In my third year as a self-proclaimed surfcaster, I was fishing the incoming tide on a dark summer night with two friends.
Two hours after slack tide, two gentleman walk onto the beach. They said nothing. We said nothing. Fisherman keep secrets.
Three hours after slack tide. No fish. I walked over to the gentleman and said “Any luck?” The first gentleman who was baiting his rig, said: “Nothing yet”. I looked at his rig and knew why. I have fished with “wacky” rigs, but this one was fish-hooking challenged. “Have you fished this rig a lot?”, I asked. “No. This is my first time fishing in the ocean.”, he responded. That explained the rig.
Breaking with fishing tradition, I told him how to make a rig that I have had success with on the beach we were fishing. He looked at me in surprised. But, followed my suggestion. I said “Good luck!” and walked back to my hot spot.
Four hours after slack tide. One skate. Out of curiosity, I looked over to see what was happing. Bang! The first gentleman was struggling to hold onto his rod while walking toward the water. I put my rod in a sandspike and sprinted like an Olympic athlete towards him. The tip of his rod could not get any closer the butt of the rod without snapping the rod in two. I did not hear any line coming off the spool. He was not gaining any line. “Loosen the drag!”, I yelled. He looked at me in surprise. But, followed my suggestion. A few minutes later, a fat 35 inch striped bass was at our feet.
Five hours after slack tide. Two schoolies. Out of curiosity, I looked over to see what was happing. Bang! The second gentleman had a fish on the line. I put my rod in a sandspike and sprinted towards him. “Open the drag”, the first gentleman said. A few minutes later, a fat 30 inch striped bass was at our feet.
Six hours after slack tide. No keepers. The two gentleman went home with camera full of pictures. And I went home with the 35 inch and the 30 inch striped bass. If I had kept my fishing rig a secrete. I would have gone home without any fish. Keep secrets selectively. Give and you shall receive.
