[Sharkyispy]

ANY day I can get out to fish is a privelage and a tribute to my grandfather who taught me the appreciation of fishing in the streams, Niagara River, Creeks, Erie Canal and Lakes of upstate/Western NY. Freshwater fishing was how I grew up and what I knew. Huge LAke Trout, Brown Trout and Rainbows along with salmon, Musky, Northern Pike, Bass and Catfish were the ticket. Fast Forward to the early 80's when I moved to PA. Did my first trip on a shore vacation and took my brother out on the Cock Robin for a Blue Fish trip, did many more after that( If you ever fish with me on a trip, ask me to tell you the funny details of that virgin outing). A few years later I learn about Fluke, then Stripers and sea bass, then Sharks and the palegics. And Finally this year, blackfish. Each represents it's own challenge to me during the respective season they are targeted. Nothing like the "head shake" and anticipation of a large fluke being brought to the surface. Who doesn't enjoy the jigging or livelining a nice sized linesider to the net at the boat? Sharking, a whole form of fishing in it's own, requiring a great deal of patience but the excitement of hooking into one and seeing it breach into the air out of the water is a sight made for memories. While I'm new this year to the blackfish scene, it has been a great challenge to begin to master the "art" of catching the species, which I am certainly becoming a quick study student. I have to say that the Canyon and Offshore tuna trips rank up there as my personal favorites. The anticipation of the trip makes me sleep like a kid on XMAS eve every time. Ask any Capt on trips I've gone on, I'll cat nap on the way out to get a few zzz's and then it's pure adrenalin overdrive to go through the night or day working jigs, bait or sitting at a rod on troll waiting for the strike and fight of the tuna. I've been spooled and broken off only left to wonder just how big the beast was on the other end. I've also had the great pleasure of successfully and skillfully fighting beasts to the boat. Some becoming table fare, others spared to see the fight for another day. That fight is what makes it so exciting and rewarding. Seeing a tuna coming to the boat, "seeing color" several feet down in the blue water only to have it dive on you to fight another 1/2 hour, hour or more....Nothing like it!