This one felt good

[Parapapam]

I am in the middle of my annual vacation. Which for me means which one of my wife's family from France am I entertaining this week? Don't get me wrong, I enjoy them very much. But you have to admit, it is difficult to get most people to understand this forum's shared fishing sickness.....

My boys favorite trip of the year is running south to go sharking. Personally, I am not a huge shark fisherman. It is messy and beats up the boat. But my boys love it. So I do it. Well when my wife's cousin arrived, the family talk in our house turned to "Dad, when are we going south and sharking this vacation?"

This particular young man from France was born without a left hand. He was very insercure about our reaction to his challenge and we were well schooled in how to handle (ignore it) his issue. As discussion revolved (devolved?) into the expected sharking trip, he told my wife, "I would love to catch a shark, but I never will because of my hand." My wife passed this whispered conversation on to the boys and I. Our reaction was Bullsh!@#$%! you can't!!!

After several "harness practice sessions" on the front lawn, he was ready. Heading south the crew enjoyed the foggy sunrise. We set up on the warm water side of a 2 degree break (going for quantity versus quality for this outing) over good structure and surrounded by slicks. We had a bluedog in our slick before we could get our second line in the water. We were tight in minutes.

Ten minutes later our young man had his first "100 kilo" shark clipped off and swimming free. We went on to get 6 more. I will spare you the fishy detail since these were bluesharks. But I will sleep well tonight hoping he believes my whispered message, "Don't ever say you can't do something. I have seen you fish!"

Mike

[clt_capt]

Well done.

[Albatross32]

nice job!

[GeorgeJ]

Well played!!!!

[Agitated88]

Certain thread's make me smile...other's make me smile real big...this is the later!

[mzajac]

Great story Mike. That act of kindness probably did more for that young man's confidence than you ever know. Class act Mike.

[Reel Pursuit]

Nice job, Mike! You just earned some good fishing karma.

[JoeyM]

that's awesome, Mike! I am sure he will never forget that experience.

[Pete Santini]

nice

[scattered_grass]

good on you, Cap'n!