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eelskimmer,
Believe it or not the decision to let those to fish go was not a hard one for me to make. I told myself long ago I would not kill fish just to be popular amongst a certain crowd, to "one up" someone or to prove my surfcasting skills. I have never entered any tourneys or even shared most of my fish pictures with anyone. I like to fly under the radar so to speak and enjoy catching and releasing most of what ends up on my hook. I have one fishing partner that has shared the ups and downs of surfcasting with me over the years, and he has been present during most of my accomplishments and more importantly the disappointments that surfcasting brings. The disappointing nights,to me, are very important to the sport of surf fishing, as they make you appreciate the accomplishments so much more. That right here is enough happiness and acknowledgement for me.
Although these two fish were my first over 45lbs, I have caught bunches of fish in the low 40s and high 30s. I remember 4 years ago while fishing in late October at my "spot". We fished from 3am without a hit and around @ 6:30am, I hooked into a fish that made my heart pound and my knees week. After a 15 minute battle I had the fish 20 feet from my landing spot on the rocks. My fishing partner and I seen this fish with our own eyes,broad day light, and I tell you this fish had to go in the high 50s maybe 60lbs. Just when I thought I had the deal sealed the hook became dislodged and the fish paused for a moment, fluttering on the top of the water,then slowly swam away. What do I remember most about that fight? I remember telling myself during the battle how cool it would be to take the hook out,snap a picture then spend a few moments in the surf with her and watch her swim away. If I catch a fifty I dont know if I will keep her or not. Every situation is different. But I do know I appreciate encounters with large striped bass so much that its very tough for me to keep/kill them. Call me a wuss but I feel bad killing them. I bow hunt for deer and dont feel the same way when "bambi" comes trotting under my deer stand. All I see is venison steaks and the arrow is on its way. There is something about the Striped Bass thats very majestic and mysterious too me and I feel obligated to let them go. Weird I know but thats how I feel.
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