When Matty Wong set the hook, a big fish blistered his reel and put on such a display of strength and aggression, it had him unsure of what he had hooked.
“Is it a mudfish? It’s a bass! It’s a bass!”
The fight was engaging, but the commentary made the moment.
“C’mon momma, c’mon momma. Come hang out with me. We should be friends, we should be friends, we should be friends — got you!”
After a tense battle, Wong gripped the jaw of a 5 1/2-pounder. Visibly calming himself, Wong explained the results of a savvy decision to adjust his afternoon tactics.
“Sometimes you have to adjust for the conditions and that’s what I had to do. I had to slow down.”
Wong held the fish toward the camera and said: “Exhibit A. I think that may be my (semi-final round) cut fish.”