quote:Originally posted by ratherbefishin
I think I might share this experience with a lot of other anglers...
While fishing for bottom fish on a Zinger, I hooked what I assumed to be a rockfish. I didn't feel all that heavy, so I started to reel up and all of a sudden, this little fish turn into a real fighter, really heavy. So when this fish gets to the surface, I realized to my surprise that it is a huge ling followed by another good size ling! The minute that its head break the surface, it lets go and all I have on is a small rock fish. Obviously, the ling had taken it and another ling followed looking for any scrap. I immediately released the brake on the reel and the rock fish sank dragged down by the weight of the Zinger. I might have gone down 20 or 30 feet when the same big ling took the rock fish again. I brought it up to the surface and without letting it break to the top netted it. It was not hooked but just refused to give up its prey. These were the days when the pressure on lings was not felt yet and they were plentiful. I am not proud of it but if makes a pretty good story.