Sharing Unforgettable Moments with Other Anglers

By Captain Frank Breakell

My Memorable Fishing Moments

Fishing was always there for me for as long as I can remember. I grew up exploring the waters of New Jersey. As a fishing guide, I’ve worked the waters around Cape May County, especially Stone Harbor. Whether I’m on a boat, casting from the beaches, or finding and reaching any man-made access, you better believe I’ve tried hunting for fish there. One of the first fishing memories I had was with my father. I remember sitting along a jetty until I caught some snapper blues. He would take them and use them as bait so we could capture tiderunner weakfish. 

Based on my early fishing memories with my father, it’s no surprise that beaches are my favorite places to fish. There’s something magical about listening to and watching the waves crash against the sand, feeling the sand beneath my feet, and seeing the sun up in the sky. This is why my fishing charter, Brynnie-B Inshore Fishing, allows me to show others the beauty of surf casting and inshore fishing. I love that I can show people that you don’t need much to catch fish successfully. It’s also a great starting point for those who want to get into saltwater fishing because a boat isn’t required if you want to see what the sea can offer. Stone Harbor, where my charter is based, is perfect for what I provide as a fishing guide. It’s a lovely resort community just at arm’s length of the Atlantic Ocean, and there are miles and miles of beaches to reel fish from. 

Through all my years fishing in the local waters, I’ve developed a preference for catching striped bass. Whether I set up on the beach or in a boat, I know I can target them from the ocean any time of the year. In my area’s back bays and Delaware Bay, I can fish for them from March to December. I love targeting them because they’re so voracious. They’ll eat almost anything you throw at them; live or dead baits, a variety of plugs, popping or diving, bucktails, and flies. What’s fun is that I can figure out just what they want on a given day/night or tide cycle. As I got into striped bass fishing, I found that they like to hold to structure. I can find them in a shadow line, piling, rock, sod bank, sand bar, gully, wreck, or other structural areas. I think striper fishing is much like fly fishing. It’s about presentation. Every time I set out to the water, it can vary even though I can anticipate where the fish will be and know what to feed them. I love the excitement of chasing them night after night or when I go out in the early mornings. I also love the challenge these amazing fish provide, regardless if I hook a 12-inch striper or a 60-pound beast. The thrill never dies.

One of the great things fishing can make anyone do is that it gives you the chance to celebrate and share other people’s successes, not just your own. Fishing can be done alone, yes, but there’s nothing like making connections through it and the bonding it provides. My best catch was actually my daughter Chloe’s big catch during a surf fishing tournament. In fishing, you can either do it for fun, or you can do it as a sport. Personally, I am not a big fan of tournaments or tournament fishing. They just don’t do much for me. But my daughter has always had a competitive spirit which I admire, and she loves surf fishing. So, we would enter the DVSA Surf Fishing Tournament held on the beach in Sea Isle City every spring. 

The year my daughter had a terrific showing, we entered as individuals. For me, it was quality time with her in a place we both loved. I couldn’t ask for anything better. During that tournament, the weather was definitely a factor. I remember it was windy and raining, so there wasn't much biting. But we kept at it. I cast the fishing line out for her, and she handled it. Her rod bent over, drag peeling as we stood there in the downpour. She grabbed it out of the sand spike and began to reel. She had a serious battle on her hands. After a major fight, the fish finally succumbed and came into the wash, where I led it onto the sand. It was a huge bluefish!

We had one of the judges weigh and measure it. She said that Chloe was most likely in the first place, as most people hadn’t caught anything. When the tournament ended, we headed back to the awards presentation to share some laughs over good food and see how the team standings played out. When the awards ceremony began, the emcee called out my daughters' names for not only one but three awards; first individual, first children, and the first woman. She missed the overall first place prize by one ounce. It was nearly a clean sweep! But I couldn’t have been more proud of my daughter, and I’ll cherish that moment for the rest of my life.

Moments, as I had with my daughter reiterate why being a fishing guide, is so rewarding. I love celebrating other people’s successes with them and seeing their faces light up when they’ve caught something after giving it their all. Throughout my career, I have had so many fantastic experiences, and they are all special in their own way. One funny trip happened a few years ago when I guided an older gentleman on a bridge-hopping journey. We hit up sod banks, docks, and bridges. We were up on a bridge, and he hooked into a slot-sized striped bass. New Jersey allows keeping a slotted bass from 24 to less than 28 inches. 

After he battled the striper and got it near the bridge, I lowered a bridge gaff to hook the fish and pull it up. Every time I got the hook near the fish, it would freak out and take off. So, I had my client walk the fish down to the lower section, which was closer to shallow water. Again, I lowered the gaff hook to snare the fish, and this time I was successful. As I lifted the bass, it kicked its tail and flipped off the gaff, and his line broke. It landed in the mud. I ran back to my truck to put on my boots, figuring I could walk out and grab it. As I walked out along the bridge, a lot of marsh grass was matted down, which made for easy access. I had walked out on it hundreds of times to throw plugs. The grass got thinner as I made my way, and the mud became muckier. Then I stepped off the grass into nothing but mud and sank up to my thigh. The fish was still thirty yards out. My client was enjoying the show. Suddenly it began to rain, which added insult to injury. I finally freed myself from the mire and headed up the bridge. I tossed the gaff down, snagged the broken leader, and hauled the bass up to the bridge. Mind you, it took me quite a few attempts. My client tagged his striper, and we headed back to the truck. I could hear him chuckling to himself as we walked, and the mud still dripped from my pants. It goes to show that sometimes you’d do anything to chase fish.

If you also want to experience fun fishing memories with me, book your next fishing trip with Brynnie-B Inshore Fishing! Check out what my area of New Jersey has to offer and experience the joys of surf fishing. You can reach me through my website, Facebook page, or Instagram for more info.