[Capt. Tom]

I am sure Capt Tom can attest, but that area is full of seals now. To the point that they are stealing your fish at times.

A friend who fishes the Cape told me about the SEALS grabbing the surfcasters fish when they were retrieving them.

After he lost several fish to the SEALS he noticed an angler who was having much more luck in getting his fish onto the beach. That angler told him the SEALS watch the anglers, and when the Seals see a bent rod or an angler acting like he has hooked a fish the SEALS swim to that area and look for the meal.(usually stripers or bluefish)

So when you hook up, lower the rod tip so the rod in't bent, and look around like nothing is happening.
Bring the fish in on the reel and be ready to back up quickly to avoid losing your catch.

My friend tried that method and it worked. -Tom

[woodbutcher1963]

Thanks for the tip.
I have never had much luck surf casting in the ocean and catching fish unless a school just happens to swim by.

I find that if you fish just upstream from the mouth of the river on the outgoing tide is usually your best success. My buddy was catching them this weekend on the Merrimack with light colored slug-gos.