Wow, Molly did not know what she was getting into this day!-Black Drum Surf Fishing

Spring in the Outer Banks is very bleak and cold. The wind howls down the Island beaches of Hatteras then out towards the gulf stream off of the point. It is a sight to see. There are no crowds and only the few get the chance to go out to the beach to cast a line. This day was a great example of that.

We pulled up to the hole, thankfully no one was there. I did as I do every time we get to a fishing spot. I set up as fast as I can. That means I run around putting our chairs up, then I pound the rod holders into the sand, usually by this time Molly is getting out of the truck and layering up. By the way a wind breaker over sweats keeps you very warm.

I pull the coolers out, set up a pole holder next to the back of the truck for easy and quick set up time, grabbing Molly's fishing pole first.

Does it have strong knots? Check. Are the hooks sharp enough? If not I quickly sharpen them on the spot, nothing like a sharp hook... Check. Last but not least I check the drag. Check. Is the pole ready? Hell Yes!

I throw the cutting board on the tail gate and get some fresh bate out of the cooler. A little slicing and walla I'm baiting the hooks on Molly"s fishing pole.

I walk the pole to the waters edge, look for a lucky spot and cast. Don't get me wrong Molly can cast her own pole but sometimes I just like to get the bait in the water. I turn and flip the bail and walk the pole back 30 feet to the pole holder (Not Molly) and drop it in. this usually takes about five minutes, Then on to my set up.

I usually throw out two more rods. A medium/heavy and a medium. all have the same bait rigs.

I like to use a double drop set up. I have used them all and I do believe they all have there purposes. Just like using the right knots. A double drop puts more bait in the water and I feel the more bait, the more sent in the water. I try to always ask people around me to fish close as they want too. Like I said the bait in the water the more sent, which draws in more fish. Right? Right.

On with the story. I get my poles out and sit in my nice comfortable chair and !!!BAM!!! Molly's pole get a hit like her line got sucked up into a tornado. It bent in half! We both looked at each other in shock! I told her you better get the fishing pole handled before you don't have a fishing pole to handle.

She jumped up, pulled the fishing pole out of the holder and set the hook once more for prosperity???

One thing to know about black drum, They Hit Hard! So when Molly set the hook, the fish set went crazy. Molly did not know it at this time, but this would be her biggest fish yet. I got a front row comfortable seat as she fought the fish. At one point I thought this fish was going to pull her into the water, and so did she??? When she asked for help, I said to her, Your fishing pole, Your fish, Your fight!, and took a swig of my beer.

At one point I thought for sure she would loose it, but she decided to lighten up on the drag to let her fishing pole do it's job. She fought it for a good amount of time and yes she was a bit mad at me for not helping, but she learned herself a valuable lesson that day.

Up to that point we had traveled all over the country fishing. In that time she had become a great fisherman. I was about to let her experience the feeling of getting a big one on the beach by herself. It is truly a great feeling.

But then I saw the fish. It was huge. I was so excited for her. I got up out of my comfortable chair and walked down next to her. The only thing I told her was that she should bring the fish in onto the beach with a wave and walk back up the beach at the same time.

Next thing you know, the fish was on the beach flopping around and of course Molly needed me to get a picture and Ladies and Gentlemen this is Molly, Black Drum Surf Fishing.

14-inch size minimum and a 14 to 25 inch slot limit that allows one fish longer than 25 inches to be kept daily for N.C. , this is the slot regulations as of today

The day she caught the Black Drum the slot was different. It had to be over 14 inches.

Molly let this fish go. She could barely carry this thing for this photo. I do believe this turned Molly into a better fishing partner too.

The End.