Big Rock

I went eeling. Actually, caught one small enough to keep…but let it go anyway. Then there was one saved by regulation. An honest 54 inches long and thick. The heaviest I have personally weighed is 55 pounds. The heaviest on my boat is 57 pounds caught by Charles Southall…a story he likes to tell. Charles caught one in the 60s while fishing on the Top Notch. I was right beside him when he caught it, fishing with Stan Simmerman. We didn’t catch anything. Another story for Charles.

I have had two in the 60-pound class. One was on the Marc VI while filming a show with George Poveromo. Television saved that fish. The other was with Charles, fishing on the newest Special Kate. Another regulation release. Today’s fish was larger than either of those. It was a struggle lifting the net out of the water and a struggle picking it up for a photo and release. I release almost all of the fish I catch but I would have kept this one. A personal best that I don’t know what it weighed. She swam away strong. I guess the regulation is a good thing…I guess.

So back at it tomorrow? Not exactly. Sighting of big bluefin tuna close in. Chasing after giants in the morning.