Ryan Collins
The wind was blowing cool air across the ocean and into my nostrils. A bright full moon shone from above.
It was a perfect Cape Cod summer night, and I felt there was a good chance of some big fish showing up in the surf.
The moon was shining bright over my right shoulder, when I caught glimpse of a dark shadow moving along the shoreline in less than one foot of H2O. I entered the water to get a better look...
It was a striper and she was a beauty! However the big fish was dragging about 20 yards of fishing line. The line was covered in mung which further weighed her down. The bass was in a desperate struggle for its life.
More...
I needed to wrestle this fish to shore in order to help her. As the striper whipped back around into the moonlit shallows she suddenly turned and headed straight for my legs!
Click play below to see what happened next.
I believe this fish was probably hooked at some point during the day on Thursday. I think another boat probably ran over and cut the line, because the braid had parted in a weird spot about 20 yards away from the bass.
You just never know what you may encounter when fishing Cape Cod! In a way I feel I was lead to this exact spot 3 miles away from the parking lot for the specific purpose of freeing this fish.
Overall the bass fishing is heating up right now in many spots throughout Cape Cod & the Islands. Large stripers have settled into the region, and I feel there are more on the way, as the biomass moves north from Block Island.
A Message From Ryan
I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for what has so far been a fantastic 2016 fishing season!
I also owe a special thank you to all current members. Your support has helped me expand the site and our services.
If you are not already a member of My Fishing Cape Cod, then please consider joining by clicking here. Right now is an exciting time to be fishing on Cape, and we have a lot in store for members.
I have also been donating a portion of membership support to charity, and I am happy to report that My Fishing Cape Cod has now donated more than $4,000 to organizations like Project Healing Waters and A Baby Center Cape Cod, among others.
Thank you and tight lines!
Ryan
Hand lining from the surf!? Next you’ll be calling them in with a whistle lol. Nice job, sad to think that fish would have towed that line around till its death. Glad u could help it
Yeah it would of been a slow death for that fish, most likely.
Definitely looking forward to doing more hand-lining from the surf!
neat story
Thanks!
You really never know what you will stumble upon on the beaches late at night! Nice work with the catch(?) and release!
I’d appreciate it if you could pre-hook a few fish for me. Preferably 30#+. Just let me know which beach they are waiting for me at!
No problem Ryan. I will begin work on pre-hooking bass and possibly even a tuna for you ASAP. lol
Could also work on an albie for you too. I heard a few were spotted in the canal, but that is just a rumor.
Definitely true. I saw some on Tuesday off the east end while on the boat.
I like this pre-hooked tuna idea. Catching a tuna from the surf! See if you can make it happen for me ????
Brought up my anchor’ had a complete rod, reel, line, had only been in water for short time, no fish on it though
No kidding! Was it by chance a Penn 113H wire line setup or a Penn 9500s spinning setup?
Nice Save Ryan! So important to protect the balance of nature.
Thanks Brian, I know you and your buddies probably would of done the same thing. I have nothing against keeping a fish for the grill, but I felt like this guy deserved to be freed.
Awesome video and narrative. What a unique experience. You’re a true sportsman to actually rescue and release the very prize you relentlessly pursue.
I am just very happy to have been able to help that fish! He was struggling.
Nice work and she will live to fight another day! We all need to work to help preserve this precious resource.
Thanks Ron!
These bass really are a very precious resource.
unreal. fishing is so good they come pre-hooked.
lol, yeah it is not always this easy!
Hey! you found my fish! Now that you let her go, can you please at least return my circle hook?
Yeah absolutely Jim, no worries!!!
Very cool?
Never know what you may encounter out there. Hope you are catching ’em up Hayden!
Wow, that’s crazy! Nice release and congrats on your biggest bass from shore this year, lol.
Thanks Darren, real interesting way to catch my personal shore best for 2016!