Pick Six (not lottery related) Part: II

     When you have a goal you are striving for the World can somehow sense that and does everything it can to make you fail.  As you know, Tautog was my second species I was going to try for and in almost 6 weeks I was able to get 1 weather window in my schedule.  Due to so many birthdays in April and May I even completely missed some perfect weather days, but Family first.  Plus I wouldn't have missed my baby girls first birthday for the biggest fish in the world!

     While playing around with little reds to kill some time I heard of a few flounder being caught. I decided while I waited for conditions to be right for the annual Bull Red migration and the big Cow Stripers to return to their northern summer haunts I would target these bottom dwellers.  After searching a few places over a couple of days I finally found some spots that held good concentrations of these tasty flatfish.  I did this for 2 weeks and put in just under 40 hours and my biggest went 18 inches.   I was way off the mark still.  

 

     It was a chance encounter that made me change up my quarry immediately.  While paddling back to the ramp one night I saw a big tail sticking out of the water just slowly swimming along.  What made it weird was that it was in 15 feet of water.  I was able to paddle quietly up behind it and get a glance at the fish.  It was a giant Bluefish!!  I happened to have a topwater lure on and pitched it out way in front of the fish on its path so I didn't spook it.   As the beast got closer and closer I slowly began to make the lure work.  As soon as the giant Blue saw that lure he charged it with enough power and speed that it looked like someone just threw a cinderblock in the water where he was.  Before I knew what happened my 3000 size reel on my medium 7'6" rod was screaming like I've never heard before.   I was losing line fast.  I was about to be spooled, but no, I wasn't going to let the fish die like that.   I tightened down my drag enough to start being towed a little in my kayak, but I shouldn't have done that.  Hind sight is always 20/20.  In fear of being spooled I tightened down the drag just enough for the Blue to free itself by pulling the hook.  I knew right then, in that moment, that the game had just changed.

     Re-armed and re-focused with a new quarry it was time to come up with a game plan.  I first had to do some recon and find where these suckers were hiding.  I tried open water first since that is where I had my first real encounter with them.  Hours were spent casting and reeling with only a few follows from sub 30 inch fish.  These were not the fish I wanted.  I moved on from spot to spot until I finally had an epiphany.  They didn't want to chase anything yet!  Again, tactics changed and gear evolved with a different style of fishing.  Was it going to work, or would I have to change my plans again?

      Within the first hour I had my answer.  I moved to a new spot and made my first pitch.  Out of nowhere, with pure unadulterated aggression , my rod was nearly snatched out of my hand.  My drag was far too loose and I was broken off on something sharp.  Assess, learn, evolve, change your technique until it works.   Tighten the drag, move back some so you have more time to react to the situation as it changes second by second.  Become ready to face the challenges that are yet to be had.  Pitch number 2 yielded similar results, but this time I was not broken off.  I was able to get the fish close enough to see and I couldn't believe how big it was.  From a foot under the water I estimated this fish in the 38-40 inch range!  I panicked and lost my wits and this massive fish was able to use my panic against me.  It wrapped itself around something that I couldn't see and with no more drag or flexion of the rod this big, beautiful trophy was able to pull the hook.  Devastation.  I am a very passionate person and I wear my feelings on my sleeve and I felt like crying.  "How could I have let this happen? I had the right tactics, in the right place, with the right mindset.  What went wrong?  Figure it out Ryan and move on," I told myself.

     Evolution of gear and tactics aren't the only thing that has to be ever changing.  Your mindset and how you react in situations must change as well or you will be stuck in that same state that lost you the battle last time.  Prepare for loss.  Prepare for panic and fear. Prepare for the immeasurable ferocity of the quarry you are after. You will then be ready to face your foe again on your own terms and on your own battleground.  I was ready. Everything that had happened up to this point changed me.  It changed how I saw my opponent.  It changed how I would react and with what speed I would be able to see the changes happen.  I became ever-ready.

 

     It was just getting light out and I brought my fishing partner Mike with me this time.  We paddled to the battlefield with diligence.  Maybe even double-time but from a kayak.  I was ready.  Focused on the task at hand with a trance like state.  Pitch number one...  Nothing.  Number two... Nothing.  "Has everything I learned changed already?" I thought.   Think.  What was different now.  The cloud cover?  The tides?  Water clarity?  "Figure it out Ryan and move on."  Again, even with everything figured out, the situation had changed again.  Assess.  The surroundings were the same, yet the water was moving a different way.  Tactics.  Reposition yourself to take better advantage of the flow.   Pitch number three.  "Speed, Surprise and Violence of Action, you know this, you've done this your whole adult life."  The strike.  I was ready, braced for aggression, meeting force with greater force.  We both pulled against the other force as if our lives were truly on the line.  Taking line, taking it back, once again.  Over and over.  Being pulled into structure.  Assess, react.  Turn the kayak to pull a different way.  Kick off structure into open water.  The initial contact was over and I had the upper hand, now was the time to lighten up and win the battle.  I gave more and took less until my enemy had its will broken.  I screamed in victory because I knew this was the one.  This was the fish that would re-ignite a passion for using my mind against my opponent as well as my strength.  I pulled this massive swimming force of death into my lap and laid out the tape.  36 and a half inches!  This was it! Citation number 2 for the year.   Reconnaissance will begin on number 3 very soon.