My personal best ever......so far.
 

I got my personal best on Wednesday, I've been surfcasting for 8 years and saltwater fishing as long as I can remember, and until this year never broke 20 lbs but that all changed this year when I became the first person to fish the canal in a wetsuit while sweating (Inside joke form another forum). I've had numerous 20 lb fish this year.

The fish I got today was 44" and probably 30+ pounds, no scale, so Im using a friends fish as a reference (44" and was 32 lbs).

The fish hit hard and made a few nice runs, i fish my drag tight and this fish was pulling a decent amount of line out, had to tighten it a bit to slow her down.

Its really incredible the power a fish has, i could feel every tail movement and head shake, and so many things go thru your mind, its crazy.

I kept her off the bottom and Steve aka Beaver came over to land the fish for me, thanks again, ill return the favor.

I was shaking and in shock, never having caught anything that big I was pumped. we took some measurements and some pics.

I climbed down in the water, again the wetsuit helped out, and revived her, didnt think she was going to make it there for bit, but she came too and gave a nice tailslap and shower spray on her way out.

All in all my best fish and was really glad to share it with friends and get pics and release the fish. Thanks again guys, Im sure ill remember this day for awhile. :happy:

Beautiful fish and great job on the release! Congrats!!:btu:

Congrats Chris, nice fish

Awesome fish. Nice work!

nice fish chris, congrats man you def earned it. :cheers:

That fish is a horse! It must have been a great fight. How long did it take?

I thought the canal never had fish! :chased::uhuh:

awesome stuff, that right there is why we all love this crazy game....
congrats

god, someday I want to write this post! haven't made pass 40" yet. congrates!

beautiful fish - congrats!

Congratulations!! Nice fish!

CONGRATS, ChefC, on a new pb!!

well done, and an excellent story~~~
:claps: :claps: :claps:

That fish is one to be proud of, congrats.

Good choice letting her swim. No better feeling in fishing than having a large fish revive in your hands, gain strength and swim away. Adds a lot to the accomplishment of catching them.

And it brings you lots of karma points.:uhuh:

Congrats Chris. You really seem relentless in your pursuit. I have the feeling that fish will just be the start for you.

BTW, those wetsuit pants look fierce on you. :love:

I completely agree...I prefer that feeling (release) than carrying her to the trunk.

Great going Chef! The bar goes higher!

Nice fish. You should have stuck around. I went back after stopping back at red top and there were more fish that size all to myself. I saw you guys leaving but my horn didn't work and as you know my phone went for a swim in the ditch. I'll give ya a buzz tomorrow when the new phone comes in.

congrats. way to go!

He lives! What's up bud?

Chris - nice fish :btu: , nice release

Awesome.... really nice fish

nice work. I think I rode past you this morning.

nice fish- congrats

Great work.

Very nice...that's all of 30+, I'd say close to 35.

The only reason I say it was a 30 is because my buddy got a fish that was 44" and it weighted 32 lbs.

So by saying just 30 it should cover me.

No one around had a scale and the bootleg boga I have doesnt have one.

The only reason I wanted to keep the fish was to accurately weight it, but is that fish's life worth 5lbs??, i dont think so. Ive been putting my time in and felt it would help my fishing karma to release her. i got enough pics to be happy and the satisfaction that came with it.

The printed pic is already printed and framed with the plug that caught her hanging on the wall. Thats all I need for now. and a 60lb boga grip or accurate scale.

Thanks everyone for the comments. i know its not the biggest fish ever but a big accomplishment for me.

Ill be out all the time and i'm usually dressed like this, stop and say hi or whatever.

awesome fish chris, glad i was there to see it. The best part was when she gave u the tail slap swimming away you put it perfectly. and i quote

"That was F!@#$NG awesome"

haha:drool:

good for you bud :)

That's great Chris :btu:

any fish like that is an accomplishment from the canal

thanks so much for releasing her :uhuh:

Nice fish....got my personal best down there this week as well...was 42"......
Congrats!

Nice, congrats!