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

[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.

[BassDawg]

Originally Posted by Back Beach

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.

Thanks BB,

waz thinking of picking up that book for XMAS,
yet there is the other two that i had at the top of me
winter reading List. Zeno's latest and DJ's book from last year.

i also would like to get my hands on anything by Tim Coleman.
sum vintage stuff right there, i've read Striper Surf twice from cover to cover
and reread it every year for its pearls of surfwisdom. LOVED Skinner's book
from last year,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,ALL are excellent reads and were verrrrry helpful
in taking me to the next level with eeeeeeeels and riggies.

mostly, i just gottsta keep on fishing hard and good things will come~~
with patience and heavy gear and good feesh MOJO!!