Worst - one that got away moment..??

[Eoghan]

Mine was without doubt a night on a beach in kerry when I was using a multiplier for the first time. I had some bother with it tangling a bit but was sure it was fine. My mate beside me suddly shouted "Im in" and his rod doubled over. About 10 seconds later my rod got rattled and doubled over...............the reel had other ideas and was jamed tight and would not reel in. It had fouled a bit after my cast but I thought it was ok. I panicked as I tried to fix it while my mate landed a 6Ib bass. I knew my fish was gone so I pulled the line in by hand. In the meantime my mate casted again while I was trying to untangle a birds nest. He was in again in seconds and landed a 7Ib followed by a 4Ib fish. I was sick as a pig and have never used a multiplier since to this date. I still have nightmares about it..!!! :lol:

[teacher]

There are so many to choose from ...

I was plugging in rough conditions on an unnamed reef of rocks on North Co. Wexford. I had walked out a bit on very slippy submerged rocks and the surf was making it hard to keep my footing.

I got into a substantial bass, felt like well into double digits. Eventually got it in to my feet -- it was BIG. Fannied about tried to handle it in the surf, eventually got hold of a landing net but the waves washed the net over the plug, the whole mess got tangled up and the bass buggered off. :cry:

Lost a similar size fish in the exact same place a few weeks ago, but I can live with that because it just wasn't hooked right. This is a super mark. The fish are quite scarce, but when they show up, they tend to be big :D

[teacher]

the reel had other ideas and was jamed tight and would not reel in.

When I started bass fishing, I guess when I was 10 or so, I used to forget about the reel and just run back up the beach. Far more efficient and less risky. :D

[petekd]

I am sorry to say that the worst "one that got away" moment was an LSD! Fishing my first ever competition, with SAI, at Ballyreen last year. Had fished all afternoon without a trace of a bite while watching others, in particular M.b3 pulling in fish to beat the band. The day is drawing to a close and I'm still fishless when the rod starts knocking to the tune of a hooked doggie, fantastic sez I, at least there'll be something on my card. Wound in and brought the fish to the side of the rock where upon attempting to lift him up he let go and with a splash dropped back in. I wouldnt mind but I could clearly see the bloody thing curled up in a ball in the margins. I was gutted! "Not to worry Pete" you might say, "Im sure you've caught loads of fish at other SAI shore comps" Er no.... Not one. Not even an undersized one. Not even a baitfish. No, that was my chance and I blew it. :oops:

Not a sea fish but still galling none the less was the salmon I hooked on the Moy earlier this year. Having done the research, driven for 5 hours, spent a small fortune on lures, licenses and permits and picked the fishery I proceeded to bugger off on my tod and leave the rest of our group to their own devices in a different fishery. I spent the day up to my nads in that river hurling the contents of my bag at them. At 6.15, with Dinner and prizegiving at 7.00 I was still in the water. With 3 fish having come to the bank for me, but no salmon, it wasnt looking good. At this stage, im on autopilot, numb with cold as had left jacket in car that morning, hands and wrists virtually seized up with the constant casting and winding when all of a sudden the retrieve stops, and I can feel the headshaking of a hooked salmon before it sets off on its first run. It took about two seconds to register in which time all I could think was not, lift the rod, set the hooks, it was instead, thank god , gottim! Alas, was not to be as before I had chance to lift into the fish properly, it set off down the pool and left my spinner behind it.....some things are not meant to be....next year....! Didnt matter too much as my combo of brownie, sea trout and perch was enough to lift top prize on the day but I'll be back for that salmon.