"MAY" THE FISH, FRIENDS & FAMILY BE WITH YOU!
Hopefully, by the time you’re reading this, you have been able to get out on the water for a positive “social distancing” experience. Maybe you are enjoying a great spring run and have caught a personal best. Maybe you are still grinding it out to achieve that goal. Just plain fishing is such an enjoyable activity. The benefits of getting out there and wetting a line have a very positive impact on your whole frame of mind, as well as your physical health. Now more than ever it has become important to the many of us who have been quarantined, with limited access to our normal activities.
We go fishing because we want to catch fish and feel the rush of the tug. It allows us to enjoy the great outdoors and reduce the daily stresses in our lives. It gets us out and moving, which is never a bad thing. For some of us, catching the fish of a lifetime is an important goal. For others, the action is the drug- the consistent and constant catching of fish. For me, the combination of these things fuel my outings every time. Of course, for many anglers, like me, it’s a joy to catch any fish, any species, at any time- the thrill of a tight line never gets old.
There is one other thing that drives my fishing, and I am missing it right now- sharing the tides and the casts with family and friends. No matter what I’m fishing for, sharing my fishing with others makes it special. So this virus is making it difficult to not only gather with our loved ones, it has really put a damper fishing by not being able to do it with friends and family. I miss the camaraderie, the story telling, and most of all, the laughs shared between anglers who travel with each other on their way to favorite fishing destinations. This has all taken a backseat to solo rides and distant fishing to keep each other and our families safe.
Of course, a lot of people see surf fishermen as guys that stay to themselves and fish alone, but the reality is that we all have our certain friends we fish with, and with whom we spend a lot of time hanging out before and after our outings. Whether just talking at the beach, walking
between spots, or grabbing something to eat on the way home, these interactions are an important part of the whole experience. They say you never know how much you miss something until it is gone- truer words were never spoken.
In the end, we have to make the best of it, not only from a fishing aspect but also from a fellowship aspect. We have to have hope that, before long, we can put this behind us and get back to “normalcy”. For now, follow the proper procedures and rules that have been established by the regulatory authorities so we can get out and, hopefully, still have a great season. It is likely the best way to keep the places we love to fish, and the sport we love to do, accessible, for what is it that we as anglers do best? We adapt and adjust to changes in conditions! Hopefully, by next month’s article, we will have turned the corner and overcome this pandemic. Until then, stay safe, healthy and “May” the fish, family, and friends be with you- distantly speaking of course! Tight Lines, Live The Passion!
iBass360.com features a monthly surfcasting blog from Bernie Hoyt , a NYS Certified Fishing
Guide with over 30 years of experience fishing the legendary waters of Long Island. He is well known for his informative seminars at saltwater shows in the Northeast. Bernie offers trips along the outer beaches and inlets of Long Island, as well as Cape Cod Canal, Cuttyhunk, and other Northeast Striper locations. He is a pro-team member for S&S Bucktails, ODM RODS, and KastKing, as well as a member of the Long Island Beach Buggy Association and the Montauk Surfcasters Association. You can contact Bernie on Facebook through Bernie Bass Surfcasting Services, on Instagram @Bernie_bass, and through his website at https://www.berniebass.com/