What Makes A Truly Good Fisherman

[shrimpman steve]

Time on the water.

[Dino]

attention to detail with tackle, tides.. the ability to fish on weekdays away from the boat traffic.... hours logged on the water fishing correctly... all these things

[billsonthewater]

not listening to your younger brother who lies! my next life I will choose my
fishing partners much better. p.s. he is much older den me!!

[bulletbob]

The best fishermen typically have time to spend fishing, and money to spend on the best gear, bait, boats etc... Most of us would be very very good fishermen retired with a big income, and a Contender 39 LS waiting at the dock .

[Capt Sal]

First you have to be on the meat! Paying attention to all details and proper equipment right down to the knot you tie.Uquipment failure is not an option. Be diversified. I bet Joey has one tackle box for black fish one for fluke and so on.You can own all the bucktails in the world but you need the proper rod and you have to know how to use them.

Read the posts about striper fishing. Some guys catch most of the time and some fair and some hardly ever.Why is this. Experience, log book,proper equipment and a sixth sense. I learn something new every trip. I am in Florida now and i am learnig every trip from Mahi to black drum to trout and sheepsheaqd. Just because i have a 100 ton Masters Lic. means nothing. New ball game for. Same as some of you guys starting out striper fishing. A good mentor is priceless. I have always said that even if you own your own boat and are new to it pay for a charter. As in mentor

[FishnChips]

well said shamrock eddie!

[ChumDumpster]

Time on the water for sure first and foremost. The more you get out the more you see and learn. Secondly I do as much research and reading I can on the species I'm targeting. I take my boat out and fish about 4 to 5 days a week and have become very successful due to dedication. Tackle and gear play a decent part but aren't necessarily a deal breaker. Obviously with the right gear and rigs you're more likely to successfully land fish, has nothing to do with finding them though! And I've noticed cheaper gear breaks frequently if you actually use it a lot. Learn how to use a good fish finder and it changes your world, understanding tides and winds and moon phases as well. And for the record, getting Intel from guys who are actually putting in the work to find the fish does not make you a good fisherman, my sister can land 30 pound stripers all day if I tell her exact coordinates and to troll mojos. Oh, and read Gerry's articles!