How Many MONSTAHS Did It TAKE,,,,,,,,,,

[NIB]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

There's a few tricks involved too. A couple guys I grew up fishing the outer cape with started fishing the Elizabeth chain several years ago by boat. They were losing a lot of fish in the rocks at first as we used to just snub them down when fishing over sand. One of them finally decided to just open his bail once a good fish entangled him in the rocks and he would just stand there with his bail open until the fish came free. The landing numbers of real large fish really improved after that..

I took one 38 lbs one time that swamped the bunker I was livelining right next to the jetty I was fishing.I knew i could not set up on him cause the fish would surely be along the rocks.I just opened up and let it go.After it was done pulling line I just tightened up.Sure enough the fish had gone around the jetty and had me rapped up pretty good.I just let little increments of line out so it would not wear in any one particular spot and break me off..After a while I just killed it on the end of the line and brought it back nice and slow.Now I have had this happen to me a few times before And was not as successful. First time huge boil and the take I set up and the line blows up...Next time I let her run some and tried to set up.Break in the line.I always used 30 lb big game for livelining bunker.They could pull it so why not.So I figure they where taking the bait and riding along the rock line.. Believe me I have thought about what I could do different long and hard.This was in the span of a few years.You only get a few shots per year at the good ones.
My bating average was not good.But I learned my lesson..

Every fish is different.You cannot expect the playing field to be the same every time no matter if you fish the same area's all the time or not.Often times bigger fish don't do what the smaller ones do when hooked up.It's what you do when you are hooked up that counts.Some are able to put together the right moves in short time,some it takes longer.
It's the beauty of the sport.If you ask me.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by NIB

Every fish is different.You cannot expect the playing field to be the same every time no matter if you fish the same area's all the time or not.Often times bigger fish don't do what the smaller ones do when hooked up.It's what you do when you are hooked up that counts.Some are able to put together the right moves in short time,some it takes longer.
It's the beauty of the sport.If you ask me.

No doubt. I neglected to add that opening the bail is a last resort for me as opposed to a first action. I usually do it after a fish has locked me up in the rocks and I begin to feel the line sawing.

Don't forget I got spooled in the canal this year by being too nice. Not sure it was a huge fish or not, but the next time I hooked a good fish in the same place/same tide I snubbed it and got my best fish of the season. Problem with the canal a lot of times is you have 100 plus yards of line out when you actually hook up and it doesn't take a monster fish to spool you, just a modest fish in big current or foul hooked will beat you til you cry...

[NIB]

Jim Powers, The best jigger of the ditch I know,has a interesting technique as a work in progress.He has landed smaller fish with it.Of course it is to be used as a last ditch effort.he opens the bail up and lets the current take the line.The philosophy is that the current pulls the line behind the fish and either she thinks she's free and swims back up current or she pulls against the pressure of the line behind her and starts to head up current. He has had it work.This is with 300 yds of braid at your expense and some big balls.My balls are not that big( I have been told they are an good size) as I have encountered the ditch beast and have not been successful.I have landed good fish on the jig in the current yet the beast has eluded me.I did not let em run I thought I had the gear to stop the beast.And I did.I pulled the hook.
A 9/0 gami siwash embedded in a 5 oz jig.After a good five minutes of standoff.That felt much longer.
I had to make a decision as I was out of time.Another one I have thought about long and hard.I still have not come up with the alternate game plan for that fish. I would probably will do the same thing again and hope I have it hooked better.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by NIB

Every fish is different.You cannot expect the playing field to be the same every time no matter if you fish the same area's all the time or not.Often times bigger fish don't do what the smaller ones do when hooked up.It's what you do when you are hooked up that counts.Some are able to put together the right moves in short time, some it takes longer.It's the beauty of the sport.If you ask me.

EXACTLY!!!

that's what i'm talking about, Tony!!!
of THE 5, each one reacted differently, AND
each one had their own way to PLAY the same rocks.

two where in different udl's, but three where basicaly
hooked same tide/same place with only slight variations
in depth of water and where they hit. the one from last year
was the first one to take me STRAIGHT into the boulders to
seek/win her freedom,,,,,,,,,,,,sschmahht beeotch, she waz, and YES!!

NIB, it is the inherent and REAL beauty of what we do!!
i absolutely love and crave this battle of wits and strengths and
gears and rocks and tackles and conditons that pits man against
nature, surf, and beast!!! sometimes we win, sometimes the feesh!
better to have had the battle and lost, than to have stayed in bed
and never had the shot in the first place, imho.

[Sea Dangles]

Sometimes you may think the line is getting chafed on rocks ,when the reality is your leader is dragging across the sandpaper-like maw. Once again, be patient.