The best fish I can remember all share one trait ... I never saw them. They can’t be mastered, they just got lucky, or maybe I erred (Yup, me. It happens!), but one way or another, the battle ended with them swimming away and me laughing and saluting them. I like that about myself ... I can laugh, salute and wish them well.
“Bend that rod and make him work for it” was my first advice as it had been on many occasions when people needed to learn quickly how to fight a very large fish. I credit the butcher with trying, but it was too late. That fish was a long way off and had managed to wrap the line around an underwater obstruction. The result was a frayed end on some well-stretched mono line. “Well, no worries,” I told him. “Let’s just re-rig and then you can go hook another one.” That feller just kept shaking his head — for hours.
When my charter passengers lose big fish, I console them with sage words: “The best thing about the one that gets away is it can be any kind and any size you want. I’m just here to back up your story!”
I can’t wait for the season to begin.
Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a new nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need.
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