The Spotted Grail

     Though sometimes called the old salt of the sea, the large springtime spotted sea trout is the grandest prize for any inshore angler.  It's elusive and rarley seen size can reach lengths upwards of 30 inches.  To catch one of these monarchs, one must be willing to sacrifice a full day of fishing.  He must focus on a quest that is  lonely and silent.  This adventure will give the angler the ultimate achievement when given the chance to land this Spotted Grail.
     As a dark squall was gathering momentum on the horizon, I headed out to the edge of the sound in search of this colossal of the sea.  The humid clouds sagged against the rising sun, making them appear even more dark and ominous.  The storm was heading north of me, so to make sure I had a fighting chance, I surveyed my surroundings and found a small beach that would give me an advantage to ride it out if it turned and came my way.  The surface of the water had a lite chop.  The wind was coming from the southeast at a brisk 10 mph., and the tide was flowing in.  A sandbar ran from the middle of the sound out to about a halfmile past the demarcation line.  I anchored my boat on the southern edge and let the wind push me up against the sandbar.  As the water rose to cover it, It would allow me to let out more rope to increase my chances of reaching the skinny water where the evasive prey awaited my stealthy approach.
     Standing on the bow of my boat with my rod leaning against me, I held the bait for the day.  It was a finger mullet.  These four to six inch fish are considered to be the choice delicacy for these mammoths.  I threaded my hook through its mouth at an angle so that the mullet can not only breathe, but be able to tease and lure the giant into having him for a quick bite. 
     After three hours of fishing without a nibble, my mind slowly cleared itself of all its worries and struggles that had haunted it during the week.  Thoughts of thankfulness to the Lord for allowing me the good fortune to be here fishing coupled with His many Blessings that He has given me, soon gave way to a clear mind that was focused on catching this mighty beast.  With the tide just starting to ebb, I pulled my anchor and allowed my boat to drift freely over the sandbar.  I retrieved a fresh mullet from the livewell and hooked him in his tail this time.  This gave the bait more freedom to do its job.  I shortened the depth to the top of my cork.  To my right I noticed a school of menhaden skimming the surface of the water.  I threw my mullet past them and waited motionless.  The boat slowly drifted toward the ocean on the ebb tide.  I waited for what seemed to be an eternity.  My bait soon started to squirm causing my cork bounce up and down.  My cork slowly eased itself along the surface of the water.  I knew this would be my only chance for the day.  I watched my cork move faster along the surface.  I slowly started reeling in my slack line.  The cork slipped under, causing my line to cut across the water.  Reeling up to a tight line, I allowed the fish to pull hard against my rod, bending it more and more with every second.  Grabbing the rod firmly with both hands, I pointed it towards the fish.  Mumbling "Lord be with me", I set the hook hard.  It felt like I was hung on the bottom.  Suddenly my drag started screaming.  The line was peeling off my reel at a frantic pace.  With my thumb, I slowly tightened down on my drag.  The line slowed as my rod bent to its breaking point.  The line in the water raced towards deeper water.  He slowly turned my boat which was floating freely with the tide.  I played the fish for a good twenty minutes.  He didn't seem to be getting tired.  I knew my only chance of catching him was to keep him in deep water.  I was well off the sandbar now.  I reached down grabbed my anchor and chunked it overboard.  He started to battle harder now, as if he knew his time was near.  I tightened down on my drag a little more.  Thoughts of loosing him raced through my mind.  This old salt was fighting me hard so I eased back off the drag a bit.  This seem to allow him enough freedom to let me start bringing him towards the boat.  He was fighting less now.  I slowly brought this great monarch up to the surface.  "OH WOW!" I yelled.  This trout looked to be over 30 inches.  I played him ever so gently, bringing him closer and closer to the boat.  The water boiled as he swung his head back and forth.  My fear now hinged on almost sheer panic of loosing this catch of a lifetime.  I loosened my drag a little more and let him make one more run.  This time he tired enough to swim right to the side of the boat.  I had a decision to make now.  Do I keep this fish or let him go.  My mind struggled on what to do.  Finally I looked up and thanked the Lord for allowing me to see this great and mighty Spotted Grail.  I reached for my knife and with one final survey of this beautiful creature, I cut my leader.  I watched with mixed feelings as this wonder and beauty of Gods creation swam away.
     In many ways God often test our Faith in Him.  It depends on our relationship with him on how we deal with the outcome.  The power of choice is one that is yours through prayer and study of Gods Word.  As you increase the number of Spiritual decisions you make, your Faith in Him grows.  This process cannot be rushed.  Each of us must have time to fail, reassess, and experience the Spiritual outcomes of our efforts.  Wisdom is knowledge combined with experience, which is gained through Faith and study of Gods word.   Proverbs 3:5,6  says:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight."   You fall in the direction you lean.  If you lean on Him, you fall in His arms that is an unmoveable leaning post on which you can depend on.  May God Bless you all .