“We were just happy to hit the minimum.”
Forty years of fishing together. Three good fish, a rising tide, and a fourth that arrived just in time. Dave and Robert remember a championship they didn't see coming.
When you think back to your Schoolie victory, what scene comes to mind first?
Robert: “We arrived at our location at 5 a.m., no one else there. Sort of makes me happy we can still find some quiet places on the Cape. Foggy, overcast, good conditions for bassing. We were able to sip some coffee, prep lines, and come up with a plan for our first location. My favorite part—the anticipation.”
Dave: “Tough fishing. We hit our first fish within the first few minutes of the tournament starting and thought it was going to be a great day. Little did we know we would be working our butts off to land four fish.”
Tell us about the fish from that weekend you still think about most.
Robert: “Oh boy, where to start on this. Dave picked up the first fish only a few minutes into the start of the tournament—sometimes a good omen, sometimes not so much. It was a good fish that we measured. On the board.
“I dropped one, then he dropped one, and we knew these were big fish. We were able to slowly work our way out to an outer bar that is only exposed at low tide, and you only have a short period of time to fish it before you have to run off. But there are big fish there.
“I was able to get the next fish, once again a big fish we measured. We then continued to have mishaps, breakoffs, drops, etc. Getting rather bummed.”
Dave: “With the incoming tide, we were about five minutes from having to leave our spot when I hooked a massive fish. She broke off as we tried to land her.
“Pissed, I tied another fly on and amazingly immediately hooked up as Rob had already started wading to shore. A chaotic couple minutes ensued till we managed to land the fish and barely get back to shore without water going over the top of our waders.”
What went wrong—or nearly went wrong—before things came together?
Robert: “I said we have to get off this sandbar. Tide rises six inches per 15 minutes and we are out of time. I start walking back, and he hooks into another one. Big fish. I run back, start leadering the fish, and he gets all wrapped around me. Ugh.
“Finally lipped and measured. Now it's really time to leave. Yep, the tide is getting high and we both take water over the waders in some pretty good current. Sketchy at best, but we make it to shore.
“We are three fish in, all good fish, but we need a fourth. Now what?”
Dave: “Having landed three fish and lost our water location, we moved back to an old faithful spot where others were also fishing, but nobody was catching.
“I had given up and stopped fishing, thinking this would be the first time in tournament history that we wouldn't land at least four fish. Rob persisted and at around 3:30 p.m. he managed to hook into a nice 29-inch fish.
“We were done, four fish, and just happy to hit the minimum. We were as shocked as anybody that our four fish would be the winning size, let alone by 14 inches?!?!”
What did your partner bring to the win that they'd never brag about themselves?
Dave: “I've been fly fishing with Rob for 40 years and he is one of the best casters and fishiest guys I've ever met.”
Robert: “Ha, he lets me know what he brings :) We've been fishing together for 40 years. But sticking it out on that sandbar was ballsy.”
What fly or pattern do you remember most from that weekend?
Dave: “Ahhh, our special secret. Come fishing with us someday and we will show you!”
What did winning Schoolie mean to you in the moment—and what does it mean to you now?
Robert: “I am a wee bit competitive, and it did feel great to finally win after seven years of trying, coming in second once before. But at the end of the day, it's fishing with friends and sharing knowledge.”
Dave: “Oddly, I'm not a competitive guy. I just enter so I have a reason to go back to old waters and fish with friends. Our wives come and get together and have a blast.
“The tournament gives us an excuse to get together, and as the years pass and the fish get bigger in our minds, it's the stories of years past that ring true.”
What would you tell someone fishing their first Schoolie that has nothing to do with catching the biggest fish?
Robert: “If new to the tournament or fly fishing for stripers, meet and chat with as many people as you can. It's a great crew of people.”
Dave: “This species is amazing and so many people spend an enormous amount of time and money to pursue them. It's on us to help pay that forward to the next generation.
“I can't imagine a world where I couldn't take a future grandchild fishing for stripers. But if we don't do anything, that day may never come.”