Surf Fishing, Interview with the Experts

By Zeno Hromin

This is a series of interviews with some of Notheast best surfcasters on how they get ready for the particular month in a season. What goes thru their minds in anticipation, what is their plan of action, and of course where do they fish that particular month, and why. My first victim is Mike Lang from Farragut Striper Club. Mike has won the NY Surf Fishing Contest an unprecedented 6 consecutive times and has been fishing LI waters for over 24 years. Mike lives and works in the western sound and consequently has a good feel on the “pulse” of fishing in the area.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zeno Hromin
• Release date: Jan 19, 2012
• ISBN: 9781465884763

Zeno Hromin

Zeno Hromin is a veteran surfcaster who resides with his family in Westbury, NY. He is an author of The Art of Surfcasting with Lures which has been called “the new surfcasting bible”. He also co-author The Hunt for Big Stripers. Zeno is also an editor of Surfcaster’s Journal Magazine at http://www.surfcastersjournal.com/

Book preview

SURF FISHING

INTERVIEWS WITH THE EXPERTS

BY ZENO HROMIN

Copyright©2012 SURFCASTING LLC

Smashwords Edition

SURF FISHING - INTERVIEWS WITH THE EXPERTS

Distributed by SURFCASTING LLC

All Rights Reserved by Zeno Hromin

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying or recording, or by information storage and retrieval system without written permission of the publisher, SURFCASTING LLC

SURFCASTING LLC

PO BOX 10665

WESTBURY, NY 11590

contact email - [e-mail]

Other publications by SURFCASTING LLC

The Art of Surfcasting with Lures, by Zeno Hromin

The Hunt for Big Stripers, by Zeno Hromin

Surfcaster, by William Muller

Secrets of Surf Fishing at Night, by William Muller

Fishing the Bucktail, by John Skinner

Surfcaster's Journal Magazine

Table Of Contents

April - Mike Lang

May - Lou Derricco

June - Crazy Alberto Knie

July - Steve Petri

August - Bill Wetzel

September - Donny Musso

October - Eric Ernst

Favorite Lures of the Pro's : Al Bentsen-Lou Derricco- Bill Wetzel

This is a series of interviews with some of Northeast best surfcasters on how they get ready for the particular month in a season. What goes thru their minds in anticipation, what is their plan of action, and of course where do they fish that particular month, and why. My first victim is Mike Lang from Farragut Striper Club. Mike has won the NY Surf Fishing Contest an unprecedented 6 consecutive times and has been fishing LI waters for over 24 years. Mike lives and works in the western sound and consequently has a good feel on the pulse of fishing in the area.

Mike Lang - April

In the past you have had great success during the month of April. Where do you concentrate your efforts and why?

As April approaches, the main areas that I concentrate on are all in the western Long Island sound in bodies of water such as Hempstead harbor, Manhasset and Little Neck Bay's.  One reason why I concentrate on these areas is that there is a definite population of stripers that winter over here which take full advantage of the many deep water holes and shipping lanes that lie right outside these harbor and bay areas. I target these western bays for two main reasons, first because they each possess flats of mud and sand which are the very first parts of the bay to warm up on those sunny April days, which draw these holdovers from their depths in search of food.  And second, these flats, for the most part, are bordered by either mussel beds or glacial boulder fields, both of which provide a terrific menu for these early spring stripers.  This menu of bait includes mussels, steamer and razor clams, crabs, sea worms, grass shrimp, killie, spearing and best of all the early season schools of herring and bunker.

Before the annual migration of Hudson river stripers make their way into these bays, usually around the third week of April (depending on the water temps), the targets for me are the holdovers, which for many early weeks provide great action with a typical outing providing quality over quantity; many of these early bass are in the 10 to 30 lb. range.  Normally I can expect to get about 2-4 weeks of this fishery before a slight lull, then on the next moon there is a resurgence of new bass, most of which are Hudson River bass migrating into these very same bays.  Now there can normally be another month or more of steady and consistent action with daytime schoolies to the night time cows, and all within a simple 10 to 30 minute car ride, which for me is yet another reason I have targeted these waters for over 24 years

When it comes to early season action, does the time of day influence ones success?

Yes for the most part. While searching for quantity over quality, you are best to fish the daytime tides. A couple of consecutive sunny days will warm up the various mud flats, which is important to get things going. When searching for quality over quantity, one is better to fish the night tides of the early spring. The larger bass use the cover of night to provide additional security, which in the western sound is even more important as these bays are relatively shallow.

Is there a particular pattern when it comes to the weather you prefer to do your fishing in during the month of April?

For daytime schoolie action, I like to fish the last few hours of incoming through