PART.1 HIS GUIDING LIGHT

The day was a great summer morning---light hazy clouds with a 80 degree soft breeze but still comfortable Florida weather. My older son Dan, age 14 and I had a mid week fishing trip planned. We were going 22-30 miles off shore to catch kingfish and sell them to the local seafood market. I did this on the average of three times a week to make serious pocket change during the summer months. My 24 foot inboard/outboard boat named the " Sunshine " was packed by Dan the night before and ready for the trip. The fuel tanks were topped off with 200 gallons of gas and the fish box (4'x4'x8') filled to the top with ice. We started out early and I ran the boat hard and fast to where I thought we should be able to load the boat with fish. The running time to get there was a little over an hour, small ground swells were rolling in from the southeast but not really giving us any problem. Dan was making last minute preparations with the tackle and baits plus securing important items we would need to have on hand for quick use during the day. He had his non skid deck shoes on and his bony Delany sea legs were working like shock absorbers. He was a great partner on the boat and took no notice as to the speed at which I was running nor the sea spray coming in on him. As always I am looking around to see how many other boats are out and who may be trying to bird dog me to the hot spot. We were all alone,-"Fantastic",-I can fish my way without being bothered by other boaters. Dan always said that I get fanatical when it came to fishing and he had pet names he respectfully called me to remind his Ole Dad of my actions. Many times I heard over the years "Captain Ahab's After His White Whale Again",--"Captain Nemo With An Oreo" or "Captain Bligh" if I happened to be in one of those moods.

We were going fishing for one species of fish--the king mackerel and would be using a continually moving trolling fishing technique to catch them. We were finally getting close to the area where I wished to start fishing. I am checking the loran site numbers against my loran book and looking at the fish sonar recorder to spot for signs of fish. We are watching for any top water strike action and birds to indicate where fish are feeding. I yell back to Dan; "LINES OVERBOARD" and he replies; "AYE AYE CAPTAIN AHAB". He snaps to setting out the port and starboard deep running planers, four flat lines on 4/0 poles off the stern and two long out riggers for a total of eight fishing lines. In between all this action and work I touch up the boat speed and steering wheel to keep us going straight so as not to tangle the lines. Dan is doing the majority of the work at this point as well as keeping the deck organized and clean. He walks up and looks at the electronics with me then steps back to check all the lines. He no sooner gets to the back of the boat when lines start zinging out. I'M Yelling; "FISH,--FISH ON"- and the action begins.

Jerry Delany
Stories Copyright 2001