A Warm Winters Day

    Winter redfish require a stealthy finesse that is necessary when they are schooling up on the flats to warm up on an incoming tide.  Anything that looks remotely edible will get gobbled up if it falls anywhere near there aggregations.  These fish are not the big adults who have gone offshore to winter, but are the 15 to 30 inch fish that are not yet mature enough to make the journey.  To find these fish one must choose a calm day with very little tide movement. 
     It was a beautiful crisp cool morning of 50 degrees.  The high for the day was around 75; a perfect day for hunting and catching these prodigious fish.  After launching my boat, I said a prayer thanking the good Lord for a beautiful day and allowing me the opportunity to fish.  I took a moment to bask in the beautiful sunrise, and then slowly headed out to my favorite fishing spot. 
    Arriving near the area to fish, I slowed my boat down to a gentle crawl.  As I readied my anchor on my bow, I kept an eye out for any movement on the surface of the water.  I didn't have to wait long.  About a hundred yards out in front of me I saw them.  They were feeding on fiddler crabs on the bottom.  Their tails were waving high in the air as they dug deep in the mud to get to them.  I knew getting to these fish would be tricky, and require a lot of patience.  I headed my boat in the direction of these tailing reds. I bumped the throttle hard one time and shut off my engine, allowing my boat to drift in.  I eased my anchor over the side leaving my rope loose.  This way I could pull myself out if I were to get stuck in the skinny water ahead of me.  I eagerly picked up my rod and baited my hook.  The bait for the day was simple - dead shrimp.  I had stopped the night before at the local seafood market and bought two pounds of headed shrimp.  This ensured me that it would be fresh.  I used a small piece of peeled shrimp.  This allowed the sent to penetrate the water and antagonize the large redfish into gobbling it up. 
    I saw my target about 50 feet out in front of me.  This gentle giant was waiving his tail high in the air. By the size of the spot on his tail, he looked to be well over the legal size limit.  My cast was out to the side of where he was feeding.  I popped my cork, click - click - click;  his tail slid down in the water.  He was too fat to hide in the skinny water where he was feeding.  This redfish raced towards my cork making a wake with his back.  I readied myself.  As he gobbled up my bait, my cork laid on its side and raced across the surface of the water.  This mighty redfish was hungry.  I let him have the bait until my cork disappeared.  The rod tip started to bend as I tightened down on my line.  I eased back on the rod letting this massive fish hook himself.  The drag on my reel sang its beautiful tune that I have grown to love.  The water boiled as he tried to loose himself of the hook.  I fought this fish hard for a good 10 minutes.  After he had given up on his great battle, I eased him along side the boat. I gently raised him out of the water and removed the hook.  A quick measurement of 30 inches, a kiss on his nose, and I said farewell to my friend of the sea.
     The Lord says in 1 John 3:22,  "And whatsoever we ask we receive of Him, because we keep His commandment and do those things that are pleasing in His sight."  I often stop and think of how little time we have here to help others and to do the will of the Lord.  Do you say, "I should have done that yesterday, or I'll get to it tomorrow?"  The older we get it seems we have more yesterdays than tomorrows.  Take advantage of the time the Lord has given you and try to do His will.  When you do His will, God will reward you not only with blessings here on earth, but also in heaven.  Remember to help those who are in need and to always pray for them, and when possible with them.
     May God bless you all.
    
   

A Cold Day in December

     It was a cold December morning as I set out to find some fish to catch.  The fog had set in so I knew it would be along time before the sun could burn it off.  Heading to my favorite fishing spot, my journey was slow and tedious.  As I moved across the sound the fog thickened.  I switched on my newly installed fog lights.  This illuminated the area enough to take the worry out of the day.  I slowed my boat to a snail's pace, taking my time to ensure I didn't run aground.  Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the mouth of the creek that I wanted to fish.  This trip would normally take me 35 minutes, but due to the fog it took me over an hour.  I paused at the mouth of the creek and said a quick prayer to the Lord for a safe trip, and allowing me the opportunity to fish this day.  I checked my livewell, readied my anchor for fishing, and started easing my boat up the creek. 
     The creek was narrow and as I made my way back into the trees, the fog lifted a little.  The seen was like a painting.  The moss hung low off the large majestic oaks that overhung the creek.  The water was like glass.  It had a dark color, which told me there was some fresh water mixed in with it. This made it perfect for fishing.  As I glanced behind me, I noticed the wake of the boat just drift into the bank and disappear as the water took on its mirror effect again.  I rounded the final bend, and shifted my boat into neutral.  I slowly walked to the bow, picked up the anchor and eased it into the water, careful not to make any noise.  Tying it off, I noticed that the fog was hanging about treetop level. 
     I reached in the livewell and grabbed a polywog, and hooked it through the lips.  I set the depth of my cork about 5 feet.  My fishing spot was a liveoak that had fallen about halfway into the creek.  Its limbs, covered with barnacles, made there way down into the creek.  I made my cast just out in front of the limbs.  With a quick pop of my cork, it slipped out of site.  I set the hook hard.  The line on my reel peeled off as I struggled to set my drag.  The fish rolled in the water as if it were boiling.  With the water tempature being in the upper 50's, I knew the fish wouldn't put up much of a fight.  After about 10 minutes, I eased the fish along side the boat.  I placed my net behind him and slowly raised him out of the water.  It was a large black drum.  I gently took my hook out of his mouth and eased him back in the water.  With a couple movements back and forth, he quickly revived and slowly swam down into the dark water.  I continued to fish most of the day, catching and releasing fish.  On the way back, I took a picture of the sun setting over the sound.  Again, it was like a painting.
     I sat back looked to the sky and thanked the Lord for a beautiful day.  In Mathew 6:33, God says "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
     Christmas is a time for giving.  Remember to help others who are in need, and to pray for them.  God knows your needs and will remember you on his timetable.  His blessings will be overwhelming if you trust and believe in Him.  I know there is a place in Heaven for me, I just hope you are there with me.  May God bless you in all that you do.