CTFishTalk.com: Short Beach 7/10 - Connecticut Saltwater Reports ( CT Saltwater Reports ) - A Community Built for Connecticut Fisherman.

Jeff · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 167

I went down to Stratford today to catch low tide at Short Beach even after hearing poor reports. Arrived at 7:15 pm with low tide schedule for a little before 8pm.

There were a couple of guys out there already with one being a fly fisher.

I brought both my poles again.... one rigged up with fresh bunker as I casted my SP Minnow with the other. About 3 casts in with my SP Minnow I turn to see my chunk pole getting nailed. I ran over as fast as possible through the water to have the fish gone by the time I made it over.
Evil or Very Mad

Ok - one fish missed. Rigged up another piece of bunker....cast it out...set it up...good to go. I walk out, start casting my SP again and BAM my pole goes over my cooler and into the water. This time I'm much closer to it. Run over again, pick it up, set the hook, no fish! WHAT THE !!

At this point I began to think that they could've possibly been big Sea Robin hits but who knows. I would think anything with significant size would've stayed on and swallowed the hook and all.

Made the trip back to shore around 8:45pm with the high tide coming in fast. The water gets surprisingly deep around the sandbar area.

Sea Duck · Joined: 18 Nov 2012 Posts: 89 Location: Above grade

Might be better off throwing eels there. Much less c**p to carry and allows you to fish "bait" and lures with one rod and will not likely miss a fish like dead sticking. Not really a great spot to chunk, for a variety of reasons.
SD
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FishOn860 · Joined: 04 May 2012 Posts: 64 Location: Hartford, CT

you need a baitrunner man ,I cant count the number of times that has happened to me before I had mine.
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fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

I was the guy way to your left if you are looking at the water. Threw plugs all night until about 10 and never got a hit. I got there around 6.
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Jeff · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 167

Redneckangler · Joined: 05 May 2012 Posts: 851 Location: Meriden, CT

My buddy lost a brand new setup, first time out, to what we will all swear was a fifty pounder at Harkness. The beer didn't help his reaction time.
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fishfinder · Joined: 19 Jun 2011 Posts: 1672 Location: Naugatuck, Ct.

I lost a brand new set up like that also except mine was a baitrunner! The beach was rocky and I couldn't get a sand spike SRT in good enough. Seaduck and Crest Daddy were both there. Jeff, if you walked over by were I was and waked straight towards the pavilion its the shallowest area there!
_________________
There's a fine line between fishing....

and standing on the shore like an idiot!

Sea Duck · Joined: 18 Nov 2012 Posts: 89 Location: Above grade

Jeff, If fish are present, a few plugs or eels will likely catch plenty of fish. Best bet is to cast up current a little and drift down current as you retrieve. If you have a rod in a spike and you want to toss a plug, you will have to decide to either set up farther away than is practical to tend it , place it in an area out of the way that may not hold fish to avoid problem # 1, or worse case scenario, hook a big fish on your plug that will get pulled down current as you pull in( as they tend to do there) and end up tangled up with yourself as you would be unable to pull in your bait line once your plug hooks up. And that is assuming you are alone or far enough away from others that their lines do not get involved. Hence,not a practical idea to have an untended line in a current.
It seems like a good idea to have both a bait and plug out. I used to do it, until you hit fish. Once that happens, one rig is more than enough to make you a very happy angler and save a lot of headaches. Easier to carry a plugging rig and gear as well. That is why I suggested eels as they are both plug and bait. Have found over time that two rigs does not double my chances at catching. Its just twice as much work.

Bucktail, bottle darter, sp minnow and an eel or two and you will wish you left the spike in the car.

Or not!
Cheers!
SD
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Herring?

Jeff · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 167

Thanks for the advice SD! You make some very good points and brought up some issues that I have had before. Getting a double hookup makes things real interesting!

I've never fished eels before, I'll have to give them a shot one night.