Last season I met a guy who was visiting a good friend here who is mainly a boat fisherman and mainly targets bones, blues and albies. He was here for a few days fishing and visits him each year during the derby. My friend said that his buddy loves to surf fish and has gone here on his own with so-so results so far. And maybe I would take him some night. We could not hook up last year but when he returned this season I told him to look me and we would make a night trip or two. Well he emailed and kept in touch all winter and I could tell he really wanted to go surf fishing when he got here this fall. He really is kind of a novice but loves to fish and appreciates the beauty of the surroundings as much as I do.
The other night I told him I would pick him up at 8:30 and we would give it a try in one of my more remote spots. He was clearly thrilled over the phone. We drove down the loooong dirt road turning here and there and he was amazed I knew were we were going. We got to the spot and all looked prime. All alone, tide and wind perfect...it was classic. A near full moon shrouded by fall clouds but warm. We fished for 1/2 hour and neither of us had a bump. I started to walk down the beach a bit; we were about 1/4 mile apart at that point. Then as the tide started to move I had a couple smaller fish in the teens that I let go. And I walked back to get him and he was beaming. He was so excited! He had just landed "the biggest fish of my lifetime in the most amazing fishing spot in the world...I can't thank you enough!!!" he said. Wow! I said, that’s great! I am really happy for you. ANd we walked down the beach a bit and there lie his "monster". It was only about 21# or so but to him it was the fish of a lifetime. He could not believe he landed it.
I forgot how thrilled you get when you break your personal best no matter what the size.....its been a while for me. It made my night to see him so thrilled.

I know that feeling:happy:

it really is such a rush when you know IF you can get it in it will be your best yet...That was great of you to get him out there...That is a night he probably won't forget for a long long time...:D

its a great feeling congrats to u and ur friend. thats y we do this :)

Hoping to top mine tonight! Great story Mr. Sandman!:D

that is a great story.....it is also great to enjoy the happiness of your close friends. That is what fishing is about.

Enjoyed the story Mr Sandman. Just two weeks agao my brother and I took my father down the Canal and we were into fish for 2 hrs straight!. Although the fish we all sub 33", my father hasn't fished salt water in probably 15 years. He was hooting & hollering every time a fish hit his top water lure, whether he set the hook or not. Haven't seen him that happy in years. Non stop chat on the walk back to the cars also. Really made us feel good.

It'll be interesting to see how I react when I catch my 1st 30lber as I still get excited with every fish I catch regardless of size.

Hey Sandman,

I'll be returning to Cuttyhunk to celebrate my wife's 50th birthday and I'll be on the hunt for 50's, above and below water.

Send me an e-mail if you want to hook up on or after Columbus Day -- hopefully there won't be another gail blowing.

Mike

Mike,

Well if history is any guide, your visit almost assures a Nor’easter!;) You have a better accuracy then the farmer’s almanac!

I have a story for you too...At dinner one evening, I asked my kids how was school. (Typical family dinner conversation). I get two very curt "OK's". Having to pry a little to find out more, I ask what they did today. The little guy talked about the typical things a 3rd grader does. The other boy (6th Grade) said. Well, we had to write an essay. (long pause) Prying more, Oh, I said, what about? Well, we had to think about if we could be anyone for a day who would you be and why. So my wife and I intrigued about whom he wrote about asked after a long silent pause,
Well...., who did you want to be for a day? (Thinking Mom, Dad, Bill Gates, Presidents, CEO's of major companies)...he said: “I though about it a long time and I want to be Mike Laptew for a day!” :D
My wife and I eye's bulged and could not figure out how he came up with your name then he said. Dad gave me a book to read about the MV derby and fishing on the vineyard and there was a chapter by Mike Laptew who went diving in Menemsha between the jetties and he told about all the things he saw down there. I think it would be cool to see what he sees down there.

Honest to God!

I said, yep! It sure would be cool to be Mike Laptew for a day....pass the potato's...

I'll be in your neck of the woods come Columbus day...I'll contact you prior to your visit.

Jim

Wow, I'm flattered beyond words.

I don't know what to say other than somedays I do feel like the luckiest guy in the world (usually the days when monster stripers or sailfish are passing by my lens). But then there are those days (usually when a nor'easter is blowing by) when I would rather be your son with nothing more to worry about then my next essay.

It's obvious that you need to get him under the waves (I think you mentioned that he has a wet suit) and I would be happy to take him for a guided underwater tour of Cuttyhunk...perhaps next spring.

Maybe we could make a new TV series out of this...The Underwater Apprentice.

I just got notified from the people at Amphibico (makers of the worlds finest underwater housings) that I'll be getting one of their first ultra wide angle, zero distortion lenses. I've been waiting five years for this baby and the resulting images should be unbelievable. The fact that it cost more than most cameras just means I'll have to sell a lot of DVDs.


Mike

Great story Jim, do I get my guided tour of the Vineyard next year?
:D

great story Mr Sandman, i had a simular expeirence with a fellow from n carolina a few years back, it was also a 21# bass :) that man was so happy, he almost floated away. we make so many great memories while plying our trade, can't get much better than that!!:D