I used to do some "EXTREME" at Montauk, we called it "bobbing". Usually start under the light on the North side. 3:30 am, change into a 6 mil. wetsuit and a large pair of fins. Your eels are kept in a stocking, drop an eel in the stocking and tie a knot, drop in another eel,another knot so you go out w/ about 4-6 eels.Wade out pass the 4-6 footers smashing on the rocks [ that is the most dangerous part] as soon as your in 5ft. of water,or safe water, then you put on the flippers, roll onto your back, point your 10-11ft. surf stick up and start kickin' out a couple hundred feet. Look back at the truck, the parking lights are on so you've got a point of reference, you are now "bobbing". Reach down to the stocking tied onto your belt, hook your eel in the mouth and out the eye and rip him out of the stocking. Just before you launch him into the dark waters in front of you, you must kick yourself as high as you can out of the water and make your cast. As you settle back down into the water you sorta get into a reclined position and the thick wet suit floats you....it's very comfortable. Retrieve your eel slowly, kick against the current to maintain position, keep your bearing by lookin back at the parking lights on the truck, and HOLD ON. When the currents really moving you just gotta go w/da flow, and, know when to at least start kickin' in towards shore or you'll end up washed up on shore in England. When a big fish hits you just can't let him roll yourself out of position, keep your feet forward and your head and shoulders back, dont stop kicking or he's going to beat you. My very first time out I was a little nervous, had a difficult time gettin the first eel on the hook, and had a healthy 37" on my SECOND cast. There were five of us bobbing so I had some assistance in releasing the fish. As I was fighting him I was yelling "SCOTTTTT, HELP ME"!!!!!!!! Boy whatta rush, my biggest fish bobbing was about 42", roughly 30lbs. It's a different kind of fishing in an element that you are typically not used to, but, at the same time familiar with. By the time the sun is up, if you've lasted that long, guys on the beach, shoulder to shoulder, are yelling at you to get out of the way. There is not one person on the beach that can reach you in one cast. Now the dangerous part again...comin in.... thats when most morons on the beach start yelling at you. Most of all they're just jealous cause the blitz that was happening right in front of them was 4 casts away and you were right in the middle of it. Then they usually quite down as you emerge out of the water w/ a 30 lb fish in tow, still alive. No more bobbin' for me , it's a dangerous game,but hey.....no guts no glory.
