More Questions & Answers
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Q: Hi, I recently moved to Long Island, and have never gone saltwater fishing. I had a few questions that I hope you can answer. First, do I need a license? Next, I am planning on surf fishing in the Long Beach area. What do I need to get started? How much should I expect to pay to get started? I am not looking to fish for anything specific just yet... I just want to get out and fish. Any help would be greatly appreciated. -TJ Adams
A: TJ, There are several good tackle shops in the western Long Island area that can set you up. I would recommend J & H in Oakdale or Causeway Bait and Tackle on Merrick Road. I believe they are in Wantagh. Fishing the Long Beach surf you will need a 10 foot rod and matching reel capable of holding 250 yards of 20 lb test line. Spinning or conventional, it's your choice. A good spinning reel should run $100, a conventional a little more. As far as the rod, that is a tough one. I am not too familiar with quality production surf rods other than from Lamiglas and the run over $200. The rod should be 10 feet long and capable of casting 2-4 ounces. I hope this helps. Al Goldberg
Q: how do you rig when drifting in the race
A: I am assuming you are fishing for bass either with bucktails or eels. The typical rig starts with a heavy 3-way swivel attached to your mine line. I one of the eyes of the swivel tie on a 12 inch piece of 60 lb mono with a sinker loop on the end. Then attach a 12 ounce sinker. On the other eye tie on a 5-foot piece of 80 lb mono and depending if you are bucktail or eeling tie on a 1-2 ounce Henry or Smilen Bill bucktail or an 8/0 Gamakatsu Octopus hook. Always carry a hook sharpener to keep your hooks razor sharp.
Q: Hi, I was wondering if you knew of any good websites to learn fishing knots. Thanks Mike
A: Mike, I would recommend you get a good book on fishing knots. One of my favorites is "Practical Fishing Knots" by Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreh. It has everything you will need with full diagrams on how to tie them. Al
Q: al,i hope u can give me some insight about this rod. my boss found this rod in his basement 15 yrs ago,and never did anything w/it. the name on it is HERTER'S,with a code under the name.i can't make out the second digit. it is R?6W1.it is a heavy 71/2'er with a thick carved wood butt about a foot and a 1/2 long. it has a PENN long beach #66 attached,which needs a serious > cleaning,but still seems in good working condition.of course it needs all new guides.it will be a nice winter project.any info u can provide will be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance and keep up the good work for dave. > > don
A: Don, Herter's was an old fishing tackle catalog company from years ago. They have been out of business for a number of years. The rod you have probably dates back to the 1960's. In those days they did not make many one piece saltwater rods due to transporting problems by the angler. they used a two-piece chrome on brass reel seat that had either a friction ferrule or a locking nut. The rod blank is e-glass and is probably a medium boat rod. I have several rods similar to yours that were my father's. I cleaned them up and saved them more for the memories they bring back. Al
Q: what's the procedure for toughening up clam bellies with salt brine?
A: I never heard of brining clam bellies. We usually brine whole or cut clams to toughen them up. Take the shucked clams and rinse them off with sea water. Make a brine solution of fresh water and kosher salt by mixing one cup of kosher salt to a gallon of water. Add the cleaned shucked clams and let them sit in the brine solution for several hours. Then pack the clams in a ziplock bag or plastic storage container and freeze them.
Q: hello, i am looking to spend around $200.00 for a light to medium action rod and reel to use off a small boat fishing for stripers in the hudson river any recommendations thanks
A: I would go with a Seeker 6 1/2 - 7 foot black steel rod rated from 15-25 lb and a Shimano TR200G reel. Al
Q: My name is Travis Gross. My question to you is what information do you have, i.e. diagrams on how to tie the spectra to the mono. I usually let someone else do it for me because of the two different notts. If you could help me out I would be very Happy.
A: Travis, My advice is to buy a copy of Practical Fishing Knots by Mark Sosin and Lefty Kreh in any book tackle shop or bookstore. The knot you want to use is the Double Uni Knot. Al
Q: From Johnny McG: If we were to take only one rod
and reel for targeted species of seabass and porgies, what would you suggest?
Also what test line should we employ? Are you of the persuasion when targeting
Fluke,to go with a light spinning outfit if the currents allow it? Thank
you very much for the benefit of your expertise. Cut my teeth on the Chief
of Sheepshead Bay back when Rheingold beer was popular.
A: You go back as far as me. I fished on the Chief as
a kid. Great boat. My idea of the idea rod and reel for sea bass and porgies
is determined by the area I will be fishing and the line I will be using.
Most of my sea bass and porgy fishing is done out east in Montauk or Orient.
We are using a minimum of 3-5 ounces of lead and sometimes 8-10 ounces.
Also, we are using Fireline or one of the other spectra lines with no stretch.
My personal ideal outfit is a custom rod built on a Seeker CLB704 matched
with a Newell 220 reel and 30 lb Fireline. Other reels to consider are the
Penn Jigmaster Junior or a Shimano TRN200G. The rod has a fast action with
a fairly soft tip to allow the rod to absorb the pull of jumbo porgies and
not tear out the hooks. As far as fishing for fluke, I only use a conventional
outfit. I bucktail for fluke about 95% of the time. I use a custom rod built
on a Calstar graphite blank matched to a Calcutta 250 or 400 reel and 30
lb Fireline. I jig 1-4 ounce Silver Bullets with teasers.
Q: From Tammy: I have heard much about the continental
shelf off of Long Island. Is there anything you know of about this place
or any information you could pass on to me?
A: The continental shelf is that portion of the ocean
bottom that extends from approximately 60 miles offshore to the 100 fathom
curve where the bottom drops off into the deep ocean. If you look at a
bottom contour map of the offshore waters you can see where the continental
shelf ends. Along that edge are the offshore canyons where sportfishermen
pursue tuna, marlin and other offshore species.
Q: From Joe: When is the best time to fish the
Cholera Banks and what do you fish for?
A: The Cholera Bank lies south of Jones Inlet. It
is a rocky area that when I was a kid back in the 1950's supported a
great winter cod fishery. But that is a memory now. Today the bank has
good bottom fishing in season for blackfish, sea bass and ling. Also,
it is a good area to fish for bluefish later in the season. You will
need to check the local fishing reports to see when the area is producing.
A: You go back as far as me. I fished on the Chief as a kid. Great boat. My idea of the idea rod and reel for sea bass and porgies is determined by the area I will be fishing and the line I will be using. Most of my sea bass and porgy fishing is done out east in Montauk or Orient. We are using a minimum of 3-5 ounces of lead and sometimes 8-10 ounces. Also, we are using Fireline or one of the other spectra lines with no stretch. My personal ideal outfit is a custom rod built on a Seeker CLB704 matched with a Newell 220 reel and 30 lb Fireline. Other reels to consider are the Penn Jigmaster Junior or a Shimano TRN200G. The rod has a fast action with a fairly soft tip to allow the rod to absorb the pull of jumbo porgies and not tear out the hooks. As far as fishing for fluke, I only use a conventional outfit. I bucktail for fluke about 95% of the time. I use a custom rod built on a Calstar graphite blank matched to a Calcutta 250 or 400 reel and 30 lb Fireline. I jig 1-4 ounce Silver Bullets with teasers.
Q: From Tammy: I have heard much about the continental
shelf off of Long Island. Is there anything you know of about this place
or any information you could pass on to me?
A: The continental shelf is that portion of the ocean
bottom that extends from approximately 60 miles offshore to the 100 fathom
curve where the bottom drops off into the deep ocean. If you look at a
bottom contour map of the offshore waters you can see where the continental
shelf ends. Along that edge are the offshore canyons where sportfishermen
pursue tuna, marlin and other offshore species.
Q: From Joe: When is the best time to fish the
Cholera Banks and what do you fish for?
A: The Cholera Bank lies south of Jones Inlet. It
is a rocky area that when I was a kid back in the 1950's supported a
great winter cod fishery. But that is a memory now. Today the bank has
good bottom fishing in season for blackfish, sea bass and ling. Also,
it is a good area to fish for bluefish later in the season. You will
need to check the local fishing reports to see when the area is producing.
A: The Cholera Bank lies south of Jones Inlet. It is a rocky area that when I was a kid back in the 1950's supported a great winter cod fishery. But that is a memory now. Today the bank has good bottom fishing in season for blackfish, sea bass and ling. Also, it is a good area to fish for bluefish later in the season. You will need to check the local fishing reports to see when the area is producing.