How I’m Going To Catch A 40lb Bass From The Beach This Season

I feel that by saying I am going to catch a 40lb bass from the beach this season, I automatically increase the odds of it occurring.

It's the Law Of Attraction, in action.

Of course fish do as they please, and I understand that there are no guarantees in fishing.  Mother Nature will make the final decision.

Regardless, I want to share with you how I plan to catch a 40lb bass from the beach this season, because I feel my plan can help you in your own pursuits.

Plus it's fun to dream, wouldn't you agree!?

Fishing Where The Big Fish Are

As far as spots are concerned I plan on focusing on exposed beaches, instead of protected coves and tucked away estuaries.

Fishing these wide open beaches is going to be a challenge, because there's so many miles of beach to cover.  Focusing on areas of change and structure is an important way to eliminate ground.

This season I am going to rely on intel from our forum more than ever. During 2013 I received one specific tip from the forum, that led me to one of the most impressive shallow water bass blitzes I have ever encountered.

For example, information about a huge biomass of sea herring hanging just offshore is worth its weight in gold. Where there's big bait there are often big bass...even if that big bait is hanging offshore.

Getting Up Early...Or Staying Up Late

I feel the best time for me to be on the beach is when everyone else is in bed.

Finding a 40 pound striped bass within casting distance from shore is pretty rare and not easy to do. Yet you can significantly increase your odds by having a line in the water at sunrise, sunset or after dark.

Nighttime in particular is a very special time. Big bass seem more courageous and willing to venture into shallow water.

Remembering That Big Bait = Big Bass (sometimes)

Elephants eat peanuts, and striped bass over 40 pounds routinely eat small bait. However, I feel I can increase my odds of a 40 pounder by fishing with big lures and big bait.

I feel it must be hard for a trophy striper to pass up on a big mackerel, squid or eel.

To make lure and bait selection as simple as possible for you, I have put together a 4 minute and 28 second video presentation on big fish lures and baits I plan on using during 2014.

You can see the big baits and lures I plan on using this season, by clicking here or on the image below.

By Using A Reel That Can Definitely Handle A 40 Pounder Without Risk Of Getting Spooled, Seizing Up Etc.

A lot of work will go into landing a 40 pound striped bass from the beach, so I want to make sure I don't lose the bass after hooking it, due to the wrong fishing reel.

There's many different affordable reels capable of tackling a 40 pound fish.

Over the past week we've been having a discussion in the My Fishing Cape Cod forum about this very subject. I feel that right now is the perfect time to get your big fish equipment in line, because big bass will be migrating north to Cape Cod before we know it.

So I've decided to open this specific thread to everyone, to help you out if you are in need of a fishing reel capable of landing a trophy striper from the beach.

Click here to view this My Fishing Cape Cod forum thread

Logging In A Silly Amount Of Time On The Beach

Nothing beats time spent on the beach.

Wicked Tuna Captain Dave Carraro reminded us in last week's podcast that one of his most valuable assets is the incredible amount of time he spends on the water. Dave caught 52 giant bluefin tuna during the 2011 season so I feel his message is pretty spot-on.

Even if you are fishing the best times, in the greatest spots with the perfect bait , odds are you will still have to login a silly amount of time on the beach.

I am really chomping at the bit to start surfcasting, so fishing often and putting in the effort shouldn't be too much of a problem, at least this spring. Yet I will admit that the nocturnal surfcasting lifestyle can get tiring.

But at this very moment I am all sorts of pumped up for spring!

Here's The Latest Cape Cod Holdover Striper Fishing Report

I even went striper fishing last week on the Cape for holdovers. Back in January I found dozens of dead holdover stripers throughout the Cape's marshes.

Did any fish survive the brutally cold winter? If they did, would they be more active now, due to the last week's mild weather?

I felt there was at least some sort of chance, so I headed back out into one of the Cape's many estuaries in search of my first striper of the 2014 season.

You can read about last week's holdover striper trip by clicking here

In Conclusion

Spring is here!  The ponds are thawing, and while we still may get smacked by winter I feel we are close to mild weather.

With the mild weather comes many different spring Cape Cod fishing opportunities. I can't wait.

What do you think? Let me know by commenting below.

Tight lines and take care,

Ryan