The gravel went with a gentle slope, and that's where the fish were. I knew they spawn in that area. The wind helped a lot.

Native fish like to lay eggs in gravel, not mud.

We all knew it was going to slow down sooner or later. The cycle is on the downward slope of the peak, but we're going to be OK.

I lived in Park Slope, which is probably one of the most homogenized areas of Brooklyn. No offense to Park Slope.

We were hustling to try to get the fish in because the area was loaded with big sharks, and it was one heck of a fight trying to horse that monster.

After working for Fish and Game and spending 40 years as a veterinarian, I knew what I was dealing with