...Read them all ... Jake/Fred pretty much sums in up for me too .. No hissy fit if I don't catch what I want .. Still consider it time well spent even if its a skunk ..

All of the above...but most importantly, peace of mind.

I'm with this too, and adding any day on the boat is a day I feel happy about, at long as something doesn't break.

When I'm out there throwing lead in the canal at 2am, it's because I am looking for a fish that can pull me off my rock.

When I head out plugging I have a very different, much more relaxed mindset. I'm moving around much more, observing the environment and what's going on around me. Looking for spots that hold fish, the rush of the water around a submerged rock, nervous water, or the cut in a bar. I love that first cast whack when you switch to a danny at first light, or the smack of a fish on a pencil when the sun just touches the water @ dawn.

i always expect to get the maximum of each trip- catch fish (does'nt always happen) , swim pluggage, enjoy where i am, and of course company of my fishing buds.....:humpty:

Depends on the times I'm out OTW...

If I happen to have the time/energy to be out at a "good", meaning "a productive" time I'll look for large. Most of the time I'll make the effort to fish my spots at the optimum times.

Often I can only get out when time/schedule allows....may normally be a lousy time of day, bad tide with respect to location etc...then I'll just fish to enjoy being out and take what comes and be happy just to be out.

That being said, I never target anything but large.

to get a friggin tuna! Damn things are my unicorn! seriously, last year there were a few times a longer gaff would have got them.

If I don't have any expectations, then I won't be disappointed

I fish in the day time hoping that a hot chick in a hot bathing suit stops and talks to me :chatter

Got that right Dave :uhuh: we sure don't go there for the skittos

almost what Ake G said....
Sometimes I'm content to just be out and don't expect much due to conditions, place, mood etc.....
Other times I'm in the zone and dissapointed if let down...
Not counting early spring schoolies. I am always looking for large.
It will be all buisness this upcoming season, I have been screwing around the past couple of years. I am expecting better results and cannot wait till spring.

I had a big long explanation going,then I forgot what I was trying to explain.So in short I expect nothing when going fishing.I hope for the best but expect nothing.I just like fishing,nature and outdoors.If you expect nothing then get skunked you really have nothing to complain about.Double negative cancels itself out.Almost like the whole thing never happened.:huh:

It's the thrill of the hunt. I'm equally happy checking out new secret spots or crowd fishing with a bunch of friends. I love spur of the moment all night commando raids. Breakfast is always better when you have plugged for 10 of the last 12 hours. The best part is trying to keep my head up on the long drive home.:kewl:

My Location says it all:>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>^^^^.

I am targeting 50+#'ers every time I'm out there.
C&R all but two for the entire year and never keep anything over 38"
for the table. that may change a little this year as iam entering a few more weigh slip tourneys. I am definitely more of the TonyO mind set. i am verrry thankful for each moon that i am blessed with to catch fish and with each fish that is able to find my eeeeeels/chunks/lures. just am not jazzed by anything under 40".

Just a quick thought for the i'm only out there for the stars, and sunrises, and the comraderie, and the ease of spirit and body participants. Can't ya do that AND target Large if you so desire? Just because you walk away from schoolies and booos to go get a fish of a lifetime does not mean that the sun ceases to rise, the waves will end their symphony, nor do the stars refuse to shine. Also, i don't think it works in the reverse order, gents. Am pretty sure that you have to target LAHHHGE first, and in doing so then you may land decently sized keepers and smaller, not the other way around :wall: :wall: :wall:.

By using eeels and aiming high last year, my pb was bigger for both Stripers and boos and i got schooled by some much bigger beetches, rather than me landing more schoolies. This year should be even better, cause this time i've got their bait, i've got their address, i've gotten to know them better, and i've got a nice shiny, laser sharp invitation for them to meet me at my rocks !! :jump1: :jump1: