I was bottom fishing in the shark river inlet one day for fluke. As we were drifting My line suddenly goes heavy I hooked in and tried to reel but I couldn't, and it was taking out line. I have heard stories about how door mats will just stay in the bottom and not move, I was really excited. Then all the sudden it gets lighter, but not light. Finally I had got it off the bottom! As it came up it turned out to be a ripped dress shirt with a mysterious red stain on it. Meanwhile we had been drifting by a large white Mediterranean Mansion that we had often wondered and joked was a Mob bosses home. I don't Know What it was, but it definitely made me think. p.s. didn't catch anything but searobins that day.
Not so much a fish story, but a mammal one. Charter fishing down in the keys, on our way out for some bait fish we see something struggling. It's a juvi purpose, I'd say 50-60 lbs at the most. Its tail had gotten wrapped around a lobster trap. With the tide rising, I don't think he would have made it another 1/2 hr. Plus he looked exhausted. We cut him free and all was well. Karma paid off that day, we filled the boat with several large mahi.
Fishing a spillway down in Cape May County as a kid at daybreak with my dad and grandfather... we split up, and I cast sideways, along the bank of the lake, under some overhanging branches. Just as I pulled my purple rooster tail spinner out of the water, a big fish rolled under it and missed it. I cast the same spot again... nothing. I cast again, and bang! I knew the fish was big, so I twisted the drag really loose and yelled for my dad. He comes running over, I reeled it in, he bends down to grab the fish, but the line breaks in his hand. My grandfather came over, saw what happened and said, "you'll never catch that fish again... he's gotta go get that lure out of his mouth before he'll feed again." I tie on a yellow rooster tail, and keep fishing the same spot... and dang if I didn't hook up again! My dad comes running over again, and we finally land it. It was a 36" Chain Pickerel... with the purple rooster tail still in it's mouth!
I have a deal with the little fishies. I won't pull them out of the ocean, if they don't drag me under. on a live fish note. I was getting ready to make a drop on an overhead wave at Tulin, when this flying fish came out of the water and was hauling arse up the face with a barracuda skipping up after it. I startled the hell out of me and I got pitched. On the way down I heard the cuda jaws chomping. That was a day I wished I had someone else out with me.
A few years ago I was surfing a 3-4' day in May next to a jetty in Deal. The water was loaded with bunker and bass. The beach and rocks were covered with fishermen but all of the fish were out further than anyone could cast. After about an hour the bass started to explode through the bunker. As things calmed down I noticed a bass on the surface barely moving. As I paddled closer it didn't swim away so I grabbed it with both hands. Now as I am sitting on my board a set rolls through. Still holding the fish with both hands I tried to dive under the waves but lost the fish. After I stopped getting pushed to the beach I paddled back to search for the fish, and remarkably I found it. This time mostly belly up. To insure I wouldn’t lose it a second time I put my leash through the mouth and gill, then paddled in. The fish didn’t put up a fight but made for a good story and aggravated a few of the empty handed rod & reel guys on the beach.
My dad and I were on a trip salmon fishing in Alaska for beautiful red sockeye to hang on the wall when I was about 14 years old. We were at a national park which means the guides cannot carry guns with them for protection you just have to be careful. We were on mostly plane excursions but one day the guide took us on a road trip and we had to hike down a mountain three miles. it didn't take long before we had a couple perfect fish for the taxidermist, wrapped em' up in plastic but that was not enough. A big momma bear and her two cubs caught the scent and began stalking us, followed us about a mile and we had to leave one of the fish behind for her because we were about to get into more difficult terrain. the fish we kept is hanging up in dad kitchen, but it sucks we walked all that way and got run off after like 30 minutes of fishing. Funnier story... same trip to Alaska on the first day we got there we were crossing a river and saw a bear who had an idea. He was climbing out over an overhanging tree limb to spot fish and I guess his plan was a surprise attack from above. The limb gives way and bear does a belly flop, thrashes about in the water and comes up empty handed. Everyone laughed at him and he ran into the woods ashamed. it was one of the funniest things I have ever seen.
Similar story... I saw a guy at the Cove get a wave all the way to the beach. On his walk back he starts kicking something in a tide pool... a big bass. Kicked it right up onto the beach and had his dinner waiting for him after his session. I can fish for DAYS and get skunked, and this guy catches a keeper with his foot!
I was surfing Duck Pier in NC in the late 70's/early 80's. All alone. sweet glassy clear water waves. several times during the session, ten to twenty manta rays, the size of saucers, would shoot out of the water around me. Kinda unnerving. But the wave/fear ratio wasn't enough to leave the water. I got out at dusk and stopped at the wee winks. In the parking lot was an old pick up with three hammerhead and 2 tiger sharks hanging off the tail gate. The driver was the only one in the store and I asked him where he got those. Surf fishing right down from the pier. OHHHHH dat 'splains a lot.
Tigers and Hammerheads generally considered edible... Some peeps will eat anything though. Thresher and Mako are great
A Thresher Shark probably stunned it with its tail, ive seen that happen in a bass bluefish blitz before from my boat. Id think twice before swimming around with a sharks dinner in my hands at feeding time!
So I'm guessing the Tigers and Hammerheads aren't too tasty? I know a lot of sharks piss through there skin and that's why they're not edible.
like my daddy always told me, "don't put your mouth on anything that'll make yer d!ck throw up....... or sharks."
