SF - Welcome to Striped-Bass and I think you'll enjoy it here.
I'm sorry to hear about your boyfriend's death. My dad passed away at almost the same time. While he wasn't my biggest influence in fishing, he was the first one to bring me fishing and sadly it's been many years since then.
What I want to ask is, if it's not too hard to talk about - I fully understand if it is - if it was a fishing accident that led to his death. One thing we try to stress here is safety because a bad situation can quickly develop in fishing certain areas that can lead to just that. Slippery rocks and an angry surf can do much to succumb the most competent anglers.
Now, on a lighter note

- It might take you a little time but the combination of rocks on the north shore, big bass prevalent to that area, and someone watching over you from above, you just might find a 30 POUNDER at the end of your line instead of a 30 incher

- especially in mid September & later...
Again, welcome to the board
