|
Gone Fishin': E-mail launches correspondence course in bass
September 1, 2005
Story & photo by Nelson Sigelman
With the guidance of Cooper Gilkes, Eve Isenberg eases a striped bass out of the surf.
|
People e-mail me all the time, and not about fishing. Most of the interesting messages I receive are sent by people living in Nigeria who need my assistance to retrieve millions of dollars from a bank account set up by a member of whatever royal family they happen to belong to.
Every now and then someone will ask a fishing question, but not as often as one might think. Besides, I do not like to direct people to where the fish are hitting if it would violate some trust placed in me, and if I plan to fish that spot.
Also, the ease of e-mail provides instant accessibility to an ocean of information and scores of web sites where folks happily share fishing information. Why hang around a tackle shop attempting to glean information when you can jump on a chat site and discover where the fish are hitting; what the fish are hitting; and how to get the fish to hit what the fish are hitting?
About 10 days ago, I received an e-mail from a young woman that caught my attention. It began: “Hello, Mr. Sigelman. I freakin’ love your column.”
The liveliness of the writing and fact that she was a fan provided a break from the letters sent by pious anti-shark tournament, stop picking on the French and New Jersey types who had recently been getting on my case.
Eve Isenberg, a seasonal Island resident, described walking along a beach in Gay Head with her parents and spotting fish. Lots of fish, “huge” fish, visible in the breaking waves, very close to shore.
“We watched, saw their long, dark backs breaking the water’s surface. We figured they were feeding on the krill … soon thereafter, we realized there were some that were much closer in to shore. Close enough to reach out and touch them, practically, about 5-10 feet from shore. I don’t know what kind of fish they are, as I’m a fishing neophyte, but they were large. Knowledgeable beach strollers suggested they might be striped bass or bluefish, but I have no clue. Anyway, they were tremendous and close.”
“I resisted the urge to go fetch the fishing rods from the house. Instead we just sat there and watched them for hours. No idea if they’re still there today,” she told me.
It occurred to me that it would be smart to keep in contact with Eve. I sent an e-mail back.
I told her she was watching striped bass feeding on krill and made a suggestion. I told her, “ You can watch and admire the natural spectacle of bass feeding on krill just for the sake of it on the Discovery Channel when you are home.
“The next time you are lucky enough to have bass feeding at your feet grab a fishing rod (By the way, you should never stroll a beach without a fishing rod) and double your fun … Your knowledgeable beach strollers do not sound too knowledgeable. Next time you see that and need to know what kind of fish are on the beach, give me a call. I would be happy to come up and identify them.”
Eve responded and assured me she would call me the next time she saw a similar sight. She added, “And I’ll remember to bring the rods next time. It’s just that I’ve literally never caught a fish before, so my expectations are pretty low.”
She said she had gotten “kind of obsessed by fishing” last summer while recovering from some health problems. She admitted, “I guess I was kinda weak, and also doing everything all wrong, because all we ever caught were boulders (which means I will never again go swimming off our beach, since I know there are, like, five hooks out there somewhere). But maybe I shouldn’t get discouraged just yet. It’s a new summer, after all, and this time I’m not weak and shaky. Also, the fish are practically begging to be caught.”
Reading her e-mail while sitting on the couch at home, I told my wife I had to help Eve catch a fish. A school teacher, Eve said she would be leaving the Island at the end of August to begin a new job.
There was not a lot of time. I decided to call up reinforcements. I called my good friend Cooper Gilkes.
One thing I have learned fishing with Coop is that he may not always catch the biggest fish (although he sometimes does) and he may not catch the most fish (although he sometimes does) but he almost always will catch a fish.
We made plans to meet on the beach. Coop brought along Gus Hayes, a high school freshman beaming with anticipation. We met Eve on the beach.
She was trying to cast a swimming plug with a strip of squid attached to one of the treble hooks on a much too heavy surf rod. I explained that adding the squid would not enhance the likelihood a fish would hit the plug, and the rod she was using was much too heavy.
I suggested she try my outfit, an eight-foot Ugly Stick with a Penn Slammer reel. The outfit was much easier for her to cast.
Unfortunately, the wind was not as favorable as it had been the prior week. The krill were gone. No one was catching anything. Michael Stutz walked by. He said he was also having no luck.
Coop hooked up and called for Eve and handed her the rod. She battled the unseen fish on the other end of the rod when it suddenly went limp.
She apologized to Coop for losing his fish. Coop just grinned the smile of someone who has lost his share. Fishermen know it happens.
He hooked up again and called to Eve who was standing by my side as I instructed her in the art of fruitless casting. She landed her fish, a striper.
A few days later she e-mailed me to say thank you. “I had the best time. I can’t believe how thrilling it is to feel something fighting for its life and freedom on the end of your line,” wrote Eve. “I am sure I will hook something else soon. I am going to bring a rod with me every time I go down to the beach, and I will definitely email you when I catch something on my own. Again, thanks — it rocked.”
Before she headed off-Island, Eve e-mailed me one last time. “Next year, I will definitely catch my own fish,” she wrote. “See you next summer.”
I look forward to it.
More chum
Just when I thought it was safe to forget about the Oak Bluffs Monster Shark Tournament I received an e-mail from Jim Masek.
Jim said he does not fish but likes to read the fishing column because his son-in-law is an avid fly-fisherman, and my columns provide some insight into his mental state.
“I’m sure he thinks I’m a good guy, even though he doesn’t comprehend why I don’t fish all the time,” wrote Jim.
Apparently, things are too quiet for Jim because he suggested I create a poll so I can ask people to indicate whether the shark tournament should continue as is, be changed, or be eliminated and that the respondents be asked to substantiate each view.
Jim, Jim, what are you trying to do to me, get my face plastered up on a PETA billboard in Times Square?
Jim added that while he respected my editorial views he thought I had “hedged” some on the tournament issue.
His suggestion may be less aimed at an objective assessment and more designed to certify his already formed views, because Jim wrote, “However, I believe that there will be more respondents who disapprove of that tournament, than approve of it. We Islanders are not your typical Shark Hunter, with a macho crew, huge glitzy plastic boat, huge bellies, a beer in each hand, and so forth.”
Generally, I agree with Jim’s description except for the part about huge bellies. Jim continued and said he found the “circus scene” at the weigh in station sickening.
Jim thinks that there are many catch and release fishermen, especially fly-fishermen, who would support his view that the tournament should be changed or eliminated.
Tagging me as a tournament supporter, something I have never said I was, and insinuating there was a commercial connection, Jim added, “I’m equally sure your Oak Bluffs advertising customers will agree with your support of the Tournament. Do you really want that Tournament to continue as is? Please make a clear statement to that effect.”
I am a little surprised to be pegged as a monster shark tournament supporter, although my guess is that for opponents there is no middle ground, which is the spot I occupy. I have consistently said that I do not care for the contest and have no interest in it.
The fact is that many fishermen enjoy fishing for shark, it is a legal activity and I am not about to support an end to a tournament just because I do not like it or the fishermen are not visually appealing.
I do oppose the humane society’s support of censorship where ESPN’s broadcast of the shark tournament show is concerned. Imagine the reaction if they were on the receiving end of such an effort?
I do think a healthy debate about the issues is a good thing.
Bonito Blast results
Edgartown Marine Outfitters weekend ““Bonito Blast” tournament was a big success with a record 141 participants.
The first place check for $500 went to Bill Abel who weighed in a 8.8-pound bonito. Nick Peters took second with a 7.6-pound fish and Joe Medeiros came in third with a 7.3-pound bone.
“It was a great time,” declared fisherman Don MacGillivray.
|
