FISHING

This blog could be about anything a man or woman enjoys doing when given the time and freedom to do whatever they choose. With some that could be camping, sailing or skiing. In my case that’s fishing. More specifically, salt water fishing in southern California. I grew up in a seaside town in the years before over fishing took its toll. Newport Beach had a thriving fishing fleet consisting of commercial fishermen, private boats and several charter boat landings that operated around the clock. There was even a working cannery that processed mackerel, sardines, tuna and albacore. The summer months were rocking as the waterfront bustled with fuel docks, tackle stores, bait shops and everything maritime. I was in paradise.

My earliest memories of fishing always involved my Dad. We were fortunate in that we had a fishing boat and every week end from June to October was spent on the water. The early part of the season was spent fishing albacore. If there were lulls in the albacore action we would fish the kelp beds for yellowtail, white sea bass, barracuda and other near shore fish. Later in the summer, as the water warmed, marlin were the target and we were always, always, on the look out for the ultimate prize, broadbill swordfish.

Occasional late summer weekends were spent on a mooring in Avalon on Catalina Island. A scant 26 miles from Newport Beach yet a world apart. Days were spent laying in the sun or languishing in crystal clear water. At night everyone would take a water taxi ashore for dinner, a movie or listening to bands in jammed packed night clubs.

My Dad taught me how to bait a hook, handle a rod and reel and to be patient when there was a strike. There were lessons in courtesy to other fishermen, laws of the sea and respect for the ocean. All night runs to offshore fishing grounds and endless hours of searching for fish provided priceless opportunity for my Dad to impart to me his thoughts on how life should be lived, integrity and honesty.

All those years I thought it was about the fishing. It wasn’t until I became a father myself and began the same journey with my kids that I realized it is not about catching fish. It is about coming to the realization that sharing something you love with someone you love is right up there with the most important things you will do in your life. My Dad and I established closeness beyond words.

I went down the same path with my kids. There were some differences, for example, yielding to their wishes all fish are now released if at all possible. But I tried hard to pass on to them those lessons that my Dad had indelibly stamped in my mind. The intent was there, you would have to ask them if I was successful.