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The size of fish tales
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Published: April 2, 2009
Have you ever listened to a group of anglers talking about the fish they caught or the ones that got away? Words like "big," "huge," and "enormous" often preface their stories. The longer the fish tale, the bigger the fish seems to grow. One might begin by saying, "I thought I had a big one, until I saw it jump. Then I knew it was really big. The more I played it, the bigger it got. It was so big, in fact, that it wouldn't fit in the net, so it broke the line and swam away."
When big isn't big enough, words like "monstrous" and "gigantic" are sprinkled throughout the story. One angler was overheard saying, "It's eyes were the size of basketballs." Another said, "its mouth was so wide I could put both my fists in it."
Big fish can be as long as an angler's arm, or longer than his leg. But, gigantic fish are compared to objects like submarines, limousines and oil tankers. At times, even greater emphasis is placed on how big the teller wants his fish to be The size of a limousine becomes a stretch limousine and a tanker becomes a super tanker. Fish that big are usually a saltwater species. Most everyone knows they don't grow that big in freshwater lakes, or do they?
When a fish is too big for words to describe, the amount of time it takes to land it is also interesting.
Some have said, "It seemed like the fish was on my line for hours." Or, "After playing the fish until dark, I began to hallucinate." Scuba divers often tell of fish so big that when they pass above them, they cast shadows that block the sun and turn the water black.
The biggest fish stories of all are those that describe a fish that rams the boat or jumps aboard and attacks the angler. That's when a story gets exciting! Think about poor Captain Ahab. He not only had his leg chewed off, but Moby Dick eventually sunk his boat and drowned him.
Finally, when it comes to describing the size of a fish, nothing says it better than "we need a bigger boat."
Tips from Capt. Gus:
Catfish season is fast approaching. If it's big Arkansas blues or flatheads you're after, use a 5/0 (or larger) circle hook, baited with live or fresh cut bream or perch.
Upcoming Events:
• Thursday, April 9, Lighthouse Marine Service will conduct a refresher course entitled "Introduction to Safe Boating. The session begins at 6:30 p.m. at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, Mooresville. The fee for the two hour class is $24.99. To pre-register, or for more information, call Capt. Scott Spivey 704-587-0325or visit www.Lmservice.org.
• Monday, April 13, 7-8 p.m. The Lake Norman Marine Commission will hold it's monthly meeting at the East Lincoln Community Center, (Note Change in Location) 8160 Optimist Club Rd. — Denver. For additional information, call 704-564-6333 or visit www.lnmc.org.
• Saturday, April 11, Light House Marine Services will offer a Boater Safety and PWC Class. Registration fee is $49 for the eight-hour session beginning at 9 a.m. The class will be at The Peninsula Yacht Club in Cornelius. To register, or for more information, call Capt. Scott Spivey – 704-587-0325 or visit www.Lmservice.org.
• The Lake Norman Striper Swipers will be holding its 28th Annual Spring Classic Tournament on April 18-19. For more information visit www.LNSS.us
• A free seminar on "How to Select and Use Your Next Rod & Reel" will be at Gander Mountain, Exit 36, at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 22. The seminar will be especially helpful for those deciding which outfit to buy for fishing the shoreline, the coast, or from a dock or boat. I will conduct the two-hour session, along with custom rod builder Fran Park, from Good Fortune Custom Rods. This informative class is ideal for the entire family. For additional information, call 704-658-0822.
Hot Spots of the Week:
Sight fishing for spawning bass is producing larger than normal stringers. Bass are in nooks and along sandy banks. Stripers are hitting live baits on shallow points and crappie near brush in water less than ten feet deep. The water level is currently 2.5' below full pond and dingy in places.
Captain Gus Gustafson is licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard and is a Professional Sport Fishing Guide on Lake Norman, NC. Visit his Web site at www.FishingWithGus.com or call 704-617-6812.
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