STRIPERS ARE KING July 9, 2009 - As reported by Fishing Tackle Retailer the striped bass is America's most popular saltwater gamefish, with 20 percent of surveyed anglers (anglersurvey.com) targeting the species at least once. Flounder, sought after for being outstanding table fare here in the Northeast, was second with 19 percent. "This survey (on which multiple answers were allowed) reported which gamefish species were most sought-after, not necessarily the most frequently caught. Other popular gamefish that anglers reported targeting were grouper, snapper and sea bass (14 percent); redfish, also called red drum or channel bass (13 percent); spotted sea trout and weakfish (13 percent); and bluefish (12 percent)." During the course of your fishing year you will undoubtedly experience a few peculiar events. For me, one such occurrence took place this past Sunday, July 5th, the day of my bride's birth. Now, often described as a self-centered fly-fishing zealot by wife Katherine, I was actively attempting to ramp-up my image by spending the entire day tending to her every need. As has been her custom for years, an early arrival to the beach (Pleasant Bay) was scheduled and executed after a brief period of shell fishing. Now, in the vicinity of 9:30 AM we leisurely began to stroll the beach with no intent other than to enjoy the morning under near perfect skies. This is an area I have intimate knowledge of and the scene of numerous fly-fishing successes over the years. Due to it's rather barren occupancy I had all but given up on it a few years ago, convinced that it would never return to it's previous prominence. Always alert to things of the sea, at a distance I began to witness distinctive shadows emerging from a deeper, darker bottom on to the lighter beachfront. I instinctively began to direct my wife's attention to what was now a mounting battalion of striped bass that I estimated between 35 and 40" conservatively. I initially spent nearly an hour viewing the event, my fly rods stowed securely in Dennisport, nearly a half hour away. Good fishing and safe
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