A Perspective

[Slingah]

a thread with a positive tone...I love it

Life's a journey...not a destination. Same goes for me with fishing. If I walk around telling myself that I'll be happy when I accomplish this or that then most likely I'll have a difficult time enjoying the moment that I am in.
Some of my favorite times fishing are when I am "hunting"....driving to spots full of anticipation, retrieving my offering waiting for the strike or talking to friends planning a trip......catching the fish is a bonus.

[RIROCKHOUND]

Originally Posted by Slingah

....driving to spots full of anticipation, retrieving my offering waiting for the strike or talking to friends planning a trip......catching the fish is a bonus.

this can be a big part of it.
Heading offshore with a 4hr steam south is full of anticipation; rigging, checking knots, discussing the spread and the location of the warm water. watching the spread knowing the split second of pandemonium that can erupt from apparently dead water and the subsequent nonstop scream of the drag of a doubled up 50. or drifting in 400 fathoms on a pitch black night with dolphins doing acrobatics out of sight all night

Catching fish is just a (Fuel money) bonus...

That being said, I'm a bit jaded in the surf, and not due to over-accomplishment. I annoy easily with stupid people mishandling undersized fish, and have largely stopped fishing the april run of bass.

I stopped going to the shows for the reasons mentioned above; impersonal and crowded. I can see who I really want to talk to in person locally, and buy less and less gear every season....

[beamie]

If it were just about catching we would just put a net across the river.

It is much more than that. And though the winters are long I like them. This gives you time to build and prepare and dream of the season ahead.

[Back Beach]

My sub .300 average(and falling) keeps me coming back for more punishment, no doubt.

This past season in particular opened my eyes quite a bit with regard to simply enjoying it and leaving the scale/tape measure/contest thing in the rear view at certain times. When your only expectation is enjoyment(although catching raises this level) you are seldom disappointed.

[Back Beach]

Originally Posted by RIROCKHOUND

and buy less and less gear every season....

This is simply due to the fact you're likely buying more formula and diapers. Trust me, things will even out eventually.