RICK CAUGHT A PIG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

fish factor wrote:wow rick nice fish what do ya think she weighed in at

Rick..stillcasting wrote:Hey everybody. First I'd like to say thankyou for all your positive kudos.
I can be a little verbose so I'll try to make this short, not. Here is my story.
I've been out alot,, and if you have read my day prior surf fishing report I was bemoaning my lack luster luck.
I was out yesterday at the tail end of that passing storm,, going to my usual local spots and seeing football field schools of bunker moving south just outa snagging range. In those areas I was working pencil poppers w/o any success and kept moving south refusing to marry myself to one spot. I walked up one pavillion and then found myself running,, they were close! Two other guys were on this few hundred yard school ,,one landed a 30lb class fish as I was approaching. The bunker were freaking, I was freaking. I snagged one on first cast and just let it swim free spooling,,moments latter a substantial hard run off,,5 seconds later it was gone. Several more cast another snag and free spooled letting the line play out my fingers,, maybe a minute went before another substantial run-off,, the fish is hooked! 30 seconds or less line goes limp! I wanted to fall on the ground and cry kicking my feet in disgust. The bunker moved off, time goes by, I see another brown spot a hundred yards south w/n casting distance--I jog. I snagged one w/n a few cast and decide to just let it dance w/o free-spooling. Another strong run-off-- I waited maybe 4.68 seconds and set the hook. Fish on and heading to London! I have 80lb leader and 150yds of 30lb power pro w/ backing and drag is set strong and its moving like there is no drag! Simply put I'm in adrenalin overload! The thoughts running thru my head,, I'm thinking this is larger than my previous best of 19.6lbs,,will my line break? ,will my knots fail? Is my terminal tackle gonna fail?Etc etc,, demons are rampant. My arms and legs are shaking and I can't stop,, I see the backing coming,, I'm still thinking I have a 30% chance of landing this fish, I have tunnel vision, I'm playing failure games and success games in my head, I start visualizing landing this fish and pride of accomplishment,, I think of my friends I wish were here. When people say they fought a fish a long length of time I take it w/ a grain of salt. I fought this fish at least 10 if not 15 minutes, no salt needed.
A man I never saw till I landed it started clapping and rushed up to me to shake my hand. I whipped out my cell camera phone and had some pictures taken,, said to now watch this,, this fish was beat,, I revived her in the surf and released, I thanked Jesus for this blessing moment. Releasing her felt just as exciting as the entire experience of the fight and catch,, do it you'll know.
The best moment of the day came a little later when I texted the picture to my nephew to show my brother, (my younger brother got me into this positive obsession) I cherish our time in the sand. I included a note that said I released her... this young man texted back,, Why? I said so "your children can catch striped bass".
He texted back to me... "Thankyou Uncle Rick".