"Anglers with the right stuff know how to make bad days good and good days great." - In this in-depth follow-up to his top-selling Chesapeake Light Tackle, Shawn Kimbro explains the techniques, traits, and attitudes of highly successful Mid-Atlantic fishermen.
Excerpt: When my line tightened up, I expected to be hung up again. This time, the snag pulled back! Big fish move slowly in cold water but there was no mistaking the telltale body bends of a big striper. After a few head shakes, the fish took off toward the channel. I was using 15-pound-test braid with a tight drag, but the line was screaming off my reel. I pointed my rod in the direction the fish was running and reached down with my other hand to start the engine. I've taken a couple of 50-pounders off this spot so it crossed my mind that this fish could be in that class and I didn't want to take the chance of getting spooled.
About ten seconds later, the big fish tired and I started gaining ground. After a short fight I brought the very wide 42-inch striper to the side of the boat. My waterproof camera was already set up on a 10-second delay and resting on the leaning post. I pointed it toward the back of the boat and pushed the button to take the picture. That gave me just enough time to pull the fish over the rail and hold it out toward the flash. I didn't expect the picture to be great in the waning light and the pouring rain, and it wasn't, but it at least documented the catch and release of a nice fish that I felt I had worked hard for.
