Memories . . . oh those wonderful, if not "painful" memories . . . Larry, your great story prompted my memory - "lost" a big, big bass @ 2am in a 14' tin boat just off the rocks @ Crane Beach.
Was drifting live eels through the rips on an outgoing tide, started with 6 eels, caught 5 fish, all over 30" with the largest around 40" - all released. Hooked another bass on the 6th - and last eel. It started to pull line like I've never seen before and only hope to witness in the future. Whereas I just caught 5 fish on 5 drifts, my drag/setup was geared towards the 20+ pound fish . . . when my Penn 320 had lost about 1/2 it's line, I braced at the custom Lamiglass blank & said to myself - I'm going to turn this "small" bass that thinks they're a "big" bass . . . I turned it, got in half the line that was out when it went off again, going well down into the rips with close to 200 yards of line out by now.
I must end this - too painful to recollect, so I put pressure on the fish . . . and popped the line! Ouch! By this time I was fighting it from the middle seat due to sea conditions & for maneuverability. When the line broke I cartwheeled head over heels backwards and ended up in the well at the rear of the boat next to the gas tank. Just to think if I had either another eel or slightly more "patience"!
Great thread guys!