Breachway regulars or breachway bullys?

[merch]

The breachways in RI are great places to fish. They are incredibly productive and always have the potential of yielding some very big fish. I been fishing them for 10 years or so and I fish them a lot all year. I don’t consider myself an expert but I think I’ve patterned them well enough over the years to be able to use them with fairly consistent success. Due to the inherent productivity of these spots they are well known, and one of RI’s worst kept secrets. Each of these breachways has several groups of “regulars” who call the places their own. It is these “regulars” I will be talking about in this post.

I’m not talking about the people who go to the breachways alone (or with a buddy) at night on a regular basis. I’m talking about the “regulars” who go down to the Breachway with five of there closest friends on any given night then complain about the crowd in “their” spot when a single fisherman comes down the rocks to join in.

These are the same guys who are masters of the rotation. Don’t get me wrong, the rotation works and is necessary to maintain order but these guys have their own system and look out if you’re trying to mix it up a little. These “regulars” have efficiently mastered the fast rotation technique which allows for all of them to cast and retrieve as many times and as frequently as possible while out on the end. It works and is perfectly suited for blitzing blues and schoolies but comes up short if you’re trying to search the area for fewer, bigger fish. I don’t know about you but casting in the same spot with the same drift all night for the sake of speed doesn’t make much sense to me.

These are the guys who will yell at you to get your line out of the water when they hook up but will be casting over you shoulder as soon as you do so they don’t miss the “blitz”

These are the guys who will always tell you what you’re doing wrong, how you should do something, where to cast, when to cast, etc. They will always have a comment when you screw something up and always be laughing and commenting quietly when somebody has a problem. And have you ever got tangled in one of their lines? Forget it! You’re lucky if you don’t get thrown off the rocks because trust me, it’s your fault not theirs. Right?

These are the same guys that apparently know everything there is to know about fishing the breachway but for some reason they still bring every plug in the truck when they go out there (I prefer to travel a little lighter). These guys are “regulars” or “sharpies” right? If so how come you never see them anywhere else besides the Breachway? Don’t they fish anywhere else? You’d think the way they complain about the crowd they’d find their own fish somewhere else. They’re only catching schoolies, blues and the occasional keeper fish at the Breachway anyway.

OK, OK. I’ll stop bitching now. But for all you beginners out there interested in giving these places a shot but are afraid to screw up or piss off the “regulars”, don’t worry. Go down there and fish. You are as welcome as anyone else down there and there will always be a true fisherman or two there to give you some real advice and guidance. I’ve learned a lot about fishing and different types of fisherman down at these places and everyone truly interested in striper fishing should try them occasionally. Start with a yellow bomber. You’ll be pleasantly surprised, maybe even amazed.

Sorry for all the bitching but I needed to vent. Anyone else have the same types of experiences?

[thewaterfordstriper]

the reasons that you listed is why i do not fish out there. pure and simple. there is no fish that is worth all that hassle and aggravation. the lack of etiquette is brutal.

a couple weeks ago a person crossed my line. i politely said to him. there is a whole beach either side of me. picked up my stuff and moved and picked a couple fish 100 yards up the beach.

[Pete_G]

Breachways were (are?) still a little intimidating for me as well. I'm the same way though, I get right up in there and dish it right back to any so called regulars if I get any lip. I observe the rotation and anything else currently happening when I arrive; anything beyond that, well, no one owns the breachways, regulars or not.

Generally though I find it fairly quiet on the breachways but that's mostly because I don't really visit them much till late in the season when it starts to get colder. No one should be scared off of these great fishing spots.

[Tony G]

I have fished em thats where I met Dave "ITS".
It is stupid fishing.
Not really a fan of the rotation I hate waiting to fish.
It's unfourtunate u have had some bad encounters with people there.
I reserve going there to off nights an nasty weather.

[merch]

It is just a shame that these great spots are clogged with groups of "my spot" type fisherman. I hate to give them up just because these guys can make it unpleasant. For the most part I have good experiences down there but when these groups show up it can get annoying. Also, off nights and bad weather tend to be the best nights to fish them and these regulars know it. Not much I can do now except wait until mid October when these "sharpies" have traded their rods for a tree stand because all of the fish have left.

[Kevin J]

Catch a 30lber in front of them. You'll see a quick change in attitude Those guys have been there a lonnnng time and have a ton of knowledge about breachway fishing. They also have the "this is my spot" attitude that you mentioned. I don't agree with it but you're not going to change it. The more they see you the more they'll open up. Keep in mind that these spots are very productive during foul weather in the fall. Last October we had rain/wind for several days and Quonny was the place to be.

[crazygoof]

And this is why I fish alone in secluded places........

[Frightnight]

And one of the main reasons I fish from a boat. Can sit comfortably, and relax in private, without fighting for position, not to mention the capability to cover a lot of ground. Now, I am going to show how fishing stupid I really am, not that I have not been doing that all a long, but here goes again......
I have an idea, but want to make sure. What exactly is a "Breachway".
LOL, I am laughing with you, but I am serious. If anyone cares to confirm my stupity with an explanation, please go right ahead.

[crazygoof]

Frightnight,
I had to figure that out too (not being from RI). Down on the southern beaches are two breakwaters that protect the entrance to inland salt ponds. The ponds provide safe harbors for boats and the breachways are the man-reinforced channels that lead from the ocean to the ponds. They are mini-rivers on the change of the tides and the only way for predators to get into the ponds where the bait fish hold.
I am sure I will get corrected, but that is my understanding of the breachways. I have heard about how good the fishing can be, but I'm just not willing to put up with the jerks to do it. No fish is worth that kind of headache.

[Dave]

No doubt the breachways have their share of characters. There are are the regulars, the experienced but who aren't married to the place and fish other places as well and then there are the wanna be's. Although it is a public area intended for all it takes a particular ettiuquette and appropriate gear to fish, those that fish it without compromise and complicate it for those that do. That creates friction and animosity. There's also the access issue, if one doesn't have access or know the way they shouldn't tresspass (at one particular breachway surrounded by private property).

Tony hope to bump into you again soon.