01/23/2023
Story time
My first story is a night fishing trip set in Key Largo Florida in the late 1990’s. I happen to be with a friend we were fishing the back waters targeting mangrove snapper. We were on a bayline capri with a swim platform on the back. Our bait was shrimp fishing on the bottom allowing the current to just drag our bait out. The mosquitos were relentless as usual but we were smathered as usual deet 80% was your friend. A couple of cold beers tasted pretty damn good at the time.
We had spot lights on the boat but he also had lighting under the gunnels inside the boat not enough to see but enough to bait your hook and and not trip on anything.It was pretty much a moonless night as i remember. The wind was light off the bay not enough to blow away the mosquitoes but just enough to drop the temps a bit into the tolorable range. All very typical for the Florida Keys in the summer time.
As everything is set now the story comes to life.We were sitting just having a beer and BS the time away we had no Idea what memory we were about to share. Suddenly Doug who was standing on the back swim platform with his bare feet sploshing in and out of the water, got a hit. Not just anthing it started stripping line off his lightweight spinning equipment like it wasnt there. I just reeled in grabbed the net to get ready. His fish wore out a bit and he was able to start bringing it back to the boat. Then it turned and headded straight at the boat at first he thought he lost it and started to reel like a mad man. I am just watching sippin on my beer waiting to do my job.
In a flash the fish broke water right at the swim platform, It was a 4′ nurse shark. Doug didnt exactly know it was a nurse shark just that it was a shark period. We both knew that type of shark wasnt particually dangerous. Never the less I dont think I have ever seen him move so fast in my life. In a single move he was over that transom and in the boat like a gymnast. To say the least I was pretty impressed. Of course after he picked his heart up off the deck we laughed and laughed.
But thats not the end of this story once we calmed down and back to fishing all was pretty quiet for awhile. As we were anchored up right next to the mangroves just off to the right of us pretty close as we both could tell was a crash in the mangroves whatever it was had to be pretty good size couple hundred pounds at least. Sounded much like one of us were crashing through in the dark. I calmly put my rod in a holder and started to head for the front of the boat when Doug stopped me. What are you doing? he said to me. I replied getting the spot light. He replied I dont want to actually know what made that noise because If I know what it is I will be scared. With that I stopped turned around and sat back down. I took a sip of my beer and pondered his logic for a moment. In a few minutes we both laughed and laughed again. We didnt move the boat until we were done fishing and never tempted fate and took a look even as we left.
This was not a hugely sucessful fishing trip as far a catching fish goes but it was a lifetime memory for sure. To me that is what fishing is all about the smile I still get remembering that time or retelling the story.
Please add your story to top mine we will enjoy your life's experiences
