After saying I would probably never do it, being a below par swimmer, and being way outa shape, decided what the heck. Always said I would hold off until the wetsuit crowd was kicking my butt in the catching dept. and that finally happened this year. After a failed attempt to get where I needed to, getting destroyed by a few big waves, and almost having a panic attack, I decided a vest would be the way to go. Fished in the vest all nite, and that seemed to work.

Both just under 42#. I may look just like a fat seal, but at least my first night in the water payed off. Def should of just eased into it to get a comfort level instead of just going balls out the first trip.

Way to go Tony well deserved! :humpty:

Nice fish, ive been thinkin bout the wetsuit option but i dont think its for me.

Nice fish TO! Congrats!:uhuh:

great results. Congrats.

congrats on the fish! and breaking in the new wetsuit

Congrats, you guys are on em good!

Freakin great post up TO. Sometime's it's best to go at something full-throttle (you did).

careful, soon "they" will be saying that wetsuit fish don't count...

Sweet job TO, save some for me. :tooth:

way to go tony!

no one more deserving tony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I know you've been putting some serious time in and its paying off

nice taking a little swim with the partner...isn't it

you really need to get a job

Great fish Tony, I don't think anyone deserved them more than you.

very nice

those are nice fish...!!!

:cens::cheers2:
where's Tbag???? I see the fish, but I can't see him......Must be the camo.....Those are some GREAT pics.
Some time over a cold one, the story can be told, and people will understand how much he TRULY earned those babies.
Congrats buddy.:cens:

:cens::cheers2:
where's Tbag???? I see the fish, but I can't see him......Must be the camo.
Some time over a cold one, the story can be told, and people will understand how much he TRULY earned those babies.
Congrats buddy.:cens:


I'll buy after the three of us fish:cheers2:

Sweet :btu:

nice couple of fish

Way to Go, Big T!
:claps: :claps: :claps: :claps:

good onya breaking in the new suit as well!!
and those are sum BEEEEE YOOO TEEEES!!!
:jump: :jump:





UH ohhhhhh!!






shore looks like Team S-B is making it's final PUSH!!
:eyes: :fishin: :fishin: :eyes:

My hat is off to you TO! Nice Job. Be careful out there though and know your limits.

Navy Seal..
Awesome

Nice

After fishing in a wetsuit I dont think I want to go back to waders and a dry top anymore. My waders leaked again and I dont even care. No more worries about water coming down the neck or taking on big waves. Just know your limits.

nice pair,how did Dawn make out? really well deserved fish TO

Impressive!

atta boy

nice job brotha!!

Good fishin Tony :btu:
that is a nice porker on the ground next to you, must be atleast a 40. I bet it gets easier each time you use the suit as you get more comfortable.

I love fat chicks

...After a failed attempt to get where I needed to, getting destroyed by a few big waves, and almost having a panic attack...

Everyone needs to keep in mind that the Wetsuit approach does NOT make you invincible. You HAVE to know the area that you're fishing. You have to know your LIMITS. You need to know what kind of depths you'll be crossing to get to your rock. You need to make sure your luggage doesn't out weigh your buoyancy. Luggage being the weight of your studded booties, a possible plug bag, tools hanging off your belt etc///. Sure, the first 20 - 30 feet are ok, but then you get tired...then what? With the bottom out of reach, you MUST have a game plan. What will you do? When that "panic" attack hits, you won't have the time you think you would when you think it out on dry land. Sure, if you're just bouncing from rock to rock within a safe, yet too high for waders area....you'll be OK, but when you see that rock thats' distanced itself from shore, putting you in water over you head.....and your brain says don't do it but your heart tells you there are fish there......BE CAREFUL. Don't be afraid to dunk that $700 reel attached to the 10' rod to touch bottom and give you some rest. Don't forget another BIG factor....CURRENT. Unless you have a 5hp strapped to your back, you're going to go for a ride when that water is ripping, taking you off the path that you've considered most safe, forcing you into unknown depths/holes etc. Waves along with the current will increase this danger, as well as make swimming more difficult. Your shoes are also very important, heavy boots will weigh you down, kicking to swim is almost pointless. Remember, you have a rod in your hand, you won't be using that hand to paddle. KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!! If you're all tech'd out, with all the proper gear...PFD, Finned-booties, etc,, great, you'll be better off...you can lie back and just kick your way back to Terra Firma...but a newbie just trying to get by with minimal gear....:hs: is in for a fear-ful reality check. Tony used his head by using the life-vest, he knows his limits and thats great, (GREAT FISH TOO T.O. ;) ) - Think before you Sink!! If water and swimming scare you, stay in your waders!!!

We're getting alot of reports from people fishing in wet suits and saying how great it is. All it takes is one death from someone on the board to bring us back to reality.


T.O. - Sorry,,, didn't mean to take away from your post. That's a nice pair you got there. Good Fishing. :claps::claps:

is it just me, or does Sir Tony

look in the two fish pic like,,,,,,,,,,,,,,


"the kid that got caught with BOTH hands in the cookie jar?"
:uhuh: :bl: :uhuh:


we should ALL be so mischievious, because those are some
EXCELLENT and Lahhhhge, COOKIES

Nice fish Tony. Did you and your partner float the length of the canal to get them?:fishin:

Nice

:laugha: You look like a corpse in that picture and the fish look alive.

Couldn't have happened to a more deserving felllow though..:btu:

I took out the red eye, although I don't think it was from the camera..

careful, soon "they" will be saying that wetsuit fish don't count...

Sweet job TO, save some for me. :tooth:
They said that on long island years ago

Thanks guys. Nice post Bloocrab 100% right. Best piece of equipment could also be a partner you can trust to drop everything if something gos wrong:wave:

Really nice fish T.O. To bad the sub-Standard-times blew your spot in today's paper.

Nice fish Tony. You deserve it!

Nice fish T-bag!!!! I'm gonna have to try that lifejacket thing out as well next time I head out. The suits are pretty buoyant but still. a little insurance never hurt anyone. Congrats....

-Chris

Everyone needs to keep in mind that the Wetsuit approach does NOT make you invincible. You HAVE to know the area that you're fishing. You have to know your LIMITS. You need to know what kind of depths you'll be crossing to get to your rock. You need to make sure your luggage doesn't out weigh your buoyancy. Luggage being the weight of your studded booties, a possible plug bag, tools hanging off your belt etc///. Sure, the first 20 - 30 feet are ok, but then you get tired...then what? With the bottom out of reach, you MUST have a game plan. What will you do? When that "panic" attack hits, you won't have the time you think you would when you think it out on dry land. Sure, if you're just bouncing from rock to rock within a safe, yet too high for waders area....you'll be OK, but when you see that rock thats' distanced itself from shore, putting you in water over you head.....and your brain says don't do it but your heart tells you there are fish there......BE CAREFUL. Don't be afraid to dunk that $700 reel attached to the 10' rod to touch bottom and give you some rest. Don't forget another BIG factor....CURRENT. Unless you have a 5hp strapped to your back, you're going to go for a ride when that water is ripping, taking you off the path that you've considered most safe, forcing you into unknown depths/holes etc. Waves along with the current will increase this danger, as well as make swimming more difficult. Your shoes are also very important, heavy boots will weigh you down, kicking to swim is almost pointless. Remember, you have a rod in your hand, you won't be using that hand to paddle. KNOW YOUR LIMITS!!! If you're all tech'd out, with all the proper gear...PFD, Finned-booties, etc,, great, you'll be better off...you can lie back and just kick your way back to Terra Firma...but a newbie just trying to get by with minimal gear....:hs: is in for a fear-ful reality check. Tony used his head by using the life-vest, he knows his limits and thats great, (GREAT FISH TOO T.O. ;) ) - Think before you Sink!! If water and swimming scare you, stay in your waders!!!

We're getting alot of reports from people fishing in wet suits and saying how great it is. All it takes is one death from someone on the board to bring us back to reality.


T.O. - Sorry,,, didn't mean to take away from your post. That's a nice pair you got there. Good Fishing. :claps::claps:


This is right on target..That look on TO's face in the picture is one of a man who is REAL happy to be back on land..One good bit of advice on wetsuits.You might see lots of affordable models in a 3/2 weight wetsuit.3/2 is nice when it is warm, overheating does happen to some.Everybody's body temps are different I get cold..If ur just using a suit to get to places your waders will take you it is good. A much safer option IMO..It does not make ya bullet proof...If your going over your head a heavier suit is what you want.5 mil suit will float ya quite a bit better than a the 3/2..If you can get away with a 7 mill once the temps drop some it is even better..I had interesting night on a 30 yd swim one time when the current got up.A relatively easy swim became much more difficult..Lets just say you don't want to buy my used suit..:rollem:

Keep showing me pictures of Fish like that and i may have to rethink me donning the "Chumley" outfit.....Those are sweet :kewl:

Congrats T! Glad you used your head.

You're a machine,Tony.:claps:

WOW some nice fish man.Congrats for the fish and the breaking in of the wetsuit.

Outstanding first night T w/ the suit. I like that safety option w/ vest. does it make you swim easier or help you maintain you in an uright positon?

what thickness suit are you using?

what thickness suit are you using? 3mm farmer john with a 5mm jacket.

Are you a comm fisherman?

Nice fish.

After hooking into something that spooled me the other night right to the knot from 30' off the beach, I am weary of swimming with the fishes.

Stay safe and avoid areas with seals.

WOW.. how did I miss this???

Way to Go Tony!!!

not tooooo shabbby. :D

Nice pair!!

Nice fish!

Tony...Sexy Fish and Sexy Wet Suit! Seriously though Congrats!

Sweet :btu:

yeah this pic should make the front page John !

http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c66/ravenob1/TonyO.jpg

Question from an amateur:

When doing this wetsuit method, I guess you're out there either almost or actually swimming around fishing. What about the reel? It's undoubtedly getting wet if not soaked.....are there precautions? particular equipment used?

Thanks. Bruce.

What about the reel? It's undoubtedly getting wet if not soaked.....are there precautions? particular equipment used?

Thanks. Bruce.

Bruce, technology has given us reels that can be dunked and submerged for long periods of time without worries. Van Staal and Zeebaas to name a few.

holy cow them are some bass's. Good job T