A Night To Remember...

By Paul Melnyk

As members of this fraternity of optimistic fools known as fishermen, we all dream of that perfect night, when the combination of wind, tide and luck make for a fantasy come true. I have been lucky enough to experience one of these Dream Trips. I hope you will enjoy this narrative as much as I enjoyed being there.

On an October night last fall I went on a surfcasting trip, out to that big rock about one hundred yards off the beach, near the Montauk Lighthouse. I arrived at midnight which was about two hours early for the tide. I did this in order to be able to claim my favored perch, out in the heart of the rip. It was another one of those magnificent autumn evenings we are known for out here in Montauk. The moon hung high and full in the cool night air. A light north-easterly breeze swept a soft overcast across the starry heavens. Lately I had been noticing that the beach was collecting some hugh fish racks. These were bony carcasses of past battles won. The word was mum and the sharpies were keeping quiet. Not a note about success could be heard in the wind. The signs however, were all present and I was pleased that I had arrived early enough that no other casters were about. I just knew other wetsuiters would be making a play for this special spot tonight.

I used the chem-light technique to take my bearings. This is where I set up Cyolume light-sticks on the beach at pre-determined locations to create markers that I visually "line up" and find my rock at high water, in the dark. With precision, I swam right to the spot, Stood in my flippers and bingo- I'm on! I Then spend the next two hours wondering what ever convinced me to arrive so early... Oh- you are sick, I said to myself as I stood, half swimming, just being able to keep station at the height of the tide.

About an hour into this folly, I noticed two guys on the beach, cursing and pacing. They seemed rather upset to see that I had beaten them out. Denied this prized perch, off they went, swimming for the less productive grounds off to my left.

It seemed an eternity, this waiting for the ebb, and I was getting really board, almost sleep-fishing. With my mind drifting, I tried to dream up a lunker. I finally had my first hook up around 2 am, it was a skate. Well, at least I didn't get skunked.

Fifteen minutes later I hooked and landed a teen sized striper. I was disappointed. I knew there should be some really decent fish tonight. Everything was just right- perfect in fact. I'm here, and I'll be dammed if I'll give up early. Giving it another half hour, I finally hooked another bass, a bit larger than the last.

I made another cast and bang- I feel the telltale smack of a good fish! I got the fish in and it is a bass in the thirty pound class. Oh yeah- the cows are here! I reached into my bag to grab the biggest bait I had. This was that special talisman. It was an eel- almost twenty inches long- with lots of spunk. Several casts later I heard a big splash and my drag started to scream.

Stunned by the ferocity of this strike, I am at odds to my next move- what should I do? Should I tighten the drag? Should I give a good tug and try to stop her? I chose to just hold on. I watched as the spool spun- my line running out in long rushes. I regretted this choice when after five minutes of this one sided fight- my rod goes limp. Nothing...

As I reeled in I was talking to myself. You fool- I can't believe you lost another slob!

I felt heartbroken. What could I have done wrong? Seeing the leader, I noticed it had a peculiar look to it. The eel had slipped all the way up- past the swivel. I turn on my light and see that my 7/0 tuna hook had been Straightened!! Another lost slammer! I began praying now for god to give me just one more chance. Just once more- With my fingers trembling, it took me a while to re-do the rig. Moonlight darted in and out of the clouds, making it even harder to tie the knots. I put the same Mugombo eel back on the new hook as I invoked a new prayer- for luck. Nothing- Another cast, another benediction. Nothing- I made one more cast and sensed the eel swing down tide. I began the slow, agonizing retrieve. Gees- You blew it- You blew your only chance at a... Something felt funny- A soft bump at the hook. I stopped reeling- Ah, there it is, a pickup! This light and rather feeble response had me thinking this was just another mediocre fish. With a sharp tug,I set the hook. the rod felt to heavy for a rat- and then the fish awoke... ZOOM!. A big run. I was into the fight of my life! As I played the fish, she swam by my rock, making a big arch in front of me. Another big run! She's headed off towards the rocks behind me! I can't believe it! This fish passed my perch and spun me around- I almost slipped! With a big splash, she moved away towards the in-shore reef.

Now I was fighting this fish in the rocks. I could feel the line catch as it skips across the reef's jagged structure.

"OH GOD- pleeaasse- not again!"

She shook her head- the rod tip thrashing- I held my breath. I applied pressure steadily to the fish- she turned out of the snag! The weight of this Linesider had my rod doubled in half. A few more short runs- I can feel her strength waning. I coaxed her to the rock- Please line, don't break- Please line don't break PLEASE LINE DON'T BREAK! I shined my flashlight on the huge swirl in the water and I couldn't believe my eyes! This fish was almost five-feet-long! I reached down and grabbed her huge lower jaw. It's over- I won- I won!

My god! She is the whopper!

Her head was as big as a stew-pot, slick and glistening in the moonlight. Her mouth was big enough to insert a grapefruit with room to spare- I reached into this cave and pulled the hook. Momentarily- within the daze of euphoria- I thought about slipping the fish onto my stringer- but then I reexamine this idea. I remembered my plaintiff Hail Mary prayer- shouted in desperation. What would I do with fifty pounds of fishmeat? I looked within her deep golden eye as I supported her massive frame under my arm. I am barley able to lift her. Her swollen body was draped over my sleeve- supplicating in her moment of defeat. Her belly was full of eggs- Maybe a million fry for next year. With a sigh, I kissed her on the head and push her off into the night. She righted herself and moved away. With a splash and a swirl she is gone... No one would believe that I released this fish. The fish of a lifetime...

This night continued on. I had action for another hour. I could hear the guys to my left jabbering among themselves as I land and release another big fish.

"I don't believe this..."

"Gees, he's got another one!"

I was rewarded with two more contenders- including another cow. All told- four fish over thirty pounds. I kicked off my lucky throne and finned back to the beach. Indeed, this was a night to remember...

Back in the shallows, I met my two companions as they stumble out of the wash.

"Hey! It looked like you were doin' pretty good, for a while there." said one fellow. I see his flashlight panning the water beside me, "You got anything to show for it?"

But what could I say? "Ah- You know- I did okay..."

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