True Fish Stories

“By the time the tarpon was close to our boat, darkness had set in and the guide had erected a large floodlight that lit up one side of the boat and reflected off the dark water.  As I caught my first glance of the fish my jaw dropped.  It was immense.  It was well over five feet long and the guide estimated its weight at 150 pounds.  As the tired behemoth yielded and finally allowed the guide to slip his hand under its gill, we watched in amazement as the tarpon opened its massive mouth.  It was so large that I could have placed my entire head in the toothless cavern!  The guide’s hand and forearm seemed small as he reached into the huge mouth to disengage the hook.”

“As 1960 approached, we caught fewer blue pike, but they tended to be larger.  The size differential seemed to make up for the fact that we were seeing fewer numbers of fish.  At the time, we felt we were in the midst of a cycle that would eventually return us to better days.  Commercial fishing for blue pike with gill nets was discontinued in 1962.  Over the years we caught fewer and fewer fish.  Gradually it became a rarity to catch a blue pike.  The fish was declared endangered in 1970 with only isolated reports of catches.  The blue pike was declared extinct in 1983.  The beautiful and tasty fish that was native only to Lake Erie was gone.”

“The battle lasted about 15 minutes and finally the fisherman reached down and slid his hand into the fish’s gill slot.  This fellow was of average size and as he walked out of the water he attempted to lift the steelhead so that it would not drag on the ground.  His elbow was almost shoulder high and the fish’s tail was still barely touching the water as he stepped on shore.  The gigantic fish was well over 36 inches long and easily weighed 25 pounds.” 

“The crew were preparing the skiff for abandoning the ship.  I was in the wheel house after the second drop failed.  The Coast Guard pilot called the Prince and told the skipper that a second C-130 was being re-routed with more pumps and would reach our position in one hour and thirty minutes.  “How does that look for danger to your vessel?” asked the Coast Guard pilot.  The skipper replied, “Not very good….not good”.  I could see several crew putting on survival suits.”

“Rule 3.  If a fisherman’s wife breaks her leg just prior to a scheduled fishing trip, that is considered a “reasonably legitimate” last minute excuse to not attend the fishing trip.”