Moby Dick, Bent Hooks, and a Top Water Three Pounder

Type: Tidal
Region: Central
Location: Potomac River

First picture is of a nice 3lb'er I caught with a top water frog lure, on Monday the 4th. I was fishing the Potomac River near Carder Rock. The 2nd picture is the same fish next to my 11.5 Asics for some perspective. This fish was worth mentioning because he was the first one I ever caught on a top water frog. He hit on the pause of a jerk jerk jerk pause retrieve. It was fast and fun (just like on t.v.) and I was very happy to finally hook one this way. ...but even though he was a respectable 3lb'er, he was not my intended target. I was fishing this spot because the day before I was letting a tube worm tumble along with the current when I hooked a HUGE bass that totally surprised me and bent my rod harder than I have ever seen it bend. I some how remembered to set the hook hard and I started reeling. It jumped and I could see it was really really big, but then - pow - my line came flying back at me. I was pissed. My rod tip was up. I set hard. There was no slack whatsoever, so how did it shake my hook. It was when I stopped cursing and went to put on another worm that I realized that he didn't shake me. He straightened out my hook. See picture 3. I want this fish bad now. I want him more than I wanted Heather Locklear in the 7th grade. He is my white whale. ...and I know where he lives, what he likes to eat, and which boulders he's been associating himself with. I will report back if I get him. Till then -happy fishing.

P.S. - The above fish (and several other smaller ones) was released because the wife had called an hour earlier and said she was making tacos.