Biggest Fish Ever

As we all observe the returns for this most important Election Day of recent years, -- barring the results of course, I am hugely concerned about the outcome of this election because of the impact our children will be facing in the years ahead.  After voting for the current president at the last election, I am so sorely disappointed in his performance and have therefore taken back my vote for him in the recent Presidential Election.  Lack of performance equals lack of my vote as in typical reviews of lack of performance for us others in the work field.   This current president didn't produce.

So, I had gone fishing the night before last, and had hoped to catch some  nice fish to put into the freezer for me and the twins to enjoy in the nights ahead.  Since I had already given away half of my freezer of fish to some neighbors as they were dealing with hard times I had hoped to get a restock of my freezer (at the least) so, I had looked at the tides and decided to try some fishing around the sunsets and low-tides.  When I arrived in the mid afternoon, the tide had already been moving out and fairly strong too so just getting some bait fish was a difficult task --  the ideal size even more difficult (3 to 5 inches).

I did get to the point just short of the rock jetty and felt this would be the best place to have any luck in catching those nice spotted sea trout or one of those Red fish.  I had a few strikes and missed most of them (thought they were most likely Blues) but, finally had one blue in the keeper range (above 12 inches).  As sunset drew near I had hoped for a repeat of a previous sunset and those Spotted Sea trout that came rolling in with the ocean waves.  Only one blue had made it into the cooler and I had viewed the beautiful sunset with some hope (though I had been chilled by the cooler weather) -- I had packed all my gear into the Jeep except for my one smaller rig and decided that my last small mullet would  be my last attempt to catch anything for the evening (lose the bait and end the evening).

27 inch Red fish (add 3 inches)

So, the sun had been down for some 15 minutes and I could barely make out the tip of the rod in the minimal light on the low western skies.  As I drug my gear into the Jeep and struggled to fight the chill of the evening, I decided to let this last piece of  bait be the last (it was) and just see what I might be able to catch.  Fifteen after the sunset, something began to nibble at this last little mullet and then it hit really strong and took the bait.  The fight was on and I had to play with the drag adjustment a few times as I struggled to fight the obviously large fish -- every time (approx. half a dozen) that I brought the fish close to the waters edge it would make a run to head for deeper waters and I would have to give it some line to run.

After running the beach up and down to follow the fish. it finally had tired enough to get it onto the beach and the exhilaration was unbelievable -- I let out a huge whoop before measuring the beautiful fish.  It measured over 30 inches and therefore required that I return it to the waters.  What a beautiful fish and I felt fortunate to have caught it and to have the glory to release it back to the waters I had brought it from.  Its strong tail wag seemed to say come catch me again.  I wish.

Only wish I had a camera to take its picture (and others) but, will hopefully have one soon.