[capt_ron]

1st Place Prize Winning Article
My Kind of Guy, by Capt. Ron Presley

It started 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 the recent Hurricane Wilma. It was one of those days that you sometimes dread as a fishing guide because the previous day’s fishing had been really tough. I should say the previous week’s “catching” had been tough because the fishing is always good. Since Wilma, the fish had just not been very cooperative. But then again, that’s fishing. It has to turn around sometime and I’m thinking today will be the day.

As we journey 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. Bob commented on the braided line he sees on the reels, indicating his favorite brand. I respond by sharing my own experience with the braids and how I have come to use them almost exclusively now. Our conversation takes place while Riley is snuggly seated on the cooler in front of the center consol bearing the cool morning air without complaint. Bobby is positioned on the relatively high leaning seat of the Pathfinder with Bob standing behind him and protectively cradling him in his arms. Bobby had told me earlier he did not like to go too fast and did not like to turn too fast.

The family came specifically to target the tarpon that sometimes frequent the power plants in the area. I had spotted them once earlier in the week but not at all the previous day. On that previous day’s trip I also discovered that some kind of work activity was going on and a new yellow protective float was stung across the outflow canal of one of the plants. When we arrive we witnessed a couple more floats being fastened to each side of the discharge canal and spanning its entire width. It may have been this extra activity in the channel that left the area void of bait or fish activity. Needless to say, we saw no rolling tarpon.

The morning was not a complete disappointment, as 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 thought for a moment about keeping the fish because his wife likes to eat fish. Bob however indicated that he really did not enjoy eating fish he just likes to catch them. Favoring catch and release myself I responded by saying, “you are my kind of guy.”

With numerous ladyfish caught and four placed in the release well to be used for cut bait later we decided to journey to the east shore and see if we could change our luck. We first fished a mangrove lined canal without success. We used artificial bait, which Bob could cast with great precision into the nooks and crannies of the mangroves with only a couple of small trout bites. We also tried live shrimp both free lined and under a float. Nothing! We met several other anglers along the way who had the similar results. There just seemed to be no bite this morning!

Finally, we decide to move out on an open water flat were I had caught redfish before. We set up with the Power Pole driven solidly into the soft lagoon bottom and allowed the boat to position itself in the light easterly wind. I cut up the four ladyfish we caught earlier in the day, using the heads and tails and a few of the chunks for chum. Everyone baited up and settled in for a little “lazy fishing” with the cut mullet and ladyfish. This was a perfect time to relax and enjoy a little lunch in the warming Florida sun. Bob had told me before that he would be bringing me a sandwich for lunch. He said he was making roast beef, turkey, ham, and cheese sandwiches.

I secretly thought to myself, I hope there is a turkey sandwich left for me, it is one of my favorites. Bob pulled the sandwiches from the cooler and handed me one. I removed the foil wrapping to see that what I had was a roast beef, turkey, ham, and cheese sandwich – it was all on one sub sandwich bun. Wow! I have to say, Bob knows how to make a sandwich. Bob is my kind of guy. We all enjoyed our sandwich along with a soft drink without disturbance from a pesky fish on any of the baited lines.

I explained to the crew that sometimes this type of fishing will pay off if you are patient and allow the scent from the cut up ladyfish an opportunity to fill the surrounding flat with the irresistible, to the redfish that is, smell. The fish will actually travel some distance to find the delectable chunks of ladyfish. All were patient, including the kids. Finally, Bobby’s pole bent over indicating a decent strike on his cut ladyfish bait. Bob was closest and picked up the pole and handed it to Bobby. The circle hook that was attached to the 20 pound fluorocarbon leader did its job. No hook set necessary with the circle hooks, just start reeling. Bobby fought with the fish for quite a while as I instructed him in the proper technique of pumping and reeling down on the fish to gain some line. Bobby did a fantastic job bringing what appeared to be about a 24-inch redfish along side the boat. Bob readied the net as the fish neared the boat. Then before you knew it the feisty fish changed directions, ran around the bow, and cut the line on the trolling motor, which was still suspended from the deck.

Everyone was disappointed at loosing the first redfish of the day, but encouraged by the fact that we finally had caught 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, Bob caught and boated a nice lower slot sized red. This one measured just over 18 inches but raised our confidence level again that there might be more redfish around. Just like with the pompano, we practiced CPR and went on about our fishing. We had a couple of other strikes without a hook up, and then Bob’s rod went 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, giving Riley the fight his dad had brought him for. Riley would gain some line and the beefy red would take some out. Riley hung in there until the end and brought the redfish to the awaiting net handled carefully and skillfully by his dad.

This time the circle hood did not do its job perfectly as it had in previous cases and how we always hope it will. The hook was not in the crushers, but deep in the throat and it required pliers to reach in and remove. Once again, we took our pictures and Bob held the fish gently over the side and worked it back and forth forcing the water and oxygen through the gills to revive the weary fish. While Bob was conducting the CPR with both boys looking on, I was preparing the rods for the next round of fishing. Then I heard Bob say, “don’t roll over on me.” I turned around and before you could say jack creavalle, shoes were coming off and socks were 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 to resuscitate 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 as to what Bob was going to do. “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 by the end of the day 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 the actions that were amply demonstrated by this man’s deeds 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”?