ATTENTION CHESAPEAKE BAY FISHERPPLS

[frank daleo]

On Saturday Dec 12, Cheapshot, Cole Svenson, Tony Amato, Jim Sterrick, Harold Smith and myself, fished the ASA Tournament in Virgina Beach, VA. We got out to our fishing grounds, and when the time for lines in came, it was game on. About an hour into our drift, Cheapshot gets a run off and lands a 20 lber. About a half hour after, Cheapshot gets another fish, the 30 lber that gave us a 13th position spot. As i was adjusting the rods to avoid a tangle from the free swimmer, I felt a bump and a pick up. I let some line freespool off the Salinas spinning reel, flipped the bail closed, line becomes tight, and set the hook. Line started coming off the reel at a steady pace, and I could not turn it at all. The team quickly cleared the other rods, and we chased down 'the it." The excitement now builds, "There goes the top shot," I screamed. Within a split second the reel rips free and is in my hand. IT CRACKED AT THE BODY OF THE REEL AND LEFT THE FOOT OF THE REEL IN THE REEL SEAT F***, I screamed, and there goes the top shot. Cole and I are now trying to hold the reel, the rod, trying to gain line...no luck. Now back to biblical times, and handlining was the only viable option. Slowly, the process began and we gained all the top shot right to the swivel...WE ARE ON THE LEADER. The anticipation was unbelievable, the excitement building...... WE HAVE A MONSTER!!! Now I grab the leader, about a foot and half passed the swivel with literally two fingers in case of another run. No pressure...BULL****! Then, the unthinkable....POP! Leader in my hand, basically exploded ! WTF! The dissappointment set in...shaking our heads, few choice words. What just happened? What was it? We never saw it..never had a shot with the net. So anyone fishing the Cheasepeake catches a monster with a 6/0 Octopus hook in its mouth, attached to 4 foot of leader, please take a picture, so we can see what we lost. Bottom maybe, but the factors dont play in..we were on the leader and the rod was rigged without weight.

[cheapshot]

Frankie D thanks for the reminder Well lets go do it again this weekend !

[frank daleo]

:sorry bro..it haunts me.held that leader like i was holding an egg. to be that close and gone.cole said it best....same ill feeling when I froze and missed the gaff shot on that tournament winning 900 lb mako. on a side note..I decided to write a book.

[Tenacious]

WOW Frankie!!! I feel for you!!! You'll get another chance