A Thanks Filled Flamingo Week

After a week filled with thankful reflection and family reunion, I find myself stuck without words to describe my appreciation for many blessings. Aside from the obvious, there is one several of us here have in common. This year, with talk surrounding possible closure, I am particularly thankful for the current access to Everglades National Park waters and those that protect/maintain it regularly. Like many of you, the Park is my home away from home... the cause of many dreams and the place in which millions of fond memories were forged. I do not want to imagine how my life, the sport and this community would change without it. This holiday week only afforded a couple of days on the water, but we made the most of them. The slight weather breaks between fronts were feeding frenzy like windows for the fish. In true ENP fashion, grand slams and double digit Snook/Redfish days were commonplace. The highlight of my week came in the form of a trip with a new Pathfinder owner and his teenage son. I could see the excitement in Ray and Carlos' face when they pulled up with a new 22' Pathfinder XL TE in tow. Nervous with his decision, Ray decided to contact me for help with general operation and rigging tips. I couldn't resist inviting them to the Park to break her in the right way. We spent much of the morning going through their new boat and discussing operation of new toys. We explored back country waters far away from marked channels and they were treated by the sight of their first tailing Redfish... several very large tailing Redfish. {%image_id=7018%} When we finally made it to the Coast, we were greeted by diving birds, large pilchards and tons of Bluefish. After they caught their fill of Blues and I filled the well with pilchards, we headed far North, away from the other boats. The chaos began within minutes of arrival to the next and last spot of the day... {%image_id=7017%} {%image_id=7015%} They caught Snook, Redfish and Trout. Often times doubling and tripling up during what was a two and a half hour fish catching melee... They easily caught over 30 Snook and a bunch of other great fish. {%image_id=7013%} {%image_id=7012%} {%image_id=7014%} {%image_id=7016%} This trip was a reminder of what the sport is all about and how privileged we are to fish in this heavenly place.