Frustration or that's just the way it goes?

[surfwalker]

I enjoy/love my time surfcasting. But I have to admit that sometimes I get frustrated. Like, is it better to find the bait in mass quantities (e.g.-bunks, p-nuts, or any others) and have nothing on them or is it better to just not see any bait or predator at all? Seeing the bait gives you more hope than not seeing it, but the result is the same. Which makes you more frustrated, if it does at all?

[Monty]

Frustrated... my opinions
Seeing bait and having nothing on it, no frustration, just part of fishing.
Not seeing any bait, and no fish,, again just part of fishing.
I always like to see bait in the area I am fishing, I really don't get frustrated about not catching fish.
Last year one day droped a few fish after very short hook-ups and then missed about 10 hits, a little frustrated at my inability to hook and land a fish.
Then in a short period I lost 3 decent fish, frustration led to no more barbless hooks.
Frustration, boats zooming by 100 yards or less past the area I am fishing when they could have been out another 200 yards or more and shown some consideration.
Like you said, I love just being out there, even the boats don't ruin the experience. When the fishing (hooking-up) gets difficult ( a few skunks in a row) I tend to be more determined, better planning, find somewhere to somehow hook-up, get off the schneid and then more hook-ups seem to happen.

[storminsteve]

When the fishing (hooking-up) gets difficult ( a few skunks in a row) I tend to be more determined, better planning, find somewhere to somehow hook-up, get off the schneid and then more hook-ups seem to happen.

I consider myself an intermediate fisherman, so I try to hang out where people say the fish might be, and sometimes, thanks to you guys, I can kind of get a general idea for that. Getting better is my goal, and also finding examples where I can use the word "schneid". To me that is true skill. If I can master that, the fishing will be almost too easy.

[DarkSkies]

Seeing the bait gives you more hope than not seeing it, but the result is the same. Which makes you more frustrated, if it does at all?

Surfwalker, I would rather see bait when I'm out, but that depends on time of year as well. Qualifying that to talk about the normal bait you see in an area, that the fish might be feeding on. I try to gauge the size of the offering I'm throwin to "match that hatch". Sometimes I'm not successful, and it truly is frustrating.

Whatever frustrations I have, I try to look at them honestly and ask myself if I could have done better, or what would I do differently next time.

I'm not embarassed to lay it all out there in my reports. That's the thought process that goes through my head each time I fish. I don't mind sharing that. Even though I know others are way more advanced than that, I know it does help some.

And it would be almost impossible to reign supreme with outstanding catches all the time. Conditions change and we have to adapt with them. Sometimes we fail, and fail miserably. To me, that builds character, and teaches you to appreciate the nights when the fishin seems too easy, and you are getting them one after another.

For the most part, I like the concept of "working for the fish". However, when you talk about fish in the 40 and 50# class, many of those fish are available to the surfcaster either by using bait and targeting hungry fish after they spawn, using live bleeding bait to whip the big fish into a decision to slurp it up, or by mimicing the bait with a huge pencil popper.

So IMO going after big fish is like hunting for them, because that's what you're doing. You can hunt for them when the massive concentrations of bait draw them in and it's easier to present what they're eating. Or you can hunt for them by going where they like to hang out at night and trying to intersect their path with a chunk of meat, slithering eel, or some artificial that convinces them it's authentic enough to bite.

Tough choices, and if none of them works, makes for a frustrating night at times.

There is also the frustration of going to a place you know has produced time and time again in the past, and only finding "dead water". Sometimes that water is not completely dead, as there are usually some fish on the bottom of any choice spot.

The key question for me is:
How will I present to these fish, and what will I move past their noses that is most likely to get bit?

Sometimes we have these answers dialed in to produce an amazing bite for the night, other times we feel like the world's biggest loser.

On another site I belong to, the guys like to say:
"Sometimes you're the dog, sometimes the hydrant" That's fishin.

[williehookem]

On another site I belong to, the guys like to say:
"Sometimes you're the dog, sometimes the hydrant" That's fishin.

I like that, seems I have been the hydrant lately.

[dogfish]

I don't mind a little frustration. They say it is better to get pizzed off, than pizzed on, but into every life a little rain must fall. When the bass fishing slows down I hit some freshwater ponds for a recharge.

[CharlieTuna]

I would rather see bait around. That way I get a sense that the odds are more in my favor. I also get frustrated when I realize fishing is not as good as it used to be. I remember those glory days, and how it was easier to put a catch together. What's the phrase that a lot of people use- that's why they call it "fishing", and not "catching"?

[gjb1969]

thats why its called fishing not catching sometimes its good and sometimes its bad so u just keep trying tite lines and good fishin to all

[finchaser]

I like that, seems I have been the hydrant lately.

Kinda of like sometimes your the bug and sometimes the windshield I personally catch more fish when I don't see an abundance of bait

[surfstix1963]

Frustration is knowing you can't fish I can get over any other obstacles.

[bluesdude71]

Its tougher catching one fish than a day you catch 20 fish.
And I feel so much more satisfaction catching fish on a metal lip swimmer than a pencil.

It is harder to catch fish when they are not stacked up, I agree with that.

Frustration is knowing you can't fish I can get over any other obstacles.

Sorry to hear that, hope it's not long before you can fish again.