Went for a two-day weekend getaway with my parents and girlfriend. The weather did not cooperate a whole lot, especially when the goal was to show my girl why I’m so passionate about our sport and to have my dad spear at least one more fish, even at 78 years of age. I arrived five hours before my parents and put the boat in the water and headed out towards the reef. I wanted to get a glimpse of the conditions and hopefully find a spot or two. I quickly realized that the visibility was spotty, at least for Florida Keys standards (~20 feet)
. I was able to find a nice ledge in about 35 feet and we anchored and both jumped in the water. After shooting a few snappers, my girlfriend was a bit winded from battling the mild current and dealing without being able to see me from the surface. I decided to take one more circle around the spot and concentrate on a particular coral head, in which I previously spotted a good-sized yellow jack. After a few minutes of hovering around, I spotted it from the corner of my eye and fired a shot right thru its gills: Dinner . We cooked it up when my parents arrived and hoped for better conditions on Saturday.
I woke up Saturday morning to a breezy 15 knots and I knew it was not going to be a pleasurable day for the folks:hmm . The water appeared even dirtier and the waves were a solid 3-5 feet. It was a rough ride out to the reefs in my 18 footer, but we all were determined to make the best of the situation. I anchored at the previous day’s spot and gave everyone their gear (my extras) and we all jumped in. I had several ropes tied to the boat for all to hold on to, but the current was just a bit too strong, augmented by big waves and poor viz, not the most pleasant of surroundings. All were quickly back on the boat and were kind enough to give me one solid hour in the water. I knew I was limited on time and quickly started to throw some snappers and a mackerel on board. After about 45 minutes, my mom told me it was enough, that she could not look at me being out there by myself in what she called, “filthy water” (I think she was just a bit dizzy). I convinced her to give me 15 more minutes. Sure enough in the same vicinity I shot the previous day’s Yellow Jack, I saw another one towards the bottom while hovering at mid water, I gently made a smooth kick and decended on it and shot it in the spine, quickly debilitating it. I swam against the current back towards the boat and we were back in shore in 45 minutes.
Sometimes expectations take a slight turn “south” and things don’t turn out as planned. What’s important is to make the best of the situation and have a positive outlook. I realized that I don’t need to have my dad shoot another fish in his lifetime to make him happy. He’s perfectly content living vicariously through me and holding on to his nostalgic memories when he was young and a tad more vigorous. Aside, from a mild malfunction on my boat and my digital camera’s LCD shattering, it was a memorable weekend.
Friday’s Yellow Jack:
. I was able to find a nice ledge in about 35 feet and we anchored and both jumped in the water. After shooting a few snappers, my girlfriend was a bit winded from battling the mild current and dealing without being able to see me from the surface. I decided to take one more circle around the spot and concentrate on a particular coral head, in which I previously spotted a good-sized yellow jack. After a few minutes of hovering around, I spotted it from the corner of my eye and fired a shot right thru its gills: Dinner . We cooked it up when my parents arrived and hoped for better conditions on Saturday.I woke up Saturday morning to a breezy 15 knots and I knew it was not going to be a pleasurable day for the folks:hmm . The water appeared even dirtier and the waves were a solid 3-5 feet. It was a rough ride out to the reefs in my 18 footer, but we all were determined to make the best of the situation. I anchored at the previous day’s spot and gave everyone their gear (my extras) and we all jumped in. I had several ropes tied to the boat for all to hold on to, but the current was just a bit too strong, augmented by big waves and poor viz, not the most pleasant of surroundings. All were quickly back on the boat and were kind enough to give me one solid hour in the water. I knew I was limited on time and quickly started to throw some snappers and a mackerel on board. After about 45 minutes, my mom told me it was enough, that she could not look at me being out there by myself in what she called, “filthy water” (I think she was just a bit dizzy). I convinced her to give me 15 more minutes. Sure enough in the same vicinity I shot the previous day’s Yellow Jack, I saw another one towards the bottom while hovering at mid water, I gently made a smooth kick and decended on it and shot it in the spine, quickly debilitating it. I swam against the current back towards the boat and we were back in shore in 45 minutes.
Sometimes expectations take a slight turn “south” and things don’t turn out as planned. What’s important is to make the best of the situation and have a positive outlook. I realized that I don’t need to have my dad shoot another fish in his lifetime to make him happy. He’s perfectly content living vicariously through me and holding on to his nostalgic memories when he was young and a tad more vigorous. Aside, from a mild malfunction on my boat and my digital camera’s LCD shattering, it was a memorable weekend.
Friday’s Yellow Jack:
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