one fish and only one fish............

[charlie_the_tuna]

I know this question has been asked before but i'd like to change my answer. if you could catch one fish and only one fish for the rest of your life, what fish and what tackle.
I was going through the new issue of 'on the water', a newish magazine for the northeastern fisherman, and I came across a picture of a baby atlantic bonito. it was about 9 inches long and looked to weigh about 3/4 pound.
perfect size for my favorite tackle. penn 420ss ultra light reel spooled with stren fluorescent 4 pound test matched to a 5'6" ultra light spinning rod. I've taken everything from snappers and baby jacks to baby tarpon to 10 pound bluefish on these types of setup. fish about this size would give a fight and a half and since it's easier to tote this setup then any other........ this would be my one fish on my one setup.
my new computer is not compatible with my old printer so when I get a new one set up i'll scan the photo and you guys can drool over it like I've been doing.

[charlie_the_tuna]

see if this works.


http://www.onthewater.com/onlineedition/NYNJOnline/september13-nynj/pageflip.html


ok, if this works flip to page 89. upper right side of the page.

[charlie_the_tuna]

now tell me you couldn't just catch tiny tuna all day, every day on a good ultra light setup? give me a dozen or so of those and it's been a successful fishing trip.

[SkunkBoat]

:head: Thats a scary thought...one last fish and then quit fishing?! It would have to be something really big, like a sword, marlin or BFT over 500#s. So that would be on an 80W outfit. Oh, maybe a big halibut! I say that because I've never had a really big fish.
I can really enjoy most fishing. Favorites are
smallmouth bass on ultralite from a canoe
little tunny(aka false albacore,bonita) on ultralite,
livelining bunker to stripers on a 30# outfit,
chunking tuna on a 6/0 (if you've never had a 90# yellowfin run off while you're holding the rod in freespool and then click it in gear, you should rethink your last fish!)

[charlie_the_tuna]

sorry skunk, I should have been more clear. what I meant was one species of fish for the rest of your life. you can catch all you want, whenever you want but it must be only one type of fish.
and I've never freespooled a big yellowfin but I have caught big yellowfin before. my largest was 78 pounds and he was quite the fight on 30 pound trolling gear.
so one fish, all you want but no other species. and go......

[smokeonthewater]

for inland fishing... some of my favorite fishing is when I get into good size bluegill one after another but I've always wanted to get into salt water fishing... I'd say that I am not prepared to properly answer the question... I think mahi mahi is probably the tastiest I've had tho I remember REALLY enjoying a big bowl of cubed breaded and fried flounder....

I REALLY need to get in gear on my V and plan a fishing vacation sometime before I die.

[SkunkBoat]

so one fish, all you want but no other species. and go......

well, so if I retired to one species & one rod... I hope the SkunkBoat doesn't hear me but it would have to be smallmouth bass on ultralite spinning outfit with 6# braid. The simplicity & peacefulness of drifting the river, punctuated by a thump and a tug and a 2 pound smallie doing a summersault

[RidgeRunner]

SNOOK.
They taste good enough for me. I can catch them without a boat (if necessary). Finicky sometimes makes it a challenge. The initial snatch and grab and aerial show is fantastic. (Think largemouth bass on steroids) Often found in and around the mangroves which poses another challenge. Medium action 7' rod, Stradic 4000 with 30# braid, 3' of 25# flurocarbon leader and a 1/0 Gamakatsu circle hook. All provided I can catch an abundance of white bait to feed them. (that would be two fish technically) Preferable method is to have every one blow up on a topwater lure, seconded by freelining a threadfin herring to their waiting gullet. Not gonna rip your arms from their sockets like a BFT but they can be had in almost any weather, wading and surf fishing or boat up to them like usual. My .02.