First off, it's only fair that I tell you, I spent 11 hours on the water yesterday, without so much as a touch. But I wasn't the slightest bit deterred :-) On the contrary, I was actually planning a 12 hour trip today (sunrise to sunset).
So anyway, I had had a pole-bouncing, 14" Split Tail on the end of my line for about an hour, when.... Whack ! ZZZZZZZ.... There goes the bait feeder ! 3-2-1... Swing.. Fish on ! And this fish was stubborn too ! But with steady pressure, I had it to the boat in less than 5 minutes. And what an absolutely beautiful fish it was ! (I still don't see how the majority of anglers in these parts, could throw a fish like this on a stringer, and not give it the chance to grow to 50 plus lbs ! I guess they wouldn't like to catch a 50 plus lb'er ???) Anyway, the lighting was great, and I was really happy with the photo of this one. Oh... it went 23.8 lbs. Not a bad one. It released really well, too.
So, about 2 hours later, the tide had turned from an outgoing, to an incoming. Once again, my other Split Tail (I had two live ones) was bouncing my pole pretty good..... When Whack ! This one didn't really run off with it, but I could feel it sitting there, chewing on it.... So, 3-2-1.... Swing ! Fish on ! Another good fighter. Ends up being an older looking fish, with a bigger head, and thicker frame, although a bit shorter, and more hollow bellied. It still went 24.7 lbs though (the number we would all like to be fishing, right ? :-)) It released very well also.
So anyway, not long after the second fish, and here comes the North wind from hell ! ..... plus, I already had had a good trip.... plus, I need to go grocery shopping.... plus, I wanted to go play with my photos :-) ......all leading to an early day off of the water, but a fun day, none the less.
Back out there at 6:30am tomorrow ! Yeeehaaa ! :-)
Peace,
Fish
PS, I'm really stoked about the modified C/R treble hooks I'm working with ! I wonder how many giant Stripers would have been saved over the last 50 years, if somebody would have come up with this idea, way before me ? Of course, regardless of how the fish is hooked, the angler still has to "want" to release it.
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