Striped Bass Fishing Part 3 - A Memorable Night

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   Striped Bass Fishing PART III - One Memorable Night in the North Shore Surf 
Written by Peter J. Park 
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 23:23 
Written on October 18, 2007.

Every fish caught comes with a story. Here's one that I shared with a friend. Keeping to a promise, I finally find time to take out fishing my research assistant and friend, Walter. For over a year, I've promised him that I'd take him out one day. This night would be his first time saltwater fishing...ever. Walter asks, "Where are we fishing?" 

I reply, "Not too far from school (Stony Brook University). You'll see." 

Before we get to the spot, in all his excitement, Walter exclaims, "Yo, if we catch anything, I promise to carry it."  I reply, "You sure?"  He replies, "Yea." 

I say, "OK. You promised." We start fishing.... as the night progressed after a slow start, I tell him, "Watch now. Things might really heat up. We have a real good chance tonight to land a big bass. The moon, the tide, the water temp... oooweeh it's just right!" He looks at me with a perplexed but pitiful look. At that point, I think he just about thought I was a little coo-coo. He says to me, "Peter, they're fish. They're just fish."  I laugh. (haha?)

"Dude, let me share something with you. If a big fish hits, its gonna do one of two things. Knowing that it's hooked, it's gonna try to break off the line. How? You see that structure to our right and to our left. If a big fish hits us, its first move will tell us where it'll try to go to break that line. If it goes to the right, it'll try to swing around that there and try to wrap up the line. If it goes to the left, it'll make its way into the other structure there." 

He laughs and says, "Yea right! Um, Peter, they're fish!" I look at him square in the eyes, "Don't underestimate the intelligence of these fish. A good friend once told me, 'these fish don't get big by being stupid.' I believe that to be the case, too."

A few casts later.... zzzing, I'm on to a fish. I look over to him, "Um, reel in your line, this one's a nice fish. Look look! That splash. It's trying to swing around the structure on the right!!! I'm gonna try steering him away." He looks at me, "No friggin way! Just like you said!!!"  After the fight, there lies the fish... a 12lb bluefish.

I look at him, "Do you believe me now? Okay, it's your turn." Walter is practically out of breath at this point in awe of this fish: "MAN! How in the world can there be fish THIS big right HERE?!" After all the commotion, Walter asked if he could take the bluefish home to eat. I obliged. After a few shots of the camera, I look at him and say, "Welcome to saltwater fishing. Um, also, this ain't all that big. They're might just be a big bass in the area too. Hurry up cast! Cast!"

He casts and looks at me, "No way, I got a bite. I'm on!" After about a 10 minute fight, the fish shakes the hook. Hearbreak. He looks at me smiling, but I could tell he was upset. With a disheartened grin, he forces some kind words, "That was awesome. I'm glad just to have had the opportunity. That was awesome." I look at him, knowing how he may feel inside, and say, "I'm sorry, dude. Cheer up, the night's not over."

After we fished for another 30 minutes, I tell him, "Here. Cast right in front of me, 30 ft straight ahead." He casted perfectly right into the spot I knew there was a hole below. Seconds later, zzzzzing~! He's on.

"Talk to me Walter, what's the fish doing, where is it??? To your left or right??" "He's out front, no wait. Now he's going left. Oh crap, he's really REALLY going left." "Walter, where????? Talk to me!" "Left! left!" "Oh man, I think you have a nice bass on. It's not fighting like a blue..."

I look at the rod, "Walter, the fish is trying to wedge itself in that pile of rocks to our left. Pull him right. Right! Right!!" "I'm trying. I'm trying." "Hmm, Walter, I think you might lose him. Can I take the rod from you and try to finish the fight?" "Yea yea, of course. Here."

I feel the rod. I pull back.... uh oh. I can feel structure. Indeed, the fish was trying to snag itself. Then, I start to run. I run down the jetty as fast as I can. I jump over rocks and pilings just to make it in front of this fish. Along the way, I unsnag the line around a couple rocks. (Man, what a smart fish!) Then I get to where this fish was. 

Gauging by the amount of retrieved line, the fish was resting somewhere just a few feet in front of me, but it was too dark to see though the water. I felt the line and knew it was just below me - literally, right below me... it was sitting still...not moving. The fish was lying in a pile of rocks just waiting for the fisherman to pull hard and snap the line. (Man, so smart!) I tighten the drag, pull up and out slightly to the right. Then, I felt its head turn. Up and over the huge rock in front of me. Then, it takes off to the right! My legs are buckling now..... 

... I run right, leaping and sliding over wood, metal, and rocks again. Then, I feel the fish tire; I was able to turn its head. Shorter runs by the fish now. I fight the fish for another few seconds. I then glanced over to where Walter was, and I see his light bobbing up and down in the distance. He was trying to walk towards me but he was still a ways off. Just then the fish takes off again! But, I held it in place. It was almost over. I can see the fish swirling in front of me. I lean the rod back a bit more. I pull tight and turn its head towards me. 

Sketch by H. Ahn.

Wow, what a fish! It's mouth open and its eyes on me, I slide the fish over a rock. I can see the hook, and it's barely dangling on the left side of the mouth (The hook wasn't even set!!) My heart starts racing. If I'm not gentle, it'll come loose. Wait for it....wait for it. I lean over.... There! there! Now. I reach under the gills with my right hand. "Gotcha!" 

I lift the fish out of the water and look over towards Walter. I scream out, "Hey!!! What's taking you so long?!" Walter says, "I'm coming! I'm coming!" Shortly after, Walter arrives. I shout, "Look! look at this fish! Didn't I tell you it'd try to outwit you!!" He looks at the fish. First silence then "What the friggin heck, man!!!" 

I say to Walter, "Congrats dude. Nice fish!" He says to me, "Um, it's our fish. You landed it." "Well, you hooked it." Back and forth we went with the compliments. 

"OK, OK, let's just say it's our fish. We share the memory."

Time to take photos.

"Ok dude, as you promised." "Oh, right." Walter lifted the fish and carried one on his back and the other by his side, just as promised.

Wanna also read Striped Bass Fishing Part I?
Wanna also read Striped Bass Fishing Part II?
www.bookfishingtrips.com

Edited by Book Fishing Trips - 25/Mar/2010 at 12:55am