Let's get started early this year. It seems I am so old I can get a lifetime Hunting-Fishing-Trapping license from NY State for almost nothing. So I did. I tried some of the freshwater lakes here and got skunked. But it's early. I am getting the Whaler in shape for another year chasing Fluke and Blues.
As we come up to April 1, I am always reminded of the April Fool's Bass. I took my 10 year old grandson fishing at Little Neck Bay. I told him we were fishing for Winter Flounder as the season opens on April 1. I bought sand worms for bait and a couple of very tired Bunker as some small Striped Bass may be around. I told him if we caught a Bass we had to put it back because the season was not open yet. I put the worms on Flounder hooks and tossed two lines out. The Bunker was so old it was falling apart. I rigged a bait keeper Bass hook with a fish-finder sinker and float and literally sewed the Bunker onto the hook. Tossed that out and forgot about it. No nibbles, nothing. About the time he started complaining he was hungry, I noticed the Bass rod twitch. I told him to grab the rod and check it out. He slowly reeled and all of a sudden he was into something big. He was grunting and groaning, put his foot up on a rock to steady himself, and lo and behold he pulls in a big Bass! I netted it, measured it, took some pics, and I said -remember- it has to go back. He agreed and we set it loose. 32 inches of big old Striper! I told him people fish their entire lives and never catch a fish like that. He is 23 now and has caught plenty of Bass since then. But that first monster made a life long fisherman out of him. Plus, he learned sportsmanship. Even though we did not get to cook it, the pics are worth way more now than any meal. That is a BIG salt water net next to the 32" Bass.
As we come up to April 1, I am always reminded of the April Fool's Bass. I took my 10 year old grandson fishing at Little Neck Bay. I told him we were fishing for Winter Flounder as the season opens on April 1. I bought sand worms for bait and a couple of very tired Bunker as some small Striped Bass may be around. I told him if we caught a Bass we had to put it back because the season was not open yet. I put the worms on Flounder hooks and tossed two lines out. The Bunker was so old it was falling apart. I rigged a bait keeper Bass hook with a fish-finder sinker and float and literally sewed the Bunker onto the hook. Tossed that out and forgot about it. No nibbles, nothing. About the time he started complaining he was hungry, I noticed the Bass rod twitch. I told him to grab the rod and check it out. He slowly reeled and all of a sudden he was into something big. He was grunting and groaning, put his foot up on a rock to steady himself, and lo and behold he pulls in a big Bass! I netted it, measured it, took some pics, and I said -remember- it has to go back. He agreed and we set it loose. 32 inches of big old Striper! I told him people fish their entire lives and never catch a fish like that. He is 23 now and has caught plenty of Bass since then. But that first monster made a life long fisherman out of him. Plus, he learned sportsmanship. Even though we did not get to cook it, the pics are worth way more now than any meal. That is a BIG salt water net next to the 32" Bass.
