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.  

Thats a great story Matt.

Good luck with the rest of your vacation.

I agree that was a great store to read you write very well makes me want to hit the surf tonight, and I have never surf fished before.  Good job keep it up.

You're a sick dude...blowing 20-40mph yesterday and you went out.

Nice fish though, you have gone over to the salty side...

You're a sick dude...blowing 20-40mph yesterday and you went out.

Nice fish though, you have gone over to the salty side...

Not only did I go out, but I went to Beavertail... alone... in the dark.  8-)

Wasn't too bad, ended up picking seaweed out of my teeth this morning. Is it bad when you can't see over the next wave?  

Awesome pic... great story keep them coming hope your trip goes well

nice, dude. I'm going to go striper fishing pretty soon.

Stripers are a blast. i have only caught one when i was on my spring break in GA. I wish we had more around me. Good lookin fish!!!

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.

LOL

BAHAHAHAHA! If someone stops and asks if I caught anything I'll tell him "Not now chief, I'm in the ZONE!"

;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Fishes love my new haircut.

That's a very a nice catch..........

Surf is probably my favorite place to fish, this time of year I do it every day.  Too bad we have flat seas down here, bring on the wind, 20+mph 2-4 chop is primo down here.

Thanx all. This is pretty much what it looked like, except after dark.

Another example of the terrain. It's no wonder someone dies here every year. It's about a 30 ft drop from the grass to the water.