Was Just Trying To Eat My Chips!

It must have been 5 or 6 years ago. We were on our yearly North Carolina trip, staying in a small town called Avon. Even as an 8 year old all I wanted to do when we were there was fish. Honestly I wouldn't catch much and it is still the same way when I go now. I only fish from the beach and I truly think that the beaches we go to are way over fished. Another thing is that we go in the summertime. One day I hope to go in the fall when the fishing is at its best. 

We were about 3 days into the trip and I remember waking up at 7:00 and doing the same thing that I had done every day. I would wake up and run down to check my crab trap. We rented a house on a canal and it was perfect for me because I got to go down there and fish and crab whenever I wanted. That morning was no different. I went and checked my trap and then began getting ready to go to the beach. We stopped at my favorite bait shop on the way to the beach. It is called Red Drum Tackle. The guys there are always super friendly and give you local knowledge on what has been catching fish. We ended up just grabbing some shrimp and squid. 

When we got to the spot on the beach we let out my dog and ran down to the water. I felt things moving around under my feet and looked down. There had to be thousands of sand fleas right there. I found some really big ones and put them into a bucket with sand and water for bait. 

The first hour and a half of fishing all I was getting was picked clean by crabs. I was young and it made me really upset, but even at that age, I was determined to at least catch one fish. After what seemed like the thousandth time of reeling in my baitless top bottom rig, I decided to try the sand fleas for bait. I asked my dad to cast out so the bait would get far out. I setted the rod in the holder and grabbed a bag of lays chips. I had been very hungry and had not eaten all day because I was busy fishing. After grabbing the chips I went and sat down by my rod holder. My bait had already been out 10 minutes without a bite.

 I was almost finished with my chips, and suddenly my rod shot out of the holder flying into the water. My dad, who was up by the car, ran down and barely grabbed the rod in time. He handed me the rod and I remember him saying, “Tyler you have a big fish on”. I grabbed the rod and tried to reel. I could barely move the handle. I had never had such a big bend in the rod and I was scared it was going to break. Out in the distance I saw a giant fish jump out of the water. I realized it was the fish I had hooked. It must have been 150 yards out. The shape of the fish was long and serpent like. Looking back I think that it was a spanish or king mackerel. 

I continued to reel and then the worst feeling in the world. No more weight on my line, No more bend in my rod. It was over.

As quickly as the fish hit it was gone.