... fish 20 lbs. and under on every other cast for 5 hours in a row OR a single 40 lb. fish on a 5 hour trip?

Have done the former a million times....never caught a 40! So I would pick the latter! I feel a change in the air!:musc:

ill take the small ones...

either is fine with me. But since all I catch are shorts (not a single keeper from the shore yet!), I'll take large.

Have only caught a few in 30lb range so I would choose the 40lber at this point in my fishing career. Although one could argue that the reason I have never caught a 40 is because I am too busy having fun with smaller fish on every other cast. Been a few times that I have planned a trip to the Elizabeth Islands and barely left West Falmouth Harbor because the fishing was so good in terms of amount caught.

that's a tuff choice for me because i do not have a forty under my belt yet from boat or surf(32 is my best to date).man 5 hrs. one fish i'll take the 40 ok point me in the direction.

I'll take the 20# fish every other cast ... on light tackle, over 5 hours of waiting for 1 40 lb fish. I don't get out near as much as I used to so I'll take the action over the poundage.

I'll take the 1 40 lb'er......I want quality over quantity.

The next day I'll take the 20 lb'ers on every other cast

i'll take the 40- monday night please.

40 hands down, 5 hours is a drop in the bucket

40# allllllllll day!

time isn't a factor for me since my wife lets me fish when I want, so i'll take the 40.

I'm totally focused: I fish for one thing only every outing:


A 35- 50 lb. Striper or better is my only goal... each & every time I wet any of my lines! :humpty:


Had (& released as always) a 39 lber. in 6' of water 4 nights ago! :smokin: Life for hardcores is very good down here right now! More Bunker (Pogys) than we've seen in over a decade! :wave:

either or, I am not fussy

I don't care I just like catching fish, 1 fish or 40 fish it's all fun

I would much rather catch the 40#. I am still waiting to break 30#, I have caughten many fish 20#+, especially if it only took 5 hours. I would spend the other 3 hours trying to catch a 20.

I can on most days catch 20 inch fish without any problem at all but I scoff at anyone who would suggest HOURS of catching 20 pounders was a regular occurrance. Sure there are highliners in every port but I have caught a bunch of 36 inch fish that were not 20 pounds.

That being said I really wish they would push the mark of a keeper back up another 8 or 10 inches. It just seems I caught alot more 35" fish when the limit was 36". I guess it's like deer hunting. One man's button buck is another man's trophy. Good luck this weekend whatever your goal might be..

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

Amen.....

(Hey Steve. you should be a writer.....:rolleyes:)

... fish 20 lbs. and under on every other cast for 5 hours in a row OR a single 40 lb. fish on a 5 hour trip?

One large for sure, but it would have to be way over 40, caught enough of them...:humpty:

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

I hope I'm #5 .. I've never been #3... I've always put family over fishing..Looking back, best catches have been the kids.. You write some thought provoking stuff ,.. please pardon my mindless dribble ..

Nice, Flap, real nice.

I'm pretty sure i'll never catch a 40 so i'll stay with the smaller ones.

Ill take the hours of 20's and under as long as under didnt mean a bunch of schoolies. If they were 15lb and up id do it all day. Hopefully tonight will be either one or the other, i aint too picky.

what Flaptail said. Keep up the nice work; good thoughts and words.

Mike

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

that is so dead on...good stuff Flap...Ive seemed to rifle through them all (almost:rotf2:) in my short career...
I still want large though...

40

I'll take the 40 all day, baby.

If I was with my son, than the non-stop action would work.
And if I'm out there on a dark night,by myself, a 40 will do me just fine.:kewl:

I'm firmly in steps 4 and 5, but I don't get what you meant about losing the fun factor. Last night I didn't get a single bump but I had a great time. I'll be out on the rocks without gear in a few weeks. Surgery will keep me from using a fishing rod for a while. But I will still be able to point and laugh at my fishing opponents as they try their best for those "fortys":btu:

40 pounder

After much deliberation on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather have 15 lb bluefish on every cast. You can have the schoolies and the 40 lb bass would be nice and all, but I secretly love a big bluefish. Fiesty gamesters, those blues...

I hope clammer reads this :hihi:

40

That's a tough one - I was away last week and had a night of cookie cutter 20 pd fish with hits almost every cast for over 2 hours. Best night I have had in ages and it was great fun. Having had that night, I'd spend 5 hours tonight for a 40.

After much deliberation on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather have 15 lb bluefish on every cast. You can have the schoolies and the 40 lb bass would be nice and all, but I secretly love a big bluefish. Fiesty gamesters, those blues...

I hope clammer reads this :hihi:
I would second this, but add I want a self release after I see them

I've never had a 40 so I'd take the new personal best.

After that, unless it was a new personal best, I'd take the nonstop fish every time.

Doesn't really make much of a difference to me ... catching those fish can be fun and fills up with good memories, but a 40 is always nice - although I have not taken one from the surf yet, only from boats.

That's a tough one - I was away last week and had a night of cookie cutter 20 pd fish with hits almost every cast for over 2 hours. Best night I have had in ages and it was great fun. Having had that night, I'd spend 5 hours tonight for a 40.

I agree with this, at this point (not getting out enough and not catching a whole lot when I do) I'd take a night of a lot of fish to 20lbs, then the next night I'd take the 40.

Flap, your fishing life sequence reminded me of the famous fishing quote:

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
-Henry David Thoreau

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

Thankfully, I never left stage 1

40

I'll take yesterday on the flyrod.:grins: I had just one of those days that you remeber for a long time. 3 fish just over 20#s on the fly, and fish just about every cast on light tackle and fly with some good friends.

i'll take the 40 over hours of dinks, ANYNIGHT!!!

5 hours is nothing to pull a 40#'er from the surf.
so far i've logged 2 years, 3 months, 21 hours, 43 minutes,
and still ticking for my first 40;

but hey, who's counting??
:heybaby: :heybaby: :heybaby: