‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the sea
Not a creature was stirring, except ‘THE’ FishDancer and me,
We had the live wells humming, stuffed with runners galore,
In hopes that Saint Nick would soon make a stop at our door.

The lines were all set and arranged to be hit
Nancy was at the helm and I in the pit
With our eyes on the prize we continued to anxiously wait,
We both settled back in hopes of a smoker to sky on our bait,

In the wink of an eye the short flat line was struck
I sprang to the rod and asked the fish gods for luck.
Away to the bow I worked – this fish she was tough,
Angling her in seas of 6 to 8 feet, it clearly was rough.

The moon shone on the waves’ whitewater like snow;
It gave the luster of mid-day to the objects below.
When, what to my doubtful eyes should emerge?
But a 73 pound king fish, she kept making a surge.

She made another big run, so lively, so quick,
I just hoped my line didn't have a nick.
More rapid than ever her gymnastics they came,
And I whistled, and shouted, and called her by name;

"On, Smoker! On, Kingfish! On, King Mack-er-al!
She was no snake, no teenager her; this kingfish was a full grown gal!
"On Scomberomous Cavalla swim to the top of the sea,
Come in for a quick visit and photo with Nancy and me"

And then, in a twinkling, she landed on deck
We were prancing and FishDancing, considering the $40k first place check.
I threw open the front hatch, and Nan prepared the ice,
Into the bag that big kingfish went -- we didn’t think twice.

On deck we then spied a man dressed all in Mercury from his head to his toe,
His clothes – black and red - were emblazoned with the Verado logo,
A bundle of gifts he had flung on his back,
And he looked like the guy at the SKA trailer named Jack.

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly Contender,
And I laughed when I saw him and Nan put out a fender;
A wink of his eye and a tilt of his head,
Soon gave us to know we had nothing to dread;

He spoke not a word, we had heard of this trick,
Team FishDancer had just received a gift from good ole' St. Nick.
A 73 pounder to go with the rest of our fish,
This jolly old elf just delivered our team's best Christmas wish.

Then he turned with a jerk, and laying his finger aside his nose,
Giving a nod he followed the stream from the wash down hose;
He sailed to his sleigh, to his team he gave the order,
And away they all flew across the Georgia/Florida border.

But we thought we heard him exclaim, as they flew out of sight,
"MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL, AND TO ALL GOOD FISHING TONIGHT!"


Merry Christmas and peach on Earthto those of goodwill. Nancy and I wish everyone a wonderful, safe and prosperous New Year.


Jeff and Nancy