Renita’s bobber disappeared and immediately her pole doubled
over. She was on a nice fish and she grabbed the pole before it went overboard. It was a big red fish and so I wound in my line so she could fight the fish
without any worry of entanglement.
As I slipped the net under the legal redfish she mentioned
how redfish tastes really good grilled and that she hoped I would catch one as
she would feel guilty eating it while I was having only having cornbread.
Meanwhile I caught small black drum and before long she had another keeper red,
this one twenty two inches long.
It was a beautiful day and we were kayaking with another
couple Arnie and Joyce. They are also from Wyoming and winter in the same park
we do. I had invited them along for a day of kayaking, birding, and maybe even
a little fishing and catching! The weather was perfect and as we paddled Joyce
pointed out various birds. Rosette spoonbills, American White Pelicans, and
snowy egrets were all just a few of the birds we saw.
A reddish egret perched on a post, turning its head this way
and that. The wind caught his back head feathers and spread them into a crown.
As we neared the spot we were going to fish an osprey flew and landed on an old
weathered duck blind. Hoping it was a good sign, I pointed out the cut we were
going to fish and the first cast produced small black drum.
Another kayak went by and the fisherman told us of the six
foot alligator that had spooked from the nearby shore. I scanned the shallow
water making sure that my redfish buffet on a stringer hadn’t attracted its
attention. Black drum hit on almost every
cast, all too small to keep, and Arnie caught a small red as Joyce pointed out
more birds.
The tide went slack and the fish stopped biting. Pulling up
the anchors we headed back, fighting a head wind. Reaching a protective oyster
bar we stopped to rest before turning south for the last leg of the paddle back.
It took over anchor before reaching the trucks and everyone
was tired and a little sore from the long stretch. It had been a beautiful day
of kayaking, birding, and fishing and it was especially nice to have Arnie and
Joyce along to share the day. Clear skies
Ps (Renita shared her grilled fish with meJ).
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