"Kids" turning into sportsman... - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

Mr. Sandman · 10-20-2003, 11:59 AM

Most times when you go out fishing something goes wrong...weather, tides, moon, the boat, truck, the wife...or worse everything looks right and the fish are not there. Every now and then one of those nights comes along when everything falls into place. I had been fishing regularly in the poor conditions for a few weeks now and been doing pretty well. I knew some areas where fish were holding on a regular basis. I had been wanting to take my 2 boys out, but between school, the poor weather (read: rough seas) and other stuff going on we just could not seem to time it right to make a trip. Well, last Friday the wind stopped...I mean it was flat calm and when they came home from school one of them was free and we made it out to fish dusk. Watching him cast his live eel into the boulders along the shore I was thinking...his casting has really improved this year..he casts like a man now. My only instructions to him were to slow down his retrieve...let the eel swim...this ain't a popper. Minutes later, I heard..Whoa! then the sweet sound of the drag paying out to a steady run of a good fish. He got his biggest bass to date (30#) just after dark and had several others in the low 20's which he released. Up till this year, anything bigger then 28" was a "Keeper" and that meant "we keep it". I always had to juggle the scale a bit to make sure that "keeper fish" went back in the water. But this time he wanted to release the fish even before it got in the boat..Maybe it takes getting a "big one" to realize that we should release most fish, I don't know, but I sure had a great feeling watching a young boy release a 23#er and watching it swim away. I was much older before I got a fish over 30#. In the end, we came home with one bass each for the weigh-in, released 4 or 5 and a couple blues for the smoker. We saw a beautiful sunset over some beautiful islands, gazed at some great stars, caught a few nice fish and were all alone out there what seemed like a 1000 miles from home. That is what "quailty time" is all about in my book.

MightyMouse · 10-20-2003, 12:06 PM

Moose Nuckle · 10-20-2003, 12:19 PM

Nice Fish. Good Job on the Little Sandman !!

macojoe · 10-20-2003, 12:39 PM

That is a great story!! Good for you and your son!!

RIROCKHOUND · 10-20-2003, 12:45 PM

Great story..
I have many great stories about fishing w/ father, still do frequently... Great way to grow up, and I have always felt that having a good hobby keeps kids off that bad stuff (cept maybe a few beers

)

Bryan
aka 'hound

BigBo · 10-20-2003, 01:03 PM

Nice work! To dad and son! That's what it's all about.

Duke41 · 10-20-2003, 01:29 PM

awesome story.. Reminds me of another one similar.

I used to live in Texas and one morning I was out jogging at around 6 am and I saw a guy getting into his pick-up, he had a nice ranger bass boat on a trailer. As he was getting into the truck his son, who I would guess was about 10 came flying out the door running for the truck. What I saw next sickened me. The kid tried to open the passenger door and the SOB would not unlock it, Instead he backed the truck up out the driveway the kid holding the mirror and standing on the running board. Once out in the street the "dad" got out of his truck and pried the kid of the truck and tossed him on the lawn. He looked over at me as I stood there dumbfounded, shook his head and took off. I still remeber that kids sitting on t he lawn bawling like a baby. That was 15 years ago. I haven't seen a sadder sight since. Take care of you family its your duty as a father and a husband.

Fishpart · 10-20-2003, 01:50 PM

Mr. Sandman, you are indeed lucky to have sons who want to be with you.... Great job on the young men!!!!!!!!!

BigFish · 10-20-2003, 01:52 PM

Nice fish Little Mr. Sandman...great story Mr. Sandman, thanks for sharing.

Van · 10-20-2003, 01:53 PM

Very nice and congrats to SM jr.

I know how hard it is to keep them interested. I try like hell to get my son away from the TV and video games and out in the boat.
He don't like getting up in the morning and if he ain't catchin, hes bored and wants out. I try to tell him its not always about catchin, just fishing and being out in the water, on the beach whatever....(right,,,,thats the quality time)

Its a teenager thing i guess, I'll just have to wait it out and hopefully he'll come around.

hooked · 10-20-2003, 02:22 PM

That's a great story and quite a sight. Congratulations to both of you.

Blitzseeker · 10-20-2003, 03:39 PM

Very cool post. Makes me look forward to what hopefully will be some great fishing someday with my son, who turned 1 yesterday.

Van, if it helps, I fish regularly with two guys around my age (32) and their dad. They wouldn't be caught dead out fishing with him when they were teenagers, but for the last 10 years or so they fish with their dad several times per year, often for a couple of days at a time. I'm there, so I can personally attest to the fact that they have a great time together. Moral: Most kids have a renewed interest in spending time with their folks once they move into their 20s.....hang in there and there could be some great times on the water ahead.

Christian · 10-20-2003, 03:41 PM

im jealous.

chris L · 10-20-2003, 04:22 PM

good job for both of you ! my daughters fish and thats the greatest !

Fisherwoman · 10-20-2003, 04:28 PM

COmgrads Mr Sandman JR. that is awesome good for you and your some!!!!! Nothing like the smile on a kids face when he gets a good one. Priceless!!!!!!!!

Goose · 10-20-2003, 05:33 PM

AWSOME

NEXT2NUN · 10-20-2003, 06:13 PM

Way to go sandman!!

BigBo · 10-20-2003, 07:08 PM

My dad's 75 yrs old and doesn't miss too many trips out with me. He loves our time on the water.

Bazza · 10-21-2003, 07:23 PM

Nice job sandmand!!! Thats great that your kids are into fishing and getting some big ones with you.

beachwalker · 10-21-2003, 07:54 PM

Awesome Mr. S,

Great story and glad you are into them

I don't have any children but hope to be able to experience a moment like that someday.

Sweet stuff

Fish_Eye · 10-22-2003, 07:00 AM

Hello Sandman,

It was nice meeting up with you at Cuttyhunk – too bad the conditions weren’t better. Your “Low Profile” is a sweet rig.

And it sure manages to get out of town pretty fast.

It was great to hear you had one of those very memorable days on the water – even better when shared with a youngster!
I hope that fish was found in the spot I told you about.

Thanks for sharing the story with us. I think that one of the greatest gifts you can give a child is an appreciation for the great outdoors.

These days, when I find myself surrounded by fish, I often think of Gramps and thank him for having shown me the way.

It’s a heritage I passed on to my daughter at an early age.

I’m sure there are some other wonderful stories out there, let’s hear them.

Fish_Eye · 10-22-2003, 07:03 AM

Here’s a fitting story sent to me by my good friend Steve Dodd:

Avery legitimately hooked, fought and landed this fish, on 12 lb test, using a small rubber bunker imitation. I thought he was fighting a fish about 28 inches with a loose drag. Funny when it showed up under the flashlight. It was slightly over 40".

Mr. Sandman · 10-22-2003, 07:18 AM

Fisheye, thanks for the kewl photos!...I had this pic attached before but I somehow deleted it.

Saltheart · 10-22-2003, 07:47 AM

Great story Sandman. it was fun when it happened and it will also be a good memory for you and them for a very long time.

Fisheye , love to see pics of kids smiling holding a fish...especially when they are wearing a red sox hat!

179 · 10-22-2003, 07:50 AM

Sounds like a evening that will be a great memory. I can't wait for my sons to be old enough to fish with me, but the oldest having just turned 3 and the youngest about to turn 1 I may have to wait a few more years....

Blitzseeker · 10-22-2003, 08:13 AM

Couldn't agree more with John's comment....great picture Fish Eye.

Something about a little kid with a big fish and a Sox cap that makes for an outstanding shot.

beachwalker · 10-22-2003, 01:34 PM

Why ?

Because when he is a grown-up he will be wearing a YANKEES cap ?

I am so sorry guys. I don't mean to tarnish such a great story. I just couldn't resist.

Blitzseeker · 10-22-2003, 04:30 PM

As the Sports Guy said, if he turns out to be the type of kid who roots for the house while watching a blackjack at a casino, then he might swap that Sox cap for a Yankees cap.

But if he turns out to be a kid who enjoys rooting for a team where, in the event they ever win it, it will be a true accomplishment rather than a purchased one, he will continue to wear the Sox cap as he does now.

Sorry, still bitter, but I feel a little better now.