It started out like a normal, ordinary fishing trip. A trip I had taken hundreds of times before. The early morning crew included a father, Bob, and his two young sons Bobby and Riley. The family had traveled to Cocoa and Lee Wenner Park to enjoy a half-day fishing trip on the Indian River Lagoon.
My Pathfinder cruised smoothly eastbound along the bridge, greeted by a beautiful Space Coast sunrise and all the promise of a new and exciting day. The water was perfectly smooth, although dirtied by a recent hurricane. It was one of those days that you sometimes dread as a fishing guide, because the previous day’s fishing had been really tough.
As we cruised northward, I discover Bob is a very experienced fisherman, with much of it being offshore. We discuss our favorite lures and how we like to use them. Our conversation took place while Riley, the youngest is snuggly seated on the cooler in front of the center consol, bearing the cool morning air without complaint. Bobby is positioned on the leaning seat of the Pathfinder with Bob standing behind him, protectively cradling his son in his arms. Bobby had told me earlier he did not like to go too fast and did not like to turn too fast.
During the morning adventure Bob and the kids enjoyed catching ladyfish on both artificial and live bait. Bobby caught a really nice pompano to add to the excitement. We took a couple of quick pictures of Bobby and the pompano and released him without harm. Bob indicated that he did not enjoy eating fish, just catching them. Favoring catch and release myself I responded by saying, “You are my kind of guy.”
With numerous ladyfish caught, some held for cut bait, we moved to a shallow-water flat where I had caught redfish before. We set the Power Pole anchor and allowed the boat to position itself in the light easterly wind. The rods were baited with ladyfish and we settled in for a little “lazy fishing” with the cut bait. This was a perfect time to relax and enjoy some lunch in the warming Florida sunshine.
I explained to the crew that sometimes this type of fishing will pay off if you are patient and allow the scent from the ladyfish to fill the surrounding flat with the irresistible, to the redfish that is, smell. Fish will actually travel some distance to find the delectable chunks of ladyfish. All my anglers were patient as they waited for a bite.
It was not that long before Bobby’s pole loaded up with a decent strike. Bob was closest and picked up the rod and handed it to Bobby. The circle hook, that was attached to the 20-pound fluorocarbon leader, did its job. Bobby fought the fish for quite a while. He dutifully followed my instructions to pump and reel down on the fish. He began to gain line back on the reel and brought a 24-inch redfish alongside the boat.
Bob readied the net as the fish came near. Then, in the blink of an eye, the feisty redfish changed directions, ran around the bow, and cut the line on the trolling motor that was suspended from the deck.
Everyone was disappointed at loosing the first redfish of the day, but encouraged by the fact that we had hooked one. Since all the other rods were removed from the water, while Bobby fought his fish, we quickly got everything baited up again and back into the shallow water of the Indian River Lagoon.
Soon after losing the first red, Bob caught and boated a nice lower slot sized red. His catch renewed our confidence that there were more reds around. Just like with the pompano, we practiced CPR and went on about our fishing.
Bob’s rod bent over again. He picked it up and handed it to Riley to let him experience the fun of landing the fish. This redfish did not want to give up. It gave Riley the fight his dad had brought him to experience. Riley would gain some line, and the beefy red would take some. Riley succeeded in bringing the redfish to the waiting net handled skillfully by his dad.
This time the circle hood did not do its job perfectly as it had before. The hook was not in the lip, but deep in the throat. It required pliers to remove. We took our pictures and Bob held the fish gently over the side to force water and oxygen through the gills.
While Bob was conducting the CPR with both boys looking on, I prepared the rods for the next round of fishing. Then I heard Bob say, “don’t roll over on me.” I turned around to see shoes and socks lying on the deck. Bob was in the water retrieving the redfish that had rolled over and lay on the grassy bottom. Once again, he began the necessary work of resuscitating the weakened redfish. Success! The fish regained its strength and swam swiftly and strongly from Bob’s gentle grasp. “Bob,” I said, “you are my kind of guy.”
There was no hesitation in Bob’s action to retrieve and revive the fish. “I didn’t come here to kill em,” he said. “just to enjoy catching them. If we don’t take care of them now we can’t catch them again later.”
We didn’t catch anymore fish that day but I knew I had met a man who cares for the lagoon and the experience it brings us as much as anyone else I know. The experience of this day presents a challenge to all anglers who love the outdoors. The challenge is presented not in words, but by deeds. The challenge was amply demonstrated by this man, on this simple fishing trip. Take the challenge and pass the passion on to your children and friends as he does to his.
As the Pathfinder turned and headed slowly west through the manatee zone and towards the channel that would carry us back to the distant boat ramp, Bobby queried the crew. “When can we go fast?”