Last year I published an article entitled “Take a Kid Fishing.” My son-in-law, Henry read it and he remembered the fun he had fishing as a kid.
For Christmas last year he bought two rods and reels for us to use in Florida, hoping to get our four-year-old granddaughter excited about fishing. Well, she wasn’t too interested, so I decided to try it under Henry’s tutelage. Henry taught me several key priorities focusing on 1) Equipment, 2) Technique and 3) Patience.
This passed-down knowledge eventually paid off in March when my wife and I returned to Florida for a 10-day vacation. I was the excited kid this time. I caught two whiting (kingfish) and one pompano in three days on Siesta Key beach. But that’s not important. A family arrived next door with a six-year-old kid, Derek, who had been studying and practicing fishing for about a year but hadn’t caught a fish yet. We spent some time together discussing equipment and technique and became good buddies. Fishing can be a little lonely, so Derek and I bonding was significant.
On our last day at the beach, we went out fishing together. He stayed near the shoreline, and I waded out as far as I could. An hour went by. Then something amazing happened. I snagged a big one. I tried immediately to reel it in but to no avail. The fight went on for 10 minutes or so and a crowd was forming along the beach. Finally, I got the fish to within 10 feet of shore where we could see the size and shape in the shallow water and I was hoping to get some help from the bystanders. Derek yelled, “it’s a shark!” and then nobody was willing to hold my rod while I could try to grab it. Turns out it was a bonnethead shark, common to Florida beaches, and it eventually broke the line. Hook, line and sinker gone! Another lesson in fishing, failure to bring a net. Nonetheless, Derek was very pleased to have witnessed the one that got away!
I hope Derek continues to pursue his love for fishing and eventually gets the big one! Just a second! His dad sent an email to me, and it said that Derek did catch his first fish on a boating trip in Sarasota harbor, after we left. Now, he is back in Indiana catching more fish in a pond nearby! Success breeds success. Take a kid fishing, wherever you can.