the drive to fish - what's it about?

[JoeM]

^
cool man - well said

[BranfordJeff]

Originally Posted by CHIEF500

You're on the beach fishing, it's dark your eyes haven't adjustted yet. Your struggling to see the water, to be able to read it and figure out where you want to throw the lure to. Struggling to see any bait, anything. The first cast; don't bite it, not now, next cast please. You get a few cast in the eyes adjust and you start working the beach structure or jetty for the the spot. How are feeding, what do they want to see.
You feel that first bump, miss it, stop the lure, let sit, start it again. Boom fish on, racing heart, big smile.
That's what makes me drive to the beach, get out of the car and air down and get on the beach. Yeah it's tough at times and you don't feel like it but man it pays ya back.

Or your fishing in the dark and that first gleam of light, it gets brighter and lighter and warmer. Nothing like watching a new day come to light. I always stop for a bit and watch it, take a pic or two and smile. It's a great time.

Or your with a few guys from here, working the beach, there's a slow pick and you hook up and look over and one or two of the other guys are hooked up too. Everyone with smiles. Nothing better than that.

Or you just threw your fourth plug of the evening into the water due to a cracked guide that you have trouble finding. The guy or two with you walking to keep up with the blitz looks aout and says they sure look pretty don't they. You don't know him, he's busting yer balls but ya gotta smile and laugh because you'd make a smart azz comment to him ont he way by.

[biggstriper]

Originally Posted by Beachbuster

It's the 50 pound Striper that drives me. I must admit though that this year is the first year I'm not obsessed with spending every spare moment at the beach. I lost something for it this spring. I got to the beach early one morning and saw the beach lined with fishermen who were not fishing. They were all standing around with pencil poppers waiting for fish to break water. I also passed several guys on the stairs waiting for the same thing. I even mentioned to them that you actually have to have a line in the water to catch a fish. They looked at me like I was from another planet. Something happened to me that day, as if I didn't want to be associated with that type of fishermen. To me it used to be about getting up early(or in the middle of the night) being alone with my thoughts, being with nature, and of course, the thought of a 50 pounder. Then it's about the battle, who will win, me or the fish. In most cases, even if the fish won it would be returned to the water, a gesture of thanks for the battle. I hope the desire comes back but I'm not sure it will.

The "McDonalds" fishermen. That's the only way most of those guys can catch fish- if they see them in the daytime breaking on schools of bunker.

[biggstriper]

What drives me to fish is that I know in a couple of months there will be no opportunity to even think about fishing. It'll be too cold and you don't live forever anyway.

Enjoy it while you can!