No slips of course, as I've never sold a fish (esp. Bass!) in my life... (In fact, I keep maybe 2 or 3 per year)...
But: the "glory days" on the Backbeach/ Cape all in the (distant past?)
I've had at least 3 or 4 40- 50 Bass caught & released nights on the Cape, during my years there starting in 1997. Best night I remember: Columbus Day weekend-- yes: LeCounts mostly! 50 Stripers or so that night for me (a bunch more missed/ lost. Biggest fish: 33 lbs. Average fish: approx. 18 lbs. (nothing under 10 lbs. in the 50!)... 50 bass x 18 lbs. average per, = 900 lbs night... Possibly 1000+ as I'm estimating conservatively...
And: Long Island, East End, last Nov. 22, 2004. Hooked up pre- dawn, fished almost straight- through 'till 9PM or so. Blitzes on- & off, & herring, bunker & Bass (& some blues) dancing along a 5- 6 mile stretch of beach (Hamptons). Total for my day of Surfcasting (all 20 lb. mono.): 75 Bass, & 12 blues (again, approx.-- I don't count! But I don't kid/ lie either, least of all here/ anonymously!). Biggest Bass landed that day: 28 lbs. Average Bass that day: (approx.) 11 lbs ... 75 x 11 = 825
The Glory years are here/ today? I believe so, for #'s: unfortunately, I never saw average sizes per fish on the Cape, like Flaptail & others remember back in the day. No doubt in my mind, that a "40" today, is as hard/ rare as was a "50" "back then"...
Best night ever fishing the Cape? 6 hour shift at Ballston on a 32 degree night in late October, '99: one hit total, one fish landed: a 41 lbs. (pb) on 17 lb. mono... (Unfortunately, plug hooks seem to have major trouble stinging & holding the 50+'s!-- I lead the League in dropped 50's!
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