I have had so many blunders, it is tough to even recall them all
The most recent one that sticks in my mind:
Fishing solo in late October, I was excited to try out a new setup. Calcutta 400 on a sweet Rogue rod, spooled up the day before with braid and a top shot. Took my romarine out, and went to a great deepwater spot where I can usually jig up stripers pretty good on the diamonds, while getting a long drift in.
The fish were thick, and every drop I was bringing up a nice scholie or low-teen sized bass or a bomber bluefish. The first drift, I had several LARGE stripers follow up their smaller cousin right to the boat, so I knew they were in there. I opted to release my smaller fish, hoping for the cows. As darkness rapidly approached, I got to thinking maybe a large wasn't in the cards, so I kept a fat 34 inch fish for the table, and proceeded to line up for one last pass, knowing I could hang another to limit out. Sure enough, I dropped down, and hooked up to something quite a bit larger, and had a great fight, with the drag singing a few times. Finally got her to the boat, and she easily topped 30 pounds, maybe bigger. Leaned over, lipped her easily, and she hit the deck with no fight left in her...so I thought. The jig was embedded deep, and I grabbed the fish by the lips, walked astern by the console to grab my hookout, when she decided she missed the safety of the water. Fish went nuts, hit the gunnel, and flopped overboard, pissing me off something good..... The kicker was I had left the drag engaged and laid down the pole on the deck...I got a bloody ear as my nice new expensive setup flipped into and over my head, crashed into the water, and disappeared into the depths, still attached to the bass that had won her freedom.
Still have a scar to remind me never lay the rod on the deck with fish attached, take the time to place it in the holder.