Would you rather catch...

[chunk]

40 pounder

[Nebe]

After much deliberation on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather have 15 lb bluefish on every cast. You can have the schoolies and the 40 lb bass would be nice and all, but I secretly love a big bluefish. Fiesty gamesters, those blues...

I hope clammer reads this

[Saltheart]

40

[PaulS]

That's a tough one - I was away last week and had a night of cookie cutter 20 pd fish with hits almost every cast for over 2 hours. Best night I have had in ages and it was great fun. Having had that night, I'd spend 5 hours tonight for a 40.

[Pete F.]

Originally Posted by Nebe

After much deliberation on this subject, I have come to the conclusion that I would rather have 15 lb bluefish on every cast. You can have the schoolies and the 40 lb bass would be nice and all, but I secretly love a big bluefish. Fiesty gamesters, those blues...

I hope clammer reads this

I would second this, but add I want a self release after I see them

[Blitzseeker]

I've never had a 40 so I'd take the new personal best.

After that, unless it was a new personal best, I'd take the nonstop fish every time.

[Finaddict]

Doesn't really make much of a difference to me ... catching those fish can be fun and fills up with good memories, but a 40 is always nice - although I have not taken one from the surf yet, only from boats.

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by PaulS

That's a tough one - I was away last week and had a night of cookie cutter 20 pd fish with hits almost every cast for over 2 hours. Best night I have had in ages and it was great fun. Having had that night, I'd spend 5 hours tonight for a 40.

I agree with this, at this point (not getting out enough and not catching a whole lot when I do) I'd take a night of a lot of fish to 20lbs, then the next night I'd take the 40.

[Blitzseeker]

Flap, your fishing life sequence reminded me of the famous fishing quote:

Many men go fishing all of their lives without knowing that it is not fish they are after.
-Henry David Thoreau

[The Iceman 6]

Originally Posted by Flaptail

There are stages in a fishermans life that he/she goes through.

1. Just catching any fish is exciting and seeks like minded individuals.

2. Targets one or two species over all the others with more experience gained. Seeks out like minded fisherman and tries to saddle up with the local heroes.

3. Becomes a "hungry", gotta have the biggest bass and looks down with disdain any fish not considered large and feels the same about anyone who doesn't catch and fish like him. He/she is good, gets a rep for big bass and like Hollywood stardom forgets the "little" people with whom he once shared his passion. This period is when friendships are made and broken regularly, jealousy and the big head are common atributes. Arrogance and an overinflated sense of self importance take hold. This is a long suffering time for family as well.

4. Reality and epiphany. Suddenly one comes to the reality that it's just fishing and there is more to the act than just catching, it's the places, the people and the sudden acceptance of the fact that somehow you lost the fun factor along the way, usually this comes with age.

5. Clarity and peace of mind and spirit. One day you wake up and find that what you loved was the friendships, the sharing, the laughter and joking. The catching was secondary. The need to have your name known at every bait and tackle shop, local newspaper and internet web fishing site eases and when you take to the water there is no more stress about catching large or lots but just the simple fact that you are where you want to be and enjoying yourself no mater if the fish are 20 inches long, 20lbs or "large" you give up the thoughts of 50's as being the most important thing in your fishing life and if you don't catch you still had fun, for that is what matters most, just have fun while doing wht you love to do, the rest is a bonus.

Thankfully, I never left stage 1

[zimmy]

40

[Little Round]

I'll take yesterday on the flyrod. I had just one of those days that you remeber for a long time. 3 fish just over 20#s on the fly, and fish just about every cast on light tackle and fly with some good friends.

[BassDawg]

i'll take the 40 over hours of dinks, ANYNIGHT!!!

5 hours is nothing to pull a 40#'er from the surf.
so far i've logged 2 years, 3 months, 21 hours, 43 minutes,
and still ticking for my first 40;

but hey, who's counting??