[Garbo]

I have enjoyed reading all the great thoughts on why, how and what part of fishing everyone enjoys most. After reading a few of the replys on the thread "Where is your thrill of the Chase at?", it made me think of some the great days on the water I have been fortunate to experience.

One of my best days, came due to a friends bad fortune. A very close friend of mine was going through a divorce and he called and asked if I would like to go fishing. It was on a Tuesday night and normally I would have worked on Wednesday, but I took the day off, which is highly irregular, and we went fishing. We got to the ramp at the foot of the Hathaway Bridge (PC Beach)at daylight, and launched an 18' Hewes Redfisher. I ran the boat and we went into West Bay to a point that I have fished for years, that has a small tidal creek that opens up into a large area during flood tide. We made the point at the start of a rising tide, and poled into the creek and found Redfish everywhere. I really don't remember how many we caught but it was by far the best day of sight fishing Redfish I have ever heard of. We took turns on the poling platform and we both caught over 30 Redfish each, all on fly, and each one was spotted before the cast was made to it. We fished the complete tide and back out into the bay. We piddled around in the bay until almost dark, and even the 7-8 mile boat ride back to the ramp was <U>Awesome</U>, glass slick water, cool air and setting sun.

I still to this day believe that the reason it was such a great day, is that my buddy needed one really bad. That was several years ago, and since I have been fishing many times, but I don't know of any other days that were so perfect.

 

[Brad King]

Being the charter boat industry for 13 years I have had alot of great days on the water. I have decked in Hawaii,key west, and all over the gulf coast.

But they were all on other peoples boats. I have had alot of people over the years who have called on me for tournaments and special occasions. Have had people need "inside" information on bites, people need help & information for articles. All in all it has been a good run.

But nothing compared to January 11th (my birthday) when for the first time I backed into the water "My Boat". I felt like a kid. A long time dream come true. Finally I was going where I wanted to go, when I wanted to go and how fast I wanted to go. The feeling of excitment was overwhelming.I felt like a kid who had never been on a boat, was the plug in? do I have enough fuel? is the water to shallow? Just tons of rookie questions that I have known the answers to for years. Still today almost a year later I get the biggest smile on my face when I get to say to someone" Don't worry we can take MY boat"

 

[konz]

I gotta say that I love fishing, and when I'm on or near the water, all worries are gone! My most memorable day fishing is when I caught my first bull red. I had no idea what I was doing and was just spending some time with my g/f and my cousin when all of a sudden the drag is screaming and I'm freaking!! I rememberd to not touch the drag and after about 15 minutes, my cousin netted my first bull red! 23lbs on 10lb line and a number 4 (not 4/0) circle hook. I called all my friends at like 1am telling them about it!The picture of it is still above the register at GBBT...hahaha.

Now the day that I caught the most fish was the day after my 23rd b-day. My g/f and I of 4 years broke up and I needed some salt water around me. I headed to my usual spot and was glad to see that all the other regulars were there. I loaded up on bait and conversation then preceeded to catch 7 bull reds, it was a great night that was really needed!

 

[Magic236]

Garbo - how many questions do you have for us!?

My most meaningful day was in Oct '98, my wifetaggged herfirst Blue Marlin estimated @200#, my oldest son tagged an estimated 80# White, and my youngest son fought for 45 minutes and lost a Blue. This was during the Destin Rodeo, the 50th and it set the stage for my good friend Capt John Holley to win the Andy Anderson memorial for the most tag and releases, we wound up being 4 of his 5 fish that year. Andy Anderson was my grandfather's captain, who died in '98 and he also was the Capt of the Year and winning Capt of the offshore division in '73 the 25th Rodeo. Pretty ironic to me.

I have spent most of my effort through the yearscatching fish for others. My best personal day was 10 out of 12 shots on Sailfish in Guatemala. I had no clue Sailfish could be so much fun, but 20# tacklewith 80-100# Sails is a blast.

 

[Travis Gill]

Magic, you don't hear to many people say "My good friend John Holley". I can't think of just one best day, Best days for certain types of species, but not one in particular.

 

[Magic236]

Yep, he is a good friend of mine. We have fished alot together, he has been very good to my kids and my wife. Not to say, we haven't had some rather interesting moments.

 

[surfstryker]

Two great fishing days come to mind, A friend, my son and I all three hooked sharks at the same time on the beach and landed them only to realize I locked the camera in the truck.(that part wasnt a good memory) ....My son and I fishing out of my jon boat on Escambia river with top waters and slaying countless bass and reds. Love that top water bite.

 

[Garbo]

Magic236 (10/24/2007)Garbo - how many questions do you have for us!?

.

Sorry, I read more than I post, and I really enjoyed many of the takes from a prior thread, and a positive post beats the heck out of the bitching and argueing. I'll pipe down on the questions.

Great story by the way. The Sails in South America can be Hot as it gets, but no doubt you had a day to remember.