I grew up in Tampa. At 3 years old, I convinced my father to take me fishing. My father is not a fisherman - and frankly had little interest, but he took me to Ballast Point on Tampa Bay - Funny because he had never seen anyone catch a fish there - I guess he figured that he could nip fishing in the bud...

He got me a cane pole a little plastic bobber and a little bit of shrimp. When the line hit the water, the bobber disappeared.

I had caught my first fish - a 22" speckled trout - The hook was set - I was a fisherman for life.

Move ahead to my college years - My father is still not a fisherman - but I come home for Spring Break to go fishing.
I talked him into going with me to Fort DeSoto to do some spanish fishing. He went - even though he claims to this day that "he has never caught an edible fish".

We were casting spoons from the pier, letting them hit bottom, and cranking as fast as possible. In 2 hours that morning, My dad caught 30 Spanish - not all keepers, but enough to keep it interesting.

It was great quality time with my dad - away from all of the normal stuff - and definitely away from the dumb college kid and his dad norm - for a little while.


I FISH AND I VOTE AND I CAN PROMISE I WILL NOT VOTE FOR ANY CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO TAKE MY RIGHT TO FISH AND KEEP FISH FOR CONSUMPTION.