Popular Post whichwaysup Posted June 17, 2019 Popular Post Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 I don't know that this will tickle y'all like it tickled me, but most of you all know that I've been down a boat going on 2 yrs now. I've had a boat my entire life because a) I love to fish more than anything else and b) I HATE fishing from land. Needless to say, it's been a tough year, and I haven't been doing much fishing. I've been trying to be patient, trust God in all of this, because there really is no other explanation for the way things have been working out. It's all good, and I'm not complaining. The time I'm not spending fishing I've been spending being a much better dad, husband, and probably employee, but there have been days . . . Anywho, the other day, after a particularly long dry spell away from fishing, I'm walking along the beach with my family and I see this guy fishing. I can't help myself, so I stroll over and ask the obvious question, and all he's caught - all he EVER catches - are a few trash fish, but he's happy and we get to talking about how fun it is just to watch a rod sometimes. A few minutes into the convo, he starts looking anxious and informs me that he's jonesing for a cigarette, but he left them all up at his condo. He asks me to watch his rod for a couple minutes while he gets them. The rod is old, the reel is ridiculous, and it's frozen shrimp pegged to the bottom, but hey, it's gonna scratch the itch. I'm on cloud nine. Off he goes, trucking across the beach to the condo, leaving me in charge of the rod. Bet you see where this is headed. . . I guess I should mention that a buddy of mine offered to take me fishing that morning, but I passed so I could spend time with the kids. It had bugged me all day. . . . SO, there I'm sitting, babysitting this rod, "apologizing" to the family for interrupting our stroll but really, for some reason, basking in the joy of having to watch this rod do nothing. Except, then the tip doubles over and it's game on. It wasn't an epic fight or a massive fish, but by golly, it was about the most gratifying redfish I've ever caught - and I've caught a lot of reds in my life. He didn't have much of a chance on 20 LB test and that big ole surf rod, but he fought long enough to attract a crowd. That poor guy shows up about the time that I'm dragging what should have been HIS prize catch up the sand. I'm not sure whether I felt as guilty as I should have, but I did let him take it home for dinner. He told me that he'd never seen a fish that big, and the flash crowd I'd attracted echoed the same. I'd watched that rod for all of 4 minutes before it was all over. After it was all over, I returned to my stroll with the family and it occurred to me that there's really no such thing as coincidence. Sometimes you lose a boat, sometimes you catch the fish, and sometimes its the other way around. It was a great way to remember what's important the day before Father's day. 6 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RacerxV6 Posted June 17, 2019 Report Share Posted June 17, 2019 That's awesome Gus....God does work in mysterious ways. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hurricane Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Good story, I got a giggle out of it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geeviam Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Too funny! God worked this in two ways Gus... Brought you a fish to catch, and let that guy know it's time to quit smoking. 😉 2 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smooth move Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 karma! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishmanjj Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 Awesome story 👍👍👍👍👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coto Posted June 18, 2019 Report Share Posted June 18, 2019 I really enjoyed your story. 👍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Northfl Posted June 21, 2019 Report Share Posted June 21, 2019 Had basically the same thing happen down in sanibel one time years ago. Went to the little pier fishing because the job i was doing wasnt gonna be ready for us till the next day. Guy said he had been there a couple of hours without a bite asked would i watch his rod while he walked up to his truck Sure thing. No sooner did he get out of sight when it starts bouncing around. Reel in a 32” red. released unharmed 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted June 21, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 21, 2019 LOL, better than mine even! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce J Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 That’s a great story, thanks for posting it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 I got one for you, just got back off vacation today from Key Largo and my buddies kid is a fishing nut, he is 16. Gave him all my old bait as after 4 days of bouncing around, literally inshore and off I was taking some time off. The kid has a little Jon boat showed him a few spots and caught some nice snappers and he released a snook, but he also caught some ladyfish he decided to use as bait later that night off the dock. Well he put on the head of a ladyfish and threw it out in the middle of Jewfish creek and caught this.... A little blurry but it was about 8 foot long and the lights of Gilbert's resort can be seen in the water. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whichwaysup Posted June 23, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 Is that a sawfish??? Now that is cool!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuddyBottomBluz Posted June 23, 2019 Report Share Posted June 23, 2019 Yes sir! Floated to the top but kicking his tail along the way, looked around and decided the nightlife was not for him, two swipes of his saw, gone! Cool catch for a young kid. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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