GoTight.Net runs annual catch and release tournaments for striped bass. We are proud to have Jonathan O’Connor and Josh Foster from our Surf Team competing in this years’s GoTight.Net Surfcasters’ Classic and Cow Hunt.
Jonathan O’Connor learned how to surfcast from his father 30 years ago. Since his first trip to Race Point, he has been refining his craft. His systematic and high energy approach helped him realize his personal best: a 47 lb striped bass that engulfed a live eel during a dark night from a jetty on the South Shore of Massachusetts. He likes to fish the entire water column with his Century rods and Van Staal reels spooled with Suffix 832 braid. But, his favorite genre of plugs is pencil poppers. His Flatlander bag is never without a Guppy a pencil popper, or two, or three! 😉 On rare occasions, he has been spotted surfcasting without a wet suit.
Jonathan O’Connor practices selective harvest. He releases all BIG breading fish and keeps a couple of legal size fish each season to enjoy with his family. When competing, he only fishes tournaments with a catch and release division or category. His passion for surfcasting can be seen in his smile as he watches a large fish swim away.
Josh Foster has been fishing for 20+ years. His method of choice is Surfcasting with Century rods and Van Staal and ZeeBaaS reels spooled with Spider Wire Invisibraid. He stuffs his Flatlander bag with wood, plastic, and metal presentations fish the entire water column. His go-to plugs to fish the water column are: Linesider69 needlefish, Super Strike darter, and Bomber swimmers, and Diawa SP Minnows.
Josh Foster is a classic trophy hunter practicing CPR (Capture, Picture, Release). When he fishes tournaments, he only submits fish to the catch and release division or category. With the aid of his log, he landed his personal best: a striped bass with a 49.5″ length and a 31″ girth. This fish (with a calculated weight of 53.17 lbs) was landed on the North Shore of Massachusetts. The fish swam away to spawn another day.
In addition to their combined 50+ years of fishing experience and top gear, Jonathan O’Connor and Josh Foster will be utilizing a novel tool while fishing the GoTight.Net tournaments: Fish360 Journal!
