This is a counter to the Bigfish THREAD:

Here's one of mine (unfortunately, I have a few more):

While driving over 25 miles middle of the night to fish a perfect spot and tide, the line jumped off the manual pickup arm of my reel. When I arrived, I had no line-- just a couple turns of backing. Of course, I only had one outfit on board.:smash:

dark night in mtk few guys talking back behind me on the beach. I said eff it, im swimming out. swam out to a fvorite southside rock, not even sure these guys saw me. first 10 casts 5 fish all about 15-20lbs. realeased without having to turn on my light. 11 cast i hook up again, reach down to lip it, and hook swings into my hand. went into my knuckle and dug itself into the bone of my knuckle and shook. i could feel it scraping my bone. only way i was gonna deal with this was with a light. i flicked it one and almost instantly a darter goes flying past my ehad.

Fishing was awesome, at first but a finger that doesnt move all the way now and getting mugged ruined it.

my other worse was almost getting ht by a private boat and a party boat in the same day skishing. last time ive been in during the day hours

dark night in mtk few guys talking back behind me on the beach. I said eff it, im swimming out. swam out to a fvorite southside rock, not even sure these guys saw me. first 10 casts 5 fish all about 15-20lbs. realeased without having to turn on my light. 11 cast i hook up again, reach down to lip it, and hook swings into my hand. went into my knuckle and dug itself into the bone of my knuckle and shook. i could feel it scraping my bone. only way i was gonna deal with this was with a light. i flicked it one and almost instantly a darter goes flying past my ehad.

Fishing was awesome, at first but a finger that doesnt move all the way now and getting mugged ruined it.

my other worse was almost getting ht by a private boat and a party boat in the same day skishing. last time ive been in during the day hours

Do you legally need a dive flag do go skishing?

Do you legally need a dive flag do go skishing?

No but not a bad idea.

My low lights

Watching fish break directly across from me too many times at the canal.

Dragging Sax out to Woodend for a perfect dropping tide with perfect wind. To catch 1 16" fish. Just a bit of a hike. I destroyed a pair of waders and my leg on the way back too.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Finding this guy gone from his normal spot at the canal.
Missing (because of procrastination and fishing) the chance to say goodbye to him.
Realizing he was the main reason I'd even fish the place.
RIP Skip.

My Back

Too much sailor jerry that night at cutty :)

Asking for a day off here and there and being told " Arrrgh we need you on the job ! ". Then I get the wish you were here fish pics on the phone from my friends. Real stand up guys.
Wonder who taught them that torture trick. ?
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Dragging Sax out to Woodend for a perfect dropping tide with perfect wind. To catch 1 16" fish. Just a bit of a hike. I destroyed a pair of waders and my leg on the way back too.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

That did suck lol. But I'm grateful for the ride and the spot knowledge mark!


my best day this year could also be considered the worst. One day in june got some monsters, but deffinately lost my biggest fish of the year mid afternoon... my arms already felt like noodles, and I Didnt have a chance in hell of stopping this fish just kept going ZZZZZZZZZZ and finally came off. brought back a siwash on a super strike polaris that was bent 45 degrees out. I think about it at least once a day lol

Missing the Fall Run because of a torn achilles:smash:

recurring skin cancer, kept me, at least mentally, from spending alot of time out on the water.

Missing to many good tides due to work with the worst being the overnight security detail in Swampscott watching them search for a missing kayaker most of the night. Bothered me enough that I am considering selling my new kayak.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Finding this guy gone from his normal spot at the canal.
Missing (because of procrastination and fishing) the chance to say goodbye to him.
Realizing he was the main reason I'd even fish the place.
RIP Skip.

:huh: Skip is gone? :(
I didn't know that, had no idea
sad news George :(
what a nice guy
RIP Skip

not much to complain about. would have liked to have gotten out more.

lost a good fish one night to a bad knot. tied it and it didn't look right. gave it a good pull and it held so i said #^&#^&#^&#^& it out of fatigue and made a cast and hooked up. knot gave on second good run. got what i deserved.

also, my best fish of the year, 41 lbs, had so many lesions on it that i didn't want to touch it. barely fought, felt like a big cod. released it and it just swam away really slow. sad.

It's that glue.That old age glue that sticks me to the chair at night.
I don't want to face the fact that I might be getting old but I can't face the fact that I'm to darn old.
To many night plugs to fish,to many stars to fish under,to many fisher ghosts to talk to,to many reasons not to get old.

Finding this guy gone from his normal spot at the canal.
Missing (because of procrastination and fishing) the chance to say goodbye to him.
Realizing he was the main reason I'd even fish the place.
RIP Skip.

Alan just told me this last week. Met him probably 20 years ago and enjoyed our conversations over the years when I would run into him on canal. Great stories about days gone by fishing the canal. Such an enjoyable gentleman. RIP.

lost a good fish one night to a bad knot. tied it and it didn't look right. gave it a good pull and it held so i said #^&#^&#^&#^& it out of fatigue and made a cast and hooked up. knot gave on second good run. got what i deserved.

Josh, it has happened to all of us and you can bet it won't happen again. You will remember to double check no matter how tired. I lost a fish on a riggie at Black Point one night. Screaming drag and after 2 runs.....nothing. Line comes back with a pigtail on the end. From then on I tie a 3 turn clinch or Palomar and then throw an overhand knot on top just to be sure.

I've got no real complaints... a low light, I guess would be that as always... it ends too soon.. on the otherhand, I fished all season while reabilitating a torn MCL...I wore and annoying brace that did nothing to keep my knee from hurting non stop.. some nights I could barely stand.. but i pressed on... likely to my own detriment.. i fished from late July until the end with tendonitis in my left elbow.. every cast felt like an ice pick was being driven into the joint... the last week of the season I was eating advil and antacid tablets like candy... the Ice pack was my best friend...everything is much bettter now.. funny how a little rest cures all ills.. I've even started running again... I've rewired my entire electrical system in my 35 year old boat.. she's asleep now.. both of us anxiously awaiting the first breath of spring!

He was one of the reasons that made it easy to be a police officer in Whitman. Stopped by the station so many mornings out for a walk with the wife to give me the fishing news. His obit makes it very obvious what was most important to him outside of the home, fishing and lure making.

Low lights are easy, after a great (some might say EPIC) day of toggin alone end of Oct to use up leftover TogFest III crabs, hit a submerged object @35mph. My boat drafts <2-3' and I was in 20' water.


9-10hr each way ride on the HelenH with nothing to show for it!:smash:

Not fishing with Lawrence once this season. Unless you can count Lawrence yelling across the canal at me.

me either. No Lawrence. I did go to breakfast with him and AH,Don, one morning after we all ran into each other on canal after the fishing ended. Nice to catch up and to watch Larry drink a gallon of coffee.

No low lites for me all positive this year.

Low lights are easy, after a great (some might say EPIC) day of toggin alone end of Oct to use up leftover TogFest III crabs, hit a submerged object @35mph. My boat drafts <2-3' and I was in 20' water.


9-10hr each way ride on the HelenH with nothing to show for it!:smash:

Thats alot of damage for not hitting a rock.... I guess the brightside is your hull didn't get whacked...I hit a floating/partialy submerged telephone pole one night 3 miles off of the beach a number of years ago.. it did almost as much damage externally as it did internaly... hopefully you have no broken gears...SS props are great for cutting lobster trawls you dont see.. not so gentle on your gears and shafts... I've seen them actualy twist the spline on the drive shaft and never chip a gear... good luck...

Professor M... I did miss you making the trip with Slip.. maybe next summer...late JUNE!

yes Joe I missed coming up, but made out good with the eel donation.:uhuh: I think I was too tired and beat that week. I will indeed make it next year. Always a pleasure.

no comment.

He was one of the reasons that made it easy to be a police officer in Whitman. Stopped by the station so many mornings out for a walk with the wife to give me the fishin. His obit makes it very obvious what was most important to him outside of the home, fishing and lure making.

Oh man! i had now idea. Skip was very nice guy. Always enjoyed his visits in the shop. An expert eel skin jigger in my opinion. He made a great casting jig and Polaris popper.

May he rest in peace.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Do you legally need a dive flag do go skishing?

no

:huh: Skip is gone? :(
I didn't know that, had no idea
sad news George :(
what a nice guy
RIP Skip


Didn't know - yes, a truly nice guy & gentleman

Three rounds of cellulitis in my left leg. (July, Sept and Nov.)
Latest was last week, spending 5 days in IV antibiotics in the hospital.
Let's say it that it has me worried if it will happen again.

in CT lost a Beachmaster 40 on a Lobster Pot line. A pain in the butt even to break off when you get the slack and start dragging the pot towards you. Then moved and an hour later lost a Bassmaster needle - one of my favorites- on another lobster pot. Was so pissed-Never pots there before. :fury:

Went back 2 days later and plugs gone. That sucked.

need to try wetsuiting so I can swim to Lobster pots.

Zeebaas Idiocy: Just 3 weeks ago, my Zee was not right and running rough after this long season of use, including a new wear and tear wrinkle for me-- swim fishing. I send this back with a plea they would expedite service so I can use it to crank in a couple more migrators before season ends. Ron complies; in fact, he serviced it for free. Not even postage.

While remounting the reel, I drop it on a concrete floor and fatally bend the rotator head. What an idiot. And this idiot was bailed out again by the Zee people...fixed it for free. Not even postage.

Getting owned by Craig from VS in Montauk about a month ago. The fish showed up by the Sewer Pipe, on rainbait. After about an hour, I went back to the truck and switched over to the fly rod as the fish really didn't want plugs or bucktails. Tide was incoming so I headed over to a nice rock in Brown's with my fly rod, figuring the bite would move towards the light. The fish headed over and stayed for a few minutes, then went right back to the Sewer. Craig had gotten out on the farthest rock there, and just proceeded to hammer fish to the mid 20s, and breaking off one even bigger, all on the fly. Yeah I had my shots, but I got owned that day :(.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Zeebaas Idiocy: Just 3 weeks ago, my Zee was not right and running rough after this long season of use, including a new wear and tear wrinkle for me-- swim fishing. I send this back with a plea they would expedite service so I can use it to crank in a couple more migrators before season ends. Ron complies; in fact, he serviced it for free. Not even postage.

While remounting the reel, I drop it on a concrete floor and fatally bend the rotator head. What an idiot. And this idiot was bailed out again by the Zee people...fixed it for free. Not even postage.

Geez Alan. George told me about the Zee. You must of had some good moments

Tried and failed miserably (and repeatedly) to put my 2 sons (6&8) on bass. took them to normally good spots day and night (even woke them up at 2am to drive an hour, to fish a private but normally loaded spot) I knew of a few definite places, but they were much too dangerous for them. Then was supposed go out with a few different people on boats and we got blown off multiple times. They seemed to have almost lost interest in fishing which gives me pain in my chest. I would have given up every fish I caught over 10lbs this year just to see them both with a 10lb bass. I had my best year, but it's far over shadowed by my failure in putting my boys on bass. I will say though,,, they did not complain once when I got them up at 2am. not once. I am proud of that. If I can get them out there again next year my number one priority will be getting them on fish.

also lost a fish so big Victor offered to stop fishing and land it for me. DOH!!!

last but not least I blew out 2 pairs of breathables at the ditch.. hip boots next year for there.

I had my best year, but it's far over shadowed by my failure in putting my boys on bass. I will say though,,, they did not complain once when I got them up at 2am. not once. I am proud of that. If I can get them out there again next year my number one priority will be getting them on fish..

Been there, done that. I have some advice you might consider.

You are going about this wrong. I know, I made the same mistake and often wish I could do it over. Catching a large fish does not hook kids on fishing. Having fun is what does it. Take them scup fishing, snapper blue fishing, schoolie fishing, fresh water fishing, squid fishing. Go at reasonable hours and for short periods. Take their friends with them. Measure success in laughs and time outdoors rather than catch. If it is in them (and often it is not) they will grow into the sport themselves.

I was too intense, too focused on getting my sons' a big bass. They sensed it and didn't have fun. If big fish come at the expense of fun a kid will turn off to fishing quickly. Getting a child a big fish does not make up for our short-comings as parents (if only it did). Luckily, spending time with our kids having fun does.

everytime my god damm cabo would f-up

Remember that big run of September bass on the jig bite in the canal? Remember stories (or memories for some) of fishing that first night till daybreak and bailing big fish? Yeah I remember reading and hearing about it and keep thinking about why I left at the place just minutes before it started to go off!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Remember that big run of September bass on the jig bite in the canal? Remember stories (or memories for some) of fishing that first night till daybreak and bailing big fish? Yeah I remember reading and hearing about it and keep thinking about why I left at the place just minutes before it started to go off!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
It was within minutes too...:rotf2:

I forgot about this. I had a decent morning, went back to the cape, and got the call 40# on lots of macks. Forgot it was sunday afternoon in the middle of the summer. Traffic was backed up for miles getting off cape :fury:
THE most torturous traffic of all time. Finally got down there (on the wrong side) got a few nice keepers but it was the very end of the heavy action. And I got mugged and asked 1,000 questions by Mr. and Mrs Havecamp while fishing... GD tourists

All I have to say is Hopkins
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Been there, done that. I have some advice you might consider.

You are going about this wrong. I know, I made the same mistake and often wish I could do it over. Catching a large fish does not hook kids on fishing. Having fun is what does it. Take them scup fishing, snapper blue fishing, schoolie fishing, fresh water fishing, squid fishing. Go at reasonable hours and for short periods. Take their friends with them. Measure success in laughs and time outdoors rather than catch. If it is in them (and often it is not) they will grow into the sport themselves.

I was too intense, too focused on getting my sons' a big bass. They sensed it and didn't have fun. If big fish come at the expense of fun a kid will turn off to fishing quickly. Getting a child a big fish does not make up for our short-comings as parents (if only it did). Luckily, spending time with our kids having fun does.

Great advice, George. I took my 7 1/2 y.o. son a few times this season and we had fun every time, even when there were no fish around. I told him to let me know when he wanted to leave and never tried to force him to stay longer than he wanted. Now he asks me to take him fishing instead of me asking him if he wants to go. I had more fun fishing with him and getting skunked than I had on other trips where I got into nice fish without him.

As for my lowlights, I don't really have any. I didn't get out as much as the last few years, but I enjoyed it when I did. I also fished with some good friends and had a lot of laughs. I guess my only complaint is that I didn't get to fish with as many people from the site as I would have liked, but there's still time left this season.

I said "let me anchor up one more time " before the winds start blowing and i have to head in, during the last day of codfishing. Wind picks up on cue, and as i pay the line out of the windlass, the knot somehow unties after 6,000 anchorings at the end (i have a block of wood and a knot to stop the rope from ever paying out and going overboard). Needless to say, rope that i thought would float a little, sank like a stone, and anchor, chain and rope went bye bye. tried grappling to no avail.


Equally frustrating was my inability to get one of the best plug fishermen on this website into a decent fish all season. Probably 20 trips and not one good sized bass like years past. His brother came out one trip, and bested his best fish of the year by easily 4 inches. The tough part was i know he fished harder this year, then any other.

All I have to say is Hopkins
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

LOL that guy is tapped

leaking waders at a spot i go up to my stomach in. didn't care. tough walk bach in after 2 hours. and also soles of my boots ripped off down to the middle of my foot that night.

comfortable with an llbean wader exchange, but not the boots. time to research over the winter.

Been there, done that. I have some advice you might consider.

You are going about this wrong. I know, I made the same mistake and often wish I could do it over. Catching a large fish does not hook kids on fishing. Having fun is what does it. Take them scup fishing, snapper blue fishing, schoolie fishing, fresh water fishing, squid fishing. Go at reasonable hours and for short periods. Take their friends with them. Measure success in laughs and time outdoors rather than catch. If it is in them (and often it is not) they will grow into the sport themselves.

I was too intense, too focused on getting my sons' a big bass. They sensed it and didn't have fun. If big fish come at the expense of fun a kid will turn off to fishing quickly. Getting a child a big fish does not make up for our short-comings as parents (if only it did). Luckily, spending time with our kids having fun does.

Thank you Numby, I will always take advice from you. They are my little scup masters already. They want something with stripes, so next year I'm going to do as you said, and target schoolies for them. They see some pics of some of my fish and they say WE WANT THAT! So I do my best and fail fail. I'm going to try bringing one of their friends too. I'm sure they'd like that.

Been there, done that. I have some advice you might consider.

You are going about this wrong. I know, I made the same mistake and often wish I could do it over. Catching a large fish does not hook kids on fishing. Having fun is what does it. Take them scup fishing, snapper blue fishing, schoolie fishing, fresh water fishing, squid fishing. Go at reasonable hours and for short periods. Take their friends with them. Measure success in laughs and time outdoors rather than catch. If it is in them (and often it is not) they will grow into the sport themselves.

I was too intense, too focused on getting my sons' a big bass. They sensed it and didn't have fun. If big fish come at the expense of fun a kid will turn off to fishing quickly. Getting a child a big fish does not make up for our short-comings as parents (if only it did). Luckily, spending time with our kids having fun does.

I agree...I will invite my neices and nephews to come fishing at a local pond, and when they get bored (if action is slow) I let them do what they want.
Sure enough when they get bored with whatever they were doing, they come back to fish with me. I do the same thing when I take them ice fishing and get the same results.

Thank you Numby, I will always take advice from you. They are my little scup masters already. They want something with stripes, so next year I'm going to do as you said, and target schoolies for them. They see some pics of some of my fish and they say WE WANT THAT! So I do my best and fail fail. I'm going to try bringing one of their friends too. I'm sure they'd like that.

TJ we should get the boys together...Ty is great showing kids and goofing off with them inbetween fish.

This whole year was a fishing low for me..Did not go once due to ankle problems..5 screws,bone fushion and tendon shortening later and still in a wheel chair..
Next year has to be better for sure..:fishin:

Block Island ,,,,,,again

Lyme Disease

TJ we should get the boys together...Ty is great showing kids and goofing off with them inbetween fish.

Love the idea Andy! Next season for sure. Moose is awesome, I'm sure they'd love fishing with him. They already know who he is :fishin:

Geez Alan. George told me about the Zee. You must of had some good moments

...Not sure if I did Mr. Professor. Just last night: I had about a dozen good eels nicely ensconsed in my ice bucket--enough left to take me thru to the bitter end of the season, or maybe even to extend the season and visit my brother on the NJ Shore after Thanksgiving. So, this ? raccoon comes along, trashes my ice bucket, breaks in, and half eaten eels are laying all over my driveway.
I'm setting a trap; I'm tired of trashed trash cans. My eels are the last straw. Now, I am relegated to fish plugs like Numbskull, if I go again.

... I'm setting a trap; I'm tired of trashed trash cans. My eels are the last straw. .

In this epic battle of wits my bet is on the racoon.

I've pressure washed raccoons out of my trash barrels at night. They were back the next night. Just cleaner , cunning big rodents using the lids as cymbals.
Bleach did the trick though.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

In this epic battle of wits my bet is on the racoon.

can't you feel the :love:

...Not sure if I did Mr. Professor. Just last night: I had about a dozen good eels nicely ensconsed in my ice bucket--enough left to take me thru to the bitter end of the season, or maybe even to extend the season and visit my brother on the NJ Shore after Thanksgiving. So, this ? raccoon comes along, trashes my ice bucket, breaks in, and half eaten eels are laying all over my driveway.
I'm setting a trap; I'm tired of trashed trash cans. My eels are the last straw. Now, I am relegated to fish plugs like Numbskull, if I go again.

Come on down, we will put you on fish!! Would love to fish with ya, I even carry an extra spool of line in my truck...just in case :rotf2:

NJ invitation from Sgt. Striper! When/if I go down, I will contact you. And thank you! Brother Don sure made me jealous last year with amazing fishing thru December. Cold extreme fishing, but I should have a new coon skin hat by then.

He tells me, however, that the signs do not look too good with a season long absence of sand eel biomass in shore. he also says the two storms seems to have sterilized the beaches. And of course, many of those beaches are not yet accessible. Bonds.

Zeebaas Idiocy: Just 3 weeks ago, my Zee was not right and running rough after this long season of use, including a new wear and tear wrinkle for me-- swim fishing. I send this back with a plea they would expedite service so I can use it to crank in a couple more migrators before season ends. Ron complies; in fact, he serviced it for free. Not even postage.

While remounting the reel, I drop it on a concrete floor and fatally bend the rotator head. What an idiot. And this idiot was bailed out again by the Zee people...fixed it for free. Not even postage.

Not for nuthin', but have you considered another hobby?

LOL. He has been at this way too long to give up now and would be way more miserable without fishing. Besides George would be devastated knowing he wouldn't be able to enjoy Alan's follies.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

[QUOTE=ProfessorM;970139]LOL. Besides George would be devastated knowing he wouldn't be able to enjoy Alan's follies.

Yeah, I'd be more miserable not being able to torture George with my existence.

Anyhow, you can see I nailed this trash can trashing, eel eating son of a gun. I'll wipe that sh...eel eating grin off his face. If I were Daniel Boone, I'd put that thing on my head.

LOL. Nice catch. Name him George and don't let him bite you. This should be in the highlights section. Have a good Thanksgiving.

Anyhow, you can see I nailed this trash can trashing, eel eating son of a gun. I'll wipe that sh...eel eating grin off his face. If I were Daniel Boone, I'd put that thing on my head.

Biggest thing you caught this season.

I said "let me anchor up one more time " before the winds start blowing and i have to head in, during the last day of codfishing. Wind picks up on cue, and as i pay the line out of the windlass, the knot somehow unties after 6,000 anchorings at the end (i have a block of wood and a knot to stop the rope from ever paying out and going overboard). Needless to say, rope that i thought would float a little, sank like a stone, and anchor, chain and rope went bye bye. tried grappling to no avail.


Equally frustrating was my inability to get one of the best plug fishermen on this website into a decent fish all season. Probably 20 trips and not one good sized bass like years past. His brother came out one trip, and bested his best fish of the year by easily 4 inches. The tough part was i know he fished harder this year, then any other.

...almost blew my coffee out my nose reading this...!
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

Having a fish take your eel, and on the hook set, the 4/0 Gammi sets right back into the eel. The result is a VERY short fight, but always long enough to know what caliber of fish took your offering. It usually happens only 2 or 3 times a season.
NOT 2 DOZEN TIMES! :wall:

It cost me some very large fish this year.

... I also dropped a 46 pound fish and took 4 spines to the inside of my knee while trying to take a picture during a solo mission. A little home surgery was needed a few days later to remove two of the spines.

Lyme Disease

welcome to the club