I'm with ya Mike...I do the same,, just having fun as usual.
For the most part, you know when your fish has no more umph and the next guy can cast...same goes if you've watched the guy to the side of you battle his fish, you have a good idea of when you can cast yourself...experience teaches you that. Unfortunately, there are still those that want to get out there at any cost...
I do feel your pain though ECduzit....I actually had a good laugh at the expense of this thread this past weekend (same place). Fishermen were stacked up like cord-wood,,, 2 guys down from me, guy gets whacked....FISH ON!! Immediately after hook-up, the guy literally ...just stands there. Holds his rod tip up high loosens the drag and stands there....drag is peeling, he's doing nothing. After a hard minute (which is actually a long time) he starts moving up to the service road....HASN'T TURNED THE HANDLE ONCE or ADJUSTED THE DRAG, just working his way up the rocks!!!
...So now he's up on the service road, waits a little longer and then after a brief "look-at-me" stare to the surrounding people...he starts reeling in....and reeling...and reeling, fish took quite a bit of line. He shakes his arm as if its tired from this monster bass at the end of his line. He definitely has the attention of the surrounding fishermen. We're all anxiously as well as courteously waiting to see this 50+#er...Due to the amount of line he fed out, he's taken out at least 4 people to his right. Again, we're all waiting...at this point, not mad...because it will be worth it once we see this behometh of a Striper.
Guy finally lands it...........35 INCH fish. Lots of pissed off fishermen....then the guy strings it out back into the Canal. Another No-No....
Not really worth getting upset about this stuff, when your fishing in an environment like the CCC in May/June, this is expected. That's why quite a few don't fish those morning tides...they're willing to make the necessary sacrifices to have their serenity. I still find humor in it all, but with age comes grumpiness...(so this Forum suggests)
