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

[Clogston29]

BG, how are you typically losing them? are they breaking you off in the rocks, pulling the hook on you or getting slack and throwing the hook? I think knowing this will help us give advise. also, what rod are you using?

[BassDawg]

thanks Clogston,

i use an 11' glass mh rod, with a PENN750ssm for eels, riggies, sluggos, and chunks.
i use a 10' tsunami dolphin mh action with a 704Z for plugs, tins, and jiggggs.

last year i lost 2; 1 due to not re-spooling after sum decent feesh the night before~~rubbed the line on the rocks,,,,,,,and then SNAP (eeeeels set-up)!! the other because i hooked my eel the wrong way ~~she sucked it in and shook/ripped the eeeeel off the hook.

the year before that 2; 1 jumped and came right at me and jumped into a trough right at my feet green as she could be and she snapped the line(40#BGame uni to uni 25#PLine on the spool), the other one ona spook, wrapped my braid under a rock and started rolling herself up in the leader as i gave her more line(kayakker told me, as he was right on top of her)

the year before that 1; this beast hit a bug imitator that was not hooked properly, she hunkered down, and then spit my offering out like it was a waste of her time since i never got the hook set.

each event was a teacher, and each fight has made me more fit
for the next ones that WILL COME with next summer's migration.

that is, the Good Lord providing that me Honey Cove staaaaaaaays HOTTT
and me bones and my health be blessed to hop the Cape of Ann!!!

[piemma]

How about #8

8. Who cares. It's just fishing. No one is gonna die. No one goes to jail (hopefully) Enjoy it for what it is.

Happy Holidays!!!

[Krispy]

Originally Posted by piemma

How about #8

8. Who cares. It's just fishing. No one is gonna die. No one goes to jail (hopefully) Enjoy it for what it is.

Happy Holidays!!!

#9 Fishing is stupid, anyways.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Krispy

#9 Fishing is stupid, anyways.

#10 Fishing is only stupid if your from CT

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by Krispy

#9 Fishing is stupid, anyways.

Very true.

As for this thread, I can't tell anyone how many monsters it takes as I have no idea.

The central theme here has become "gear related failures". I think that's why we lose the best ones. You're either undergunned or don't monitor the condition of your gear closely enough. Once you've hooked a fish, most of the chance/luck has been removed from the equation and it comes down to the condition and ability of your gear.

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 wouldn't advocate this in the canal for the most part, but I can tell you two of the largest surf fish I've taken in the last few years came from RI and were pulled out of literal boneyards via the open bail technique. Once the fish frees itself, it tends to give in and come to shore more readlily.

[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...

[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.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

Very true.

As for this thread, I can't tell anyone how many monsters it takes as I have no idea.

The central theme here has become "gear related failures". I think that's why we lose the best ones. You're either undergunned or don't monitor the condition of your gear closely enough. Once you've hooked a fish, most of the chance/luck has been removed from the equation and it comes down to the condition and ability of your gear.

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 wouldn't advocate this in the canal for the most part, but I can tell you two of the largest surf fish I've taken in the last few years came from RI and were pulled out of literal boneyards via the open bail technique. Once the fish frees itself, it tends to give in and come to shore more readlily.

All well and good, on the "open bail technique";
however, when one only has three wraps left on the line,,,,,,,,
one can't quite open the bail to let her spool you, right??

as for yer insinuation that this has become a gear failure thread
have you read all the technical and philosophical advice that has
been shared throughout?? likewise, since i've only been at this for
three seasons, i remember EVERY BIGGURL i've LOST and my count is:

Trophies 5, BassDawg 0.

i know that it is a verrry subjective answer, and different for ALL,
just trying to quantify where i am in the grander scheme of things
and how my part fits into the whole piece a pie, caaa peesh?

this is also an attempt to examine some of the intangibles that go into
our surfcasting pursuits, more specifically related to wrastlin' sum trophy-sized Mommas
from amongst the rocks. most responses have been helpful and entertaining, to say the LEAST!!

BESIDES, with all this stinkin' schnow on the ground

whatelse didjya wanna talk about,
the price of oil in Saudi Arabia????

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by BassDawg

as for yer insinuation that this has become a gear failure thread
have you read all the technical and philosophical advice that has
been shared throughout??

Yes, that's why I implied that most of the big fish we lose can be attributed to either being undergunned or victims of gear failure. There is much philosophy, but it comes back to gear issues.

There's a good chapter in "The Trophy Striper" by Daignault that addresses the losing of a big fish. I think its called "Why we lose the best ones." Worth a read.