I have a problem ...

[RSiegmann]

Hello ... my name is Rob ... and I have a problem ...

I just got back from 4 days in the middle FL keys ... it wasn't a fishing trip, just a quick anniversary trip with the wife ... spending time around the pool and a sandy beach drinking cocktails ... though I did spend half of a day with a guide on the flats while my wife checked out the resorts spa and salon ... but that's not where my problem started ... after the sun went down each night and the dock lights came on, the most glorious thing happened ... these big, dark shapes started appearing around the docks ... weaving in and out of the shadows ...

So I tied on a half-and-half and stripped it parallel along the dock ... on the second cast, one of those dark shapes smacked my fly and my first tarpon of the trip was hooked ... the fight lasted about two minutes before he became unhooked, but it was a glorious two minutes ... after moving to another section of the dock and a few cast later, I was hooked up again ... another few minutes of dock fighting and the fish was once again off ... and that's how each night went ... make a few casts in spot A - hook a fish ... then move to spot B, make a few casts and hook a fish ... then back to spot A and repeat ... it was incredible even though I didn't land a single fish ... later the dock hands told me they've never seen someone land a fish from the dock in 3 years ... so it became a personal mission ... but three nights and a couple of early mornings and I am sad to report that I failed to land a single fish ... Tarpon 34 Rob 0 ...

Now here's the problem ... I can't stop thinking about those fish ...

[Steve H]

You need to make an appointment with a Saltwater psychiatrist. Wives cannot attend these meetings and you must head to a location with beautiful water and excellent fishing for your cure.

 

[Mike Hill]

Hey, don't leave out the part where the psychiatrist says that he must take at least a few of his trophyfishingtn forum buddies along for assuagement of the afflicted's travail in case of continued nonsuccess, or just to take over when the dreaded weak-kneed condition, tendonitis or just plain tiredness sinks in. 

We're there for you Rob! I do think that, that is the newly devised contra-indicated augmentation plan for the newly manifested, yet ersatz, Keys/Tarpon/Dock/Breakoff Syndrome - an unusual derivative of the binge/purge syndrome that only affects manly men between the ages of 15 and 95).  It seems the urge to binge (34 hookups is sufficient indicia) obfuscates the line/fly purging tendencies of tarpon evidenced in the sense of confrontational appropinquity achieved by the tarpon in due part to their intellectual positional strategies involving dock pilings.

[Steve H]

Mike, I about spewed my water reading your response!! 

[RSiegmann]

I did spew my water after reading that response!! ... Thanks for being there for a poor angler ... I never really believed in group therapy before ... maybe there is something to it ...

[Steve H]

Remember, the first step is admitting you have a problem. 

[Curtis Martin]

Remember, the first step is admitting you have a problem. 

There's actually 2 parts to the first step, but he's already admitted that his life has become unmanageable