In the Doldrums

It's August, it's really hot and the shore fishing has taken a nosedive.  So, what else is new?  While some tout August as a good month to catch stripers, I am not one of those.  Even when we used to have tons of fish around, August was still a tough month to catch stripers from shore. It is different for boaters who can probe deeper water or get out to Block Island.

This is one of 12 schoolies landed a few nights back on
jigs. Fishing overall has turned inconsistent,
a trademark of August fishing.

I have blanked two evenings in a row now, something I have not done all year. No stripers, no blues, though I did have several hits on a Jumpin Minnow last evening. So, we have moved into the August inconsistencies. Pretty normal.
Looking on the bright side, there is still a lot of bait around and I do see small, fussy stripers and blues feeding almost nightly.  In this warm weather they are not super aggressive and are tough to get. Sometimes, though, they will hit.  A few nights back I landed 12 stripers up to near keeper size.  That night the fish were agressive, feeding on peanut bunker.
So, at this time of year, there is no magic bullet, no sure bets.  It's a matter of getting out, casting away and hoping the fish are around and active.  If not, enjoy the scenery and the exercise. That's August fishing in a nutshell.