A little help from you old salts

[Duke41]

I was fishing a reef off of Block Island(see under reports) I hooked what I knew was a huge striper. I could feel her tail sweeps pumping up the line. Between that and knowing I had a cow my mind went blank. I could feel myslef freezing up. After what seemed like an eternity I decide to tighten up in the drag to slow her down. I pumped the rod a few times amnd tried to get some line back at that point the line parted. I was using 60 lb mono with a eel rig. Fishfinder. What is the correct way to handle that situation. Why would the line part? I am guesing she headed for some rocks and the line parted then. If I am on rock should I ffight her harder and sooner to keep her off the bottom? This kept me up last night looping the fight over and over in my mind.
Still I wouldn't trade that fight for anything. She wonthe battle, that's how you become a big fat cow in the first place.

[TheSpecialist]

Where did the line part? Maybe the line was old, frayed, or damaged by the uv rays.

[Duke41]

The line parted about 15 feet from the fish. It is new this season.

[derf]

"new this season " ??
how may outings ... ??
i have only been out 6 times this season & have changed my line 5 times ....
when in doubt change the line ........it is the 'weakest link'
never thought about changing the line till i went conventional w/o level wind ..found out quick how fast line gets nicked & frayed ..
derf

[Got Stripers]

You have to be aware of what your fishing in and around and your game plan must be adjusted accordingly. I was fishing early this season with GB and I had to adjust my tactics 180 degrees from what would have been the norm for me. Sometimes the cover means either gearing up differently or waging battle differently. Either way it's fun ain't it.

[Slipknot]

Duke, bummer. It will probably still haunt you for a while, the big ones always do. The one thing I learned( I am no salty by the way) is to not touch the drag or actually not tighten it. As the spool gets smaller it actually increases the drag pressure just from the fact that the spool is smaller and there is lots of line dragging in the water(that adds increased pressure as well). I would actually loosen it a hair.I always start with a very tight drag. That fish was obvioiusly very large and once she gets her head turned and steaming away from you, you need to play catch-up. A wise thing you did by having your buddy start the boat and follow. Ain't much you can do about rocks, those cows become cows by knowing what to do when hooked. Was the line scraped up?

[Duke41]

I just checked the line an yes it was scraped pretty good. I like the idea that there not just some stupid fish to haul in. A battle of wits, this time I lost. I will be thinking about it until I can get out again.