I was fishing along the server line in Felucca between Vesper and Buccaneer's Den due to the rumors of a big fish running there. I found the waters devoid of other boats and thought this could be my lucky day. I had fished for hours on end with nothing remarkable happening and actually started to feel I was duped into abandoning my normal honey hole. In fact, I began to grow angry as I imagined the ol' salt that fed me this fish story walking into Town Center with the winning catch that was caught in said honey hole. That's when it happened.
I got a message saying that "my pole begins to bend as you haul a heavy fish from the depths". Finally I said to myself. But, much to my surprise, I get another message saying "your pole bends to far and breaks in half." Needless to say, I was in shock as I watched a sure-fire winner drag my pole back into the depths. Whether it was out of frustration or just plain stupidity, I dove into the water and retrieved the broken end before it disappeared from sight. I wrapped the slack fishing line around my left wrist. As I climbed back on board, the line grew tight again as I began to reel the line back in using just my hands.
Needless to say, it was a struggle as the line bit into my arm, but I was undeterred. After hours of give and take, and lots of my own sweat and blood, I finally dragged this huge beast of a fish alongside the boat. Both of us were spent but I was determined to haul it aboard. That is when I got another message: "This fish is to large. It will not fit into your backpack, let alone your boat." No backpack, now what?
Here I catch the biggest fish Excelsior has ever seen and it looks like I will not be able to enter it in the contest because I cannot get it out of the water. But, then I think, "The staff are reasonable. All I will need to do is page them when I get back to the docks and have them come look at it. They will understand." So, I head off to Vesper with "The Moby Dick of Excelsior" in tow.
But what I didn't count on was how tired the battle made me. Evidently, I fell asleep on the journey back and when I awoke, I was horrified to see I had now only a carcass tied to my boat. Darn Sea Serpents! Surely, even this mighty carcass might be enough for me to claim the prize. How could it not. But, again fate was against me as I watched the carcass fold up in front of me and slip beneath the water. Still too exhausted to do anymore swimming, I reached for my trusty fishing pole and hoped beyond hope that I could snag it before it sunk out of reach.
I pulled out pillows and shells and portraits of all things, but no carcass. Finally, I was able to pull up some bones but they were unrecognizable and too few to mean anything. I knew right then and there, it was a total lost cause. But, true to my character, I didn't give up on the contest; so I fished a bit more and caught a decent size big one just to have something to turn in. Congratulations to whoever wins the contest, but just remember, it would have been different if not for an ill-timed nap.
P.S - Everything in this story is true. Honest! If there is one thing you can count on, its the honesty of fisherman and golfers.
P.S.S. - My apologies to anyone who feels I may have damaged the classic "The Old Man and the Sea.
