Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

eelman · 04-25-2002, 09:35 AM

Thanks for the “sincere” heartfelt post bloo.

IM sure no one is losing sleep over my absences from the boards or the suds!

John is right, that forum was started as a fun thing I did however post my strong opinions regarding surf fishing! It all seemed to revolve around the use of eels! I never liked plug fishing, as it never gave me the results I was after, Sure I caught some nice fish on plugs but never of the caliber that eels would bring.

I didn’t actually “quit fishing” I just had to prioritize. Before I jumped headfirst into marital bliss and fatherhood I was able to fish at will, morning noon and night! And, I did. I caught just about every size striper there is and using every method their Is. was fortunate to have that time to fish like that. For the better part of 10 years there I did nothing but fish 7 days a week, regardless of weather, cold, tide moon etc. just had to be on the water. Now, as I was told would happen, Things have drastically changed.

First and foremost I do not want to miss out on a single thing my daughter does and experiances, She will only be 4,5,6 once in a lifetime and, at her age now, I need all the energy I can get! I am much more content now just puttering around my yard on a Saturday and, heading to chuck-e-cheese on a Saturday night, or flying a kite with her in the park. These things are far more important to me than catching a few more fish to notch on my belt. For years I never saw daylight in the summer! I finally realize what I have missed! There are other things worth living for in life!

Next I need to make ends meet! I also enjoy working and making the extra money. Having my own business has also become a kind of hobby in itself. IM loving it! I am doing this with my father who is pushing 70yrs old; I am truly enjoying spending time with him as a friend, who knows how much time is left?

Also many of the guys I fished with have either quit or bought boats. They are all older than I am and simply cant put in those grueling hours on the beach anymore. Without them, things just are not the same realize that I am still very young and have plenty of time in the future to pick up where I left off! Joe pack is a prime example, At 56yrs old; He is not about to walk out to naps at 2 am for a couple of 20lb fish. Now he bought a boat so, he gets his 8hours of sleep, steams out to BI and gets all the fish he wants in an hour cant say as I blame him. I also saw myself slipping into the same pattern as others I have known very close friend and fishing partner of mine was divorced over the sport, That’s not a road I want to travel. I simply cannot fish just once or twice a week have an obsessive personality and I need all or nothing! It’s better for now I don’t get a taste again, or, I will certainly be in court! I knew it got way out of hand a couple of years ago when I went way overboard. This is a true story, One night I began at nappatree in the fall around 3pm, fished there a few hours with no success and the water was weeded up bad walked out and went to watch hill light also, with no success so, I walked out of there and drove to the westerly airport and made the last plane to Block Island, Here I am with nothing more than a rod and a bucket full of eels, Flying to the island, I fished there all night and caught the 8 am flight back to westerly. On the ride home I realized I had gone to far, this was crazy! Something had to give,I never even let my wife or anyone know I was on that island in november, If there were lots of big fish I may have never came home!

So it was time to scale way back. I Certainly do not have anything left to prove to myself regarding fishing skills or surf-fishing accomplishments am grateful that I did all I wanted to do goal wise with fishing wanted a 50lb fish before I was 35 off the beach and once I did that was content, The pressure I put on myself was gone! The rest was gravy. No I don’t care if I catch a micro bass or a 30lber,just don’t care. Been there done that.

I hope all you guys have a banner year this season! I plan on a few trips just to wet the line but, not much more than that may also head off with Joe in that new boat and try the easy route for a change. At anyrate, family right now is first.

04-25-2002, 09:35 AM	#6
eelman Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,036	Thanks for the “sincere” heartfelt post bloo. IM sure no one is losing sleep over my absences from the boards or the suds! John is right, that forum was started as a fun thing I did however post my strong opinions regarding surf fishing! It all seemed to revolve around the use of eels! I never liked plug fishing, as it never gave me the results I was after, Sure I caught some nice fish on plugs but never of the caliber that eels would bring. I didn’t actually “quit fishing” I just had to prioritize. Before I jumped headfirst into marital bliss and fatherhood I was able to fish at will, morning noon and night! And, I did. I caught just about every size striper there is and using every method their Is. was fortunate to have that time to fish like that. For the better part of 10 years there I did nothing but fish 7 days a week, regardless of weather, cold, tide moon etc. just had to be on the water. Now, as I was told would happen, Things have drastically changed. First and foremost I do not want to miss out on a single thing my daughter does and experiances, She will only be 4,5,6 once in a lifetime and, at her age now, I need all the energy I can get! I am much more content now just puttering around my yard on a Saturday and, heading to chuck-e-cheese on a Saturday night, or flying a kite with her in the park. These things are far more important to me than catching a few more fish to notch on my belt. For years I never saw daylight in the summer! I finally realize what I have missed! There are other things worth living for in life! Next I need to make ends meet! I also enjoy working and making the extra money. Having my own business has also become a kind of hobby in itself. IM loving it! I am doing this with my father who is pushing 70yrs old; I am truly enjoying spending time with him as a friend, who knows how much time is left? Also many of the guys I fished with have either quit or bought boats. They are all older than I am and simply cant put in those grueling hours on the beach anymore. Without them, things just are not the same realize that I am still very young and have plenty of time in the future to pick up where I left off! Joe pack is a prime example, At 56yrs old; He is not about to walk out to naps at 2 am for a couple of 20lb fish. Now he bought a boat so, he gets his 8hours of sleep, steams out to BI and gets all the fish he wants in an hour cant say as I blame him. I also saw myself slipping into the same pattern as others I have known very close friend and fishing partner of mine was divorced over the sport, That’s not a road I want to travel. I simply cannot fish just once or twice a week have an obsessive personality and I need all or nothing! It’s better for now I don’t get a taste again, or, I will certainly be in court! I knew it got way out of hand a couple of years ago when I went way overboard. This is a true story, One night I began at nappatree in the fall around 3pm, fished there a few hours with no success and the water was weeded up bad walked out and went to watch hill light also, with no success so, I walked out of there and drove to the westerly airport and made the last plane to Block Island, Here I am with nothing more than a rod and a bucket full of eels, Flying to the island, I fished there all night and caught the 8 am flight back to westerly. On the ride home I realized I had gone to far, this was crazy! Something had to give,I never even let my wife or anyone know I was on that island in november, If there were lots of big fish I may have never came home! So it was time to scale way back. I Certainly do not have anything left to prove to myself regarding fishing skills or surf-fishing accomplishments am grateful that I did all I wanted to do goal wise with fishing wanted a 50lb fish before I was 35 off the beach and once I did that was content, The pressure I put on myself was gone! The rest was gravy. No I don’t care if I catch a micro bass or a 30lber,just don’t care. Been there done that. I hope all you guys have a banner year this season! I plan on a few trips just to wet the line but, not much more than that may also head off with Joe in that new boat and try the easy route for a change. At anyrate, family right now is first.
eelman Registered User Join Date: Apr 2000 Posts: 3,036