True that.As I get older my wants are less. I'm perfectly content parking by a blow down and crappie fishing.Even if you do find some Stripers willing to bite it's not good to yank and crank em in this warm water.

We got into the Crappie good all day yesterday.All on plastic too. No live bait. The trick was to just fish the cover in 10 foot of water. Fished over 5 schools of therm before we called it quits.

Out this evening from 5 PM to 10 PM. Marked lots of fish only managed one smallmouth on a rattletrap.

Super cool Pork, nice to read your story and hear you had good times and tight lines.

ummmm, pics?? 😋

My Photobucket account seems to be gone.  Not sure why we can't just clip in the threads like we can in PMs?

Porktown
My Photobucket account seems to be gone.  Not sure why we can't just clip in the threads like we can in PMs?

In the Quick Reply box, if you click on "Open Full Version" that'll help you upload photos from your laptop or desk top.  
 
Glad ya had a good trip.  I always sucked at fishing the Atlantic on the east coast.  Never caught anything other than dogfish, skates and the occasional small blue.  

Porktown
My Photobucket account seems to be gone.  Not sure why we can't just clip in the threads like we can in PMs?

Photo Bucket chopped everybody I'm thinking.

Try resizing your photos to 640 pixels or cropping out all but the most important details (may require several attempts) then use the [upload files to server] button (mine is right above the reply button when using my phone) to send the new resized file.

Orrrrrr (don't know if it will work) worth a try to "copy" a pic from your file and "paste" it on your page.

Here are three, let's see if it works...

psu_fish
Did you use Clark Spoons for Spanish Macks? Fished Arthur pretty hard on July 27th and got skunked. Did not see much of anything being caught that day.

That is what I caught most on.  The first photo has a Clarkspoon - Shad jig.  Chrome jigs worked well too.  

Did you hop/jig it back the Shad jig or cast it out and burn it back to the beach? Never used one of those before.
 
Down in Florida gulf side piers, we would do real good with a egg sinker above a swivel, then about 8-10 foot leader down to an Original Clark Spoon. You weren't allowed to cast overhand, so it was bit tricky to cast underhand, and not wrap line around pier support poles. Cast it out as far as you can, count it down for few seconds and wind it in as fast as you can. We would do quite well with that method. Every now and then would get cut off by a Spanish. Had to use fluro leader or they wouldn't touch the spoon.
 
For some reason, the NC and VA piers, locals preferred to use Gotcha Plugs or a Mackerel tree. But I used my Florida method to catch my largest ever Spanish Mackerel at the Virginia Beach Fishing Pier.

Just straight retrieve.  I found to not burn it back, but a fast retrieve.  For years, I would do the burning with no luck.  It ends up making the lure spin or skip on the top.
 
Funny thing...  I had one set up your way (with the original style and inline sinker) for my daughter to use off of the pier.  She wasn't too confident using a gotcha and leaning over the rails.  She got a little too close to a light post (guessing why they don't allow overhead casts).  She smacked it and the spoon went flying.  It almost hit another young girl.  She was done casting after that.
 
When fishing from the surf, most fish that I caught were in knee deep water (3-4 fee with the waves).  I used to wade out to that deep and would get pummeled by waves.  Seeing them jump in that area, I figured, why not try fishing from ankle deep water and let the lure work it's way in the wash.  Couldn't believe that I was hooking up at first.  Definitely just the conditions.  I am sure they aren't always in that close.

I tried posting pics and in red it said failed to load. It was JPG.

 Nice Tim!
 
 As for Arthur,... guys slamming Byrds but I won't tell where since that's a no no for me with the water temps +++
 
crappy

 
One thing that I am not a fan of the area, is limited sound access.  We usually do Hatteras Island, where there is literally hundreds of miles of public access.  But, I do like the shallower surf in that area much more than the beaches that drop off instantly.
 
I am completely fine with the smaller game fish.  Luring in sharks to where kids swim, just doesn't sound like a good risk/reward to me.  I know they are there regardless.  I would rather not taunt them with a snack and a hook in the face, possibly beached for a photo opt.  I would feel too guilty if a kid got bit in that area, if I was actively fishing for them.  

Porktown
 
One thing that I am not a fan of the area, is limited sound access.  We usually do Hatteras Island, where there is literally hundreds of miles of public access.  But, I do like the shallower surf in that area much more than the beaches that drop off instantly.
 
I am completely fine with the smaller game fish.  Luring in sharks to where kids swim, just doesn't sound like a good risk/reward to me.  I know they are there regardless.  I would rather not taunt them with a snack and a hook in the face, possibly beached for a photo opt.  I would feel too guilty if a kid got bit in that area, if I was actively fishing for them.  

Night time fishing for the toothies....
 
If you ever stay at the Ocean Club condos, they have a nice pier on the bay side you get access to.  Crabbing is good, fishing is ok...but it is a good entry point to wade fish the shoreline.
Their pools are nice too and a beachfront condo, at least the last time we were there, were pretty reasonable.  
 
Emerald Isle boat ramp has good crabbing too but you have to catch the tide right.