2017 fishing goals

Time to start thinking about what you want to do on the water in 2017. Post up your goals here!

To do better than last year on catching fluke/black sea bass, and also haddock/cod too!!!

Possibly troll up some walleye & white perch at Lake Saltonstall.

Moved back to our house in CT after spending 6+ years in Northeast PA (didn't post for a long time) for work and had a lot of catch up work to do in the yard etc. Meant my boat didn't see the water until Sept 1 last year.

Goal #1 - boat in water and fishing in April
Goal #2 - fish more than the 8 times I did last year

After that, I'll make them up as I go along.

8 pound bass in CT.
8 plus pound bass in FLA.
State record crappie CT.

Take 5 CTF members I have not met in person out fishing.

More Striped Bass over the rail. 2016 was not a good year for me for Bass.

Catch a Striper and bag a deer on the same day, that was a 2016 goal, but I was not successful.

Fish with at least 2 more members that I haven't fished with before & get out with everyone that I have.

My freshwater bass fishing guide business, "Pski's Angling Adventures" will be re started and become successful.

Just to get out more than I did last season.

Catch a shark from my boat!

Recently retired...

My goal...fish whenever, wherever, and as often as I want...

1. learn how to troll flatline, leadcore & downrigger well enough to regularly catch fish, so far I stink.
2. learn to fully utilize my side scanning Humminbird 798 ciHDsi that I am still not using to full advantage.
3. learn how to fish deep lake structure.
4. relearn how to boat fish the Connecticut river for shad successfully in both CT and MA, not one fish on this past year in three CT trips compared to the 51 taken from shore in Holyoke June 2nd-15th.
5. do a successful fishing float trip down some major river in Seahawk II inflatable.
6. do a successful dawn patrol to Millstone for harbor blues after 35 year absence.
7. learn to use the admittedly frivolously purchased Aqua Vu camera to sight fish while boat fishing.
8. catch a striper or otherwise fish in lower Connecticut river from my Starcraft FS14.
9. do a successful salt water fishing trip with Seahawk II inflatable.
10. learn how to catch my own minnows for fishing after bait shop sticker shock last year.

My main goal this year is to learn how to fish!!!! Slow down , different lures, fish smart and like I said LEARN HOW TO FISH SMART!!!!!!

#longtermgoal!

Take my boat out of storage by April 1 . Spend more time fishing with my grand children. Go blue fishing more often with my flyrod.

make more bags and weight in the club tourney's

Build my first custom rod.

to actually get out on the water this year! the only time either of my boats saw any water over the last season and a half is when it rained

After missing last season my goal is to make up for it and fish a lot.. Being in the Keys for 3 weeks end of April into May will be a good start... Hopefully stay busy with work also so I can buy a boat, had to sell mine last June... Would like to fish with some new faces also, Paul D is losing his looks:)

Open invite to fish Candlewood on my boat if you don't mind sissy freshwater fishing.

Shatter the state record for Atlantic Chub Mackerel

Catch a trout on the fly that will take me well into the backing

Learn how to use my downriggers

More midweek predawn kayak trips

Fish the lower housy

1. reacquaint myself with all the old friends i spent numerous days on the water with, but have had to shift priorities in the last 2 years away from. im really looking forward to seeing them again, this year will be much easier.

2. its time for a gear upgrade, and tackle reeboot. ive neglected a lot of my equipment in the last few years; no time, and a cold-warm-cold snap last winter built up condensation on a lot of my lures, which then somehow rusted beyond repair. lost a few hundred dollars worth of baits, really stunk. its time for me to organize, consolidate and have permanent bags of lures in each boat and the truck for travel. the same assortment in each one, the same selection. no more patching it together...that takes time away from fishing.

3. save more time and make fishing more efficient. no more last minute prep- its time to get back into form. pre planned food, gear, and game plan going into a trip makes for much less travel and packing time, and easier focus on the water. thats a big part of 2017- turning my 10 hour fishing trips into 9 solid hours of fishing, as opposed to 2 hours prep the morning of, and hour in the boat finding what i need, and another hour break for lunch and....well...often times a quick nap... 5 hours fishing in a ten hour time slot is not how you get it done.

4. maine- EVERY MONTH. beginning in may, i have plans to hit selected waters in Maine each month, sometimes twice a month. there is nothing like it, and its where my brain goes way too often.

5. can i get a day on the water with Tod/Gus Osier and Matt Turner in 2017? thats just for my own enjoyment, but im really hoping to pull that off.

Double digit tog

Get back into walleye fishing, haven't really done any in a couple of years.

Lets go George!!!!!!

10 pound fluke (got one on wire 20 years ago trolling, bycatch doesn't count)

6 pound smallie

Go for cod on a calm day off of Block

Put a Thresher shark on the deck

Go back to bunker spoon fishing for stripers

This week I accepted a position starting mid April with a company I previously worked for. The job change will give me my weekends back plus have a flex weekday schedule if I need a day or two off. Plan to fish parts of a Thursday and Saturday trail. Looking forward to doing 20 tournaments this year minimum.

8" Crab

. . ...put a mako on the deck.

I'd like to see a 6lb LMB- that's a big one for me.

a 50lb bass would be good too, especially from shore (been close a few times, but never quite made it)

Go fishing more! Just brought this home today hobie pro angle 14. Going to leave it rigged in garage ready to go at any time!

Congrats Sweetchuck! Great yak, geared up, but looks like you need a few more decals on it.

Bought it like that it may get a visit from the heat gun to remove a few of them since I am not sponsored yet!

Wanna sponsor me I will put Don P stickers all over it in exchange for gas money, tackle, cooking tips I am open for offers!

That is what garages are for....almost time to boot my car out of the garage for my boat and trailer for another fishing season!

Fish half as much Captain Meatballs.

Good luck!

50# striper- going to have to get up early to hang with Meatballs!

My job's going to be a killer all year this year so going to be a challenge to get out much but these are the target:
1) Catch a decent walleye from Saltonstall (been awhile) or Lake Champlain (planning to hit opener)
2) Catch a musky out of Lake Champlain (Had a follow to boat side in 2015)
3) Learn how to double haul with my pike / musky fly rod

Well I hope to get some saltwater fishing in this year as my job is going to make it hard. I'm supposed to catch my ship in May-June and then I will be out there for 3-4 months. So I have no idea if I will be home for any saltwater fishing.

To go ice fishing 7 times before 2018 and not drive 3000 miles.

Just plain old more fishing time esp shore fishing for those elusive sea robins and peck-peck-peck porgies!!!!

Catch a 45"+ Musky this season without a guide.

RELAX HAVE FUN FISHING AGAIN

I want to catch a stripper on a dolla bill..

I don't believe goals have anything to do with fishing..... this is not F-in hockey.....

Break the 7lb mark for a lm and break the 5lb mark on a smallie.

Get a Homepage worthy report with CTF members. Been some tough trips when they come down. Lord please let me get a great one this year. Does not have to make the HP just worthy of it.

It's going to be a busy summer....

1)Bluefin tuna on the deck of my own boat.
2)Join the 50 pound Striper club
3)Lot's of fresh Cod
4)Double digit Fluke & Tautog
5)Learn to use a cast net and my live well

Take home a cardboard check in Tuna/Shark Tourny
10lb Fluke
10lb Tog
Catch more Pin Qualifiers in 2017 than Peg (Stretch Goal)
Break Chub Mackerel State Record

Get Jackson (Age 5) to Solo catch a fish (prob will start with porgy)

Continue Opening Day Trout troll on Rogers tradition with Jackson

Get the boat off the dock at least once per workweek and at least once per weekend, even if its just for a river cruise.

I am hearing a lot of negative commentary about "pins" on the Facebooks....

My main goal is to catch a CT record Atlantic Chub Mackerel. I am determined !

Let's see if you've got what it takes.....

My goal...... is to fish

Welcome back, Joe!

2015, I only managed to fish twice.
2016, first year of my life since I was a kid that I never picked up a fishing rod.I never used the boat. Finished up a huge work project that kept me away. My goal is to never let that happen again!

I did it for #2!!

Nice fish! Congrats on the early goal! Gotta go for the Florida double digit now

Thanks! Still super stoked! If it had eggs or any gut at all it would have been at least a ten. I am just happy I got past the 8 mark! Am on plane now but can't load pics I will put up a report tmr.

Ahhh feels like it happened 12 years ago.