When I checked my watch last night (or should I say this morning) It showed 1 AM. I had been fishing some of the most rugged terrain in the North East. Even though the moon was putting out enough lumens for me to cast a shadow, I persisted.

I was at my Mecca, my sacred ground. A place that my family has been catching Striped Bass at for four generations. After 5 hours of climbing, and casting, traversing, and wading... jumping, and getting pounded by waves, my legs and arms were getting tired.

It was a slow night. A full moon typically sends my expectations in the toilet, and this night wasn't much different. I had one good fish on for 5-10 seconds and then she was gone, also a few bumps but no takers. At least it was a sign. The previous night was terrible. Not even a bump. It's October after all... the time to fish is now!

Well, like the saying goes: "You can't catch 'em from the couch." So, I persisted. The tide was in it's final hour and I knew my chances were growing slimmer by the minute. The time had come. "One more cast, then I'm outta here."

There's something about surfcasting for Stripers. You better be ready. Don't lose focus for even a second. When I'm alone out in the surf, perched on a rock with the Atlantic doing it's best to knock me down, I'm focused on one thing: retrieving that lure in just the right way. I'm not thinking about what my wife and son are doing at home, or what bills need to be paid. I am in the zone. And that's where you need to be when the hit comes. And boy did it come from out of nowhere!

A 6 inch Storm shad did the trick. After a brutal tug of war and a screaming drag, I had her by the gill plate. A quick hoist on the Boga said 19 pounds, and the markings on my rod confirmed 34 inches. A quick picture and then off into the next wave she went. I don't know for sure if it was fatigue, or adrenaline; or both, but my hands and legs were shaking!

Just when you're ready to pack it in, great things can happen. Ike was right. "Never give up!"

And to think, only eleven days of vacation left.  

Nice story and picture, Congrats on a well earned fish.

  I know how you feel.  There have been days when I just start getting hits like firecrackers and I just have to be back home to be ready for work the next day.  "One more cast!" just sums it up.

that was me the other night , i just kept fishing and my girl called me telling me am i ever gonna come home , it was 3:30 am !!! and i went out tonight , doing some crappie fishing and catfishing , yup got home about 20 minutes ago (1:40 am ) now im waiting for the crappies i caught to die so i can fillet them ........

That is such a great feeling. Congrats on a nice fish.