I had an experience several weeks ago that may be of interest to some of you. It was rather unique and actually a little painful. I was fishing with a buddy in the San Bernard river, very close to the inter coastal water way. We were having steady action with very nice croaker and sand trout. Upon bringing my line out of the water I noticed my hook was bringing in another piece of mono. I grabbed the mono and pulled about 30 yards of loose mono into my boat. I pull the mono that is still in the water and it feels hung, ( I'm thinking hung on the bottom ). I instinctively wrap the mono around 3 of my fingers and pull it, trying to retrieve the rest of the line. It pulls back. As a matter of fact it pulls back very hard. I was fishing off the rear of my boat, and if my right foot wouldn't have found the transom well , I was going in the river. I pull back to keep from going in, but whatever is on the other end obviously wants me to join it in the drink. Every time I pull harder, the mono cuts a little deeper into my middle finger. ( the one you use to wave at people on the freeway) After about a minute of this tug of war, I pulled back once more and stepped on the line on the deck of my boat at the same time and the line popped. About fifty yards of mono come shooting back at my boat. I'm looking in the direction from which it came and I see this huge bull red boil and thrash the surface. She seemed very happy to be free, but near as happy as I was to be free of her. I retrieved about 80 yards of mono, the first six inches of which were a little bloody. This may sound like a fish story, but my finger can tell you other-wise. I hope some one enjoys it. Tight lines & Merry Christmas to all. Baldy Locks

Ain`t that a bitch at least u could have ended up with the fish. ..........Bill

I've always wondered how hard redfish fight without the rod and reel and just the fish, line, and you. Interesting experience I'm sure...

Can't imagine what that felt like.

My feelings about the incident are that I could not believe the brute strength of that fish. It appeared to be 40 inches plus. I'm 6'0 @ 220 lbs. & this fish was definitely going to pull me out of the boat. I figured real quickly that with just one usable arm that nothing good was going to come from a plunge in the river. Southernguy, I noticed your dog picture. Is that a rat terrier? My sons girl friend has a rat terrier and she is the sweetest and smartest dog. And unfortunately for some squirrels, she is faster than them. I truly appreciate you guys' taking interest in my story and responding. Tight lines, Baldy Locks.

Thats interesting, I always wondered what it would be like to hand line in a large fish.

@Baldy Locks- yes that is a Rat Terrier. Squirrels are on the list of species he's made dinner for himself with. That's my best buddy.

@southernguy; We all need a fishing buddy. My are my son (13) Steven and a couple of close friends. My dog Beaux, would have a problem staying close. he likes to wander. Have fun don't catch them all, huh?

Bet u don`t wrap mono around ur fingers no more/////...Bill

Bill, you would most definitely be a winner with that bet. I may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but I learned pretty quick from that episode. Baldy Locks.

Pretty hard on thumbs too//// when u try to keep from losing line ,drags not holding and u try to stop it don`t ask me how I know[a very long time ago]..........Bill

You're lucky it was mono not braid. I watched a guy wrap braid around his hand too free a "snag". He had a very large fish on the other end that pulled back. I can tell you as I was cutting the line...blood was flowing from his hand. I'm guessing he ended up with some serious stitch work along with my t shirt which I used to wrap his hand so he could drive to the hospital.