This particular adventure happened in 1997. I think it was in 97′, its hard to remember now because I have tried to block it from my mind every since it happened. The story starts out innocent enough me and my fishing buddy, who shall remain nameless to protect his identity as well as my own well being from the beating I would get if I ever divulged his name. The goal was fishing, offshore fishing. As almost always, the trip was to be out of Venice, Louisiana. Every thing was going fine as we made our way through The Jump and into the Mississippi River.
Then the first indication of things to come happened. The boat was running fine until we tried to give it a little more gas to see what the new carburetor would do. We had gotten 43 mph out of it in a test run at home in the Miss. River near Baton Rouge, and it only needed a minor adjustment. It was bogging down at full throttle. We didn’t want to make the adjustment in the Miss. R. that day More »
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Catfish, Sea Monsters, and Little Green Men
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by: Robert Bennett
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| “I win again, Rob!” Duke exclaimed as he knocked the 8 Ball in the corner pocket. “As always, I am Pool Master of the First Chance, Last Chance Pool and Brew. Tell Sally you’ll be buying me another PBR when she comes back here to wait on us.”
I answered, “I don’t think winning two games of pool at a place that says ‘Hot Arkansas Sausage, Cold Beer, an’ Rolaids’ out front makes you master of much of anything. Anyway, I’m just setting you up for when I can have the opportunity to beat both you and Jeb at the same time. Where is Jeb anyway?”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? Jeb got him a job down at the Bread Basket Funeral Home.”
Just then Jeb strolled in the door and proudly said, “First round is on me ya’ll. I got me a job today!”
“How did you get a job at the funeral home?” I asked. More »
BEAST
Monday, June 8, Agana Marina, Agana, Guam, U.S. Trust Territory
At 7am I welcome aboard 10 passengers that have chartered the boat for an eight-hour trip on the Island Girl, a 42 foot custom built Sportfisherman powered by twin Cat. 3208T’s and inspected for 32 passengers.
The head honcho is Dave, the general manager for Mobile Oil, Guam. He has also invited a few of the management people, the Pacific representatives for Caterpillar engines and the general manager for Hawaiian Rock products. Dave and two of the Cat people are repeat customers and have been out with me and my deckhand, Tony, a few times before. The last few trips with me, Dave and his group caught Skipjack tuna, Yellowfin tuna, Mahi-Mahi and Wahoo, but never a Pacific Blue Marlin. He has chartered this trip because I have told him that the best chances are three days before and three days after the full moon. Having told him this, and being the “Captain”, there is absolutely no pressure on me what-so-ever! (Ha-Ha).
After introductions all around (and I can’t remember anyone who is new as far as calling them by name, guess I’ll never be a politician!) we are ready to begin this day’s expedition. For the last two days, there have been large Skipjack tuna (15 lb.) and some nice Yellowfin tuna (50 lb.+) showing up at the number one buoy, approximately five miles from the Agana Boat Basin. After a 15 minute cruise we are putting lines in the water. Shortly thereafter, I spot about a dozen Fairy Terns (small white birds) working over some bait. Right away I tell Tony to put out a small tuna lure, as I want to start the trip off right with a fish in the boat. After the lure is placed in position I made my first pass on the birds. The rod and reel the tuna lure is on starts to scream and shortly afterwards the first fish of th More »
Specie: striped bass
Location: Plum Gut, Long Island, New York
 This 21lb 8oz striped bass was caught out of Plum Gut, Long Island, New York. A truly scary place to fish in a small boat. It took a drifted live eel and provided one of the most persistent, dogged fights I’ve yet encountered. I would like to thank my good friends Scott and Kelly for providing me with the opportunity to catch such a creature and for scaring the s*** out of me on a regular basis.
Specie: Colne Mere Linear
Weight: 36lbs exactly
 This is the Colne Mere Linear. Second capture in 10 days - this time 36lbs exactly. It took me 5 years to catch (or perhaps I should say land, as I may well have hooked it before) this fish - then I caught it again 10 days later. Events surrounding both captures were quite dramatic, and were detailed in the Blackwater series in Carp World.
This is a much simpler variant. In all likelihood, this Grant’s Uni-Knot. I have used it for more than fifty years and it has never failed me, whether tied in 1kg or 50kg monofilament. It was taught to me by the late Wally Kerr, a top flathead fisherman.
- Pass a 15cm loop of line through the eye.
- Lock the upper part between thumb and forefinger, making a loop.
- Make two more loops over the double part, holding them too, between thumb and forefinger.
- Pass the end through the two loops just made, plus the first loop made in step2.
- The formed knot can now be drawn into shape, and worked down against the eye of the hook or swivel.
There are at least 6 variations of the Hangman’s Knot, - all of them excellent for terminal tackle, swivels and hooks. The “standard” Hangman’s Knot holds only five turns when tied in monofilament nylon. If tied in rope, and used for its stated purpose, it takes eight turns.
- Pass a 15cm loop of line through the eye.
- Bring the end back on itself, passing it under the doubled part.
- Make five loops over the doubled part.
- The formed knot is worked into shape.
- The knot is sent down the line, against the eye of the hook or swivel.
The Palomar Knot is another very simple knot for terminal tackle. It is regarded by the International Game Fish Association consistently as the strongest knot known. It’s great virtue is that it can safely be tied at night with a minimum of practice.
- Double about 12.5cm of line, and pass through the eye.
- Tie a simple Overhand Knot in the doubled line, letting the hook hang loose. Avoide twisting the lines.
- Pull the end of loop down, passing it completely over the hook.
- Pull both ends of the line to draw up the knot
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