The passion and the challenge. The fact that at the time out there, with the noise of the surf, the salt air, the letting go of all stress, it is relief. This thing we do is a gift, given only to us, and with this gift, we are given the passion and ability to enjoy this gift. Others don't enjoy it as we do, because they are not blessed with this precius passion for this thing we do.:kewl:

Bass are regal fish, and the quest to catch them provides an interesting challenge. Fishing the rocks, an outflow, or a pristine beach also puts me in an environment I enjoy. The other day I stopped to check the waters around India Point and I just did not get excited.

this is what we do Bass Fishin it is the quest the challenge besides what the hell r we gonna do with all the expensive gear we buy :laugha:

for me, Eben, it IS all THAT and MORE!!!
excellent thread, oh wise and Nebullous One.

being linked to the generations before us, as surfcasters,
and those that will follow is the quintessential NE experience.

truly, it is the last bastion of hunting and gathering for REEL Men.
i CRAVE the challenge of solving the Striper Puzzle in all its facets!!
the pelagics are sexy; but for fibreglass jocks ONLY, same for trophy tarpon.

the whole addictive behavior and obsessiveness thang is HUGE,
once you start landing sum LAHHGE with any regularity.

then, for me, there is the competition factor~~~~
aren't we ALL in this for the glory of the IGFA 80#'er,
our personal bests, and restoring The Cup to its rightful perch???

i also LOVE the danger/adrenaline factor, or pitting my strengths and weaknesses against rocks, weather, and surf; mastering the fear of the DARK; taming the beasts within; and pushing myself as hard as is possible~~~leaving it all out there in the pursuit of the Striper of a Lifetime~~~guess i've always been an adrenaline junkie!!! nevermind that each and every fish over 40#'s has its own unique and individual way of fighting(runners, hunkerers, jumpers, immoveables, rock-wrapper-arounders and reef-wrapper-unders, linerubberers, spoolers, feet-zoomers, etc......) :kewl: :kewl: :kewl:

it keeps me humble. whether skunking or catching~~ being able to commune with God, nature, and beast on such high levels is what keeps me SANE and grounded within this CRAZINESS we call Life. or, is that the other way around? either way, without this surfcraziness i WOULD GO insane. and thanks be to God for the Blessing of His Glorious Bounty and the ability to appreciate and partake of His Creation as it is manifest before us.

our backyards are some of the MOST BEAUTIFUL shorelines in the world, they are loaded with a quarry that keeps you guessin', and a prey that ARE as majestic as they ARE prolific. when we put ALL THAT together with the colors, smells, and sounds of a Striper Dawn~~~it just doan get ANY BETTER than that for my recreational investments of time, energy, and monies. and the rewards/benefits of our endeavors are priceless :uhuh: :uhuh: :uhuh: :uhuh:

~~okay, i'll play too~~

May the bait rise up to meet you,
The SURF; yer ready and faithful steed.
May a Fifty fare well to greet you,
The trophy; worthy of all thy deeds.
:kewl: :kewl: :kewl:

For me its about: The "Take"; Moon Set; Fire in the Water; Northern Lights; Finding a Flat Rock in a field of Round; The "Music" of Strained Mono; The Sound of Cobble in a Receding Wave; Korker Sparks; An Unexpected Saltwater Slap in the Face, Stale Coffee and Pepperidge Farm Cookies at 3am; Silent Conversations with myself; The"Release".

DZ

well SAID!!!
:claps: :claps: :claps:

spoken like a reel author, and
wily veteran of the Striper Coast!!

thanks for your cohesiveness, DZ
:bl: :bl: :bl: :bl:

What Snake Slinger said, if you have to eplain it to them they won't understand.
I notice a "LOOK" in the eyes of striper fishermen.
It is kind of a look that says I know where happiness is and I know where peace is.
You won't see this look everywhere. I am not sure if it is a sparkle or a glaze or even the dead zone from lack of sleep.

I fish for the memories it creates. They will be the only thing you can take with you when you die.

Im addicted to it, plain and simple. I have an addictive personality and have always jumped into things headfirst, and immersed myself until I got good at it. Plus its the only real chance to catch a truly big fish without having to buy a boat, and its a challenge to get a big one from shore. And I really love having no skin left on my thumbs from May to October.

Striper magic, plain and simple.
 

You said it Mike!:cheers2:

Interesting timing here.. Just today I was cleaning up a bunch of my gear for this season and was asking myself "WTF am I doing this for??"
thanks for the bump Raven

Yup, puts everything in perspective. :)

I am going into my 4th season. I was taking stock and trying to get my stuff in order this weekend. I had plugs in rubbermaid boxes under my bed, Behind the couch, Rods and reels in two closets, box of ronz and sluggos in my liquor cabinet. The side of the fridge has a long filled in 2009 calender with days highlighted so my girl would know where I was if I was gone. My dining room table is littered with leader material/ziplocbags filled with tied leaders/ empty Gami hook boxes that have been refilled with epoxy sticks and zapagap--How the hell did this start, and why can't I stop?? And I don't even fish plugs, I fish eels 90% of the time and I still have 100's of plugs.

My girl is still waiting for her ring..:wid: