickly. It seems to be about a 2 or 3 week window (end of a April and beginning of May) of catching these fish and somewhere in the middle they can be plentiful.

Coop - Unless I can squeeze out another quick run, i may not get down until May 9th -14th (extended spring fling trip!)- so is it your guess than that the Black drum will have arrived and be on their way out by May 9?? I'd sure like to hit it when they're around......keep your finger on the pulse and keep us posted!

[Coop]

MQ, not one skate, all big doggies...not sure which one is more of pain...the first doggie fooled me and thought I had a black until I started cranking the reel. Those blacks will fight tooth and nail once you start reeling them in.

Steve, I am new at this black drum fishing but it seems like in the past 2 years, the bite peaks around the beginning of May and tails off, but who knows for sure. One was caught a couple weeks ago, which I was amazed considering water temps were still pretty cool. I would think during the fling, some would be around. One good thing about the fling date is that the HOG stripers should be here.

Yesterday was the first day really trying for them, figuring my odds are far better right now for blacks then stripers. I pretty much set up 3/4 of my arsenal for them Wednesday.

[ffemtreed]

Coop,

Other than using clam for bait, what other things did you change in your setup for black drum? Smaller hooks? Casting distance?