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Headed out Sat morning with my faithfull fishing partner(dog) and rounded up some live mullet in the 8-12in range. Headed on out and found a heavy weed line floating in about 15 foot. Started a drift and put out two mullet to soak behind the boat. Started chuckin a Top Dog in front of my drift and then I saw some black fins cutting through the water. I raced my plug back to the boat hoping not to draw a strike. Made it in time and then I just sat and watched as the fish came down the weed line towards my boat. When they neared I saw them surface out off my flank about 40yds and assumed that they were detouring around my boat. About 5mins later I realized that I had assumed right. One of the corks disapeared with a buzzing noise starting up from one of my reels. I rushed over to the reel and grabbed it and let the fish free spool for another second or two, when I heard the other reel start singing to me. I looked around at my furry fishing friend and realized that I was in a fix. I set the hook on the first fish and drag started peeling away. Suddenly the big fish took a leap and I got a great view of a fully airborn Cobe in the 5 ft range. I also got a great view of my cork sling shotting away from him as my line went slack . I dropped the reel and ran to the other reel which I believe was starting to smoke, picked it up, set the hook and WHAMO torpedo number two left the launch tube. This fish looked like the other ones twin. They must have taken the same fisherman defense class to 'cause as he lept, the line fell slack once again. It took me a few to regain my composure and to realize that I had just lost two fish of a lifetime's . When I reeled in the lines, I noticed that both of the steel leaders had failed. I don't understand how because I had fought several big sharks on the same spool of leader, and these were freshly made off of the end of that spool. Oh, well, I pulled out a different spool of steel and made up some new rigs but it was to no avail, these fish were gone. Tucked my tail and headed home.
Sunday morning, I rearmed with Penn 4/0's and 200# mono leaders and headed back to the same spot. Hooked several sharks, some very big but the mono leaders were no match, and some smaller versions that I cut off at the boat. A little after lunch, when I was about ready to give up, I picked up one of the smaller reels I had used the day before and started a fresh mullet to driftin out of the boat. I was stripping the line off the reel and letting it get out far enough when line started tearing off the reel. I thought to myself, that's your a$$ this time as a let the fish take a little line. I locked down the lever and set the hook and WOW, a huge Silver King(that's Tarpon for those of you who might not know) comes flying out of the water right off of the bow. I'm startin to get tears in my eyes again as I tell you what happens next, if you havent already guessed. When the fish clears the water I see a projectile come flying towards me, and realize that its my mullet, still alive and kicking, and still with my hook ran through him.
I sat there dumbfounded for awhile and then packed it in and headed home. I have been thinking about a new hobby, one that has less emotional let down and one that is more easily conquered. Maybe rocket building or maybe something to do with Quantum physics. Anything has got to be easier than this hobby I have chosen. Who am I kidding, I will be right back at it next weekend to let it kick me in the groin again.
Fish Masterson

Doing his part to use up all the bad luck so that you all can have all the good .

fm, That's not bad luck - remember the times when NO fish took the bait, or your trailer tire was flat, or the partner didn't show or....

Thanks for thrilling us with the adventure.

Good report Fish, the big one always gets away it seems. Keep your chin up and dont get sad , get even. Have you tried flourocarbon, size for size its alot tougher than mono. Good luck next time. SF.

Great report FM, just the thrill is enough to keep you going back.

Nice report mish fasterson, I mean fish masterson ...try a bigger hook or maybe use a stinger...

Good report Fish Masterson. I will be willing to bet that this story gets more talk time the the stories when you had success. Bad choice of words, "success". The fact that you were out there with your furry fishing partner makes this trip a success. Keep at em....

Really, really enjoyed and learned from that story. It is better to have had that experience, of course, than to have not! It was great!

Quick dumb question for you: How'd you round up the mullet? I can guess you cast-netted them. Do you do that inshore? Do you chum or anything? I see folks casting in the canal at the light house......

Still learning, still dreaming.....

Hey FM, Great reporting. Go back a couple of reports ago and you'll see an experience I had pretty close to yours. That's happened to me a FEW times this year. Some of the Cobs I'd guess at 50 pounds. Two with broken wire. I've hooked one small Tarpon. Only one Cobia landed this year, a 32 inch. What I learned, I should have remembered. Bow to the King.

Fish Masterson,

Did you major in creative writing? Really enjoy your reports!

Just remember the old saying "It's better to have fished and lost - than to have never fished at all Your day will come.

Sea Gurl

Good job. I don't know what you could have done different. BTW do you want to go to SC with me to pick up a boat? Call me and I'll give you the details.

Aucilla, yes I castnetted the mullet in the lighthouse canal. They luckily have been pretty thick there every time I have wanted them, so I haven't had to chum them, not shure that I would know how to chum a mullet either .
Chalk, I was using a 7/0 Daichi bleeding bait circle hook. The hook wasn't a factor unless you consider the tarpon, which are notorious for expelling a hook. It was my wire leader which broke on both the Cobes. I was using 60# nylon coated cable on 30# mono main line. I would have thought that the line would have gone first. That is why I went to a heavy mono leader on Sunday, but the Cobes did'nt want to come out and play .
Rocket, sounds interesting, I'll call you tommorrow.

Fish Masterson

Thanks for your report FM Like everyone else I sure enjoyed reading and being there with you from the account. Did the wire part somewhere in the middle or close to the hook or??? Just a guess but maybe it has something to do with the difference between how a shark pulls and a cobe snaps and runs.

fish masterson, Mullet chum= Mush made from cornmeal and oatmeal.

rocket wrote:Good job. I don't know what you could have done different. BTW do you want to go to SC with me to pick up a boat? Call me and I'll give you the details.

Pick me up one too while you are there. I'll even pay for the gas!

I mowed the grass and got to see a couple of piles of dog doo flying through the air. Would have rather seen the fish if that makes you feel any better.