Steamers & Kelp Pt. 8

Pete was still setting up when he saw Bill cast far and high in the direction of Block Island. The tide would take her in the opposite direction he thought as he secured the body of his squid by running the hook through both eyes. With the rig all prepared, Pete reached in to the bottom of the bucket and pulled out two Heineken beers. One of which he handed to Bill who accepted without looking away from the end of the rod. Pete put the other can in his pocket and, supporting himself with his free arm, hopped down on to a shelf facing the waters in lee of the big rock. The noise of the wind was cut to nothing upon landing in the protected alcove. He cast out, careful not to overshoot and risk getting caught in the granite that hid just under the surface about twenty yards out. The wind pulled the line toward the shore as it went out Pete reeled in to compensate. He had fished there enough to know the difference between dragging on the kelp and bites and he could tell immediately that he had a customer. He saw the end of the rod jump with that crazy unpredictable motion and jerked the rod to set the hook and then came the high pitched scream of the reel before he screwed the drag down. He felt the nerves in his fingers and his mind was sharp against the cold and he called up to Bill “hey I think I got something pal.” Bill looked down and knew it was bad when he saw the line striking out left toward the point of the rock and Pete stuck in the recess trying to keep the fish away from the point. This bastard is big Pete thought. Bigger than I thought. If I let her get around the point and in to the rocks and the surf who knows what the hell will happen. I’ve only got 15 pound test on this rod and she feels a helluva lot bigger than that.