| Listing
the most exhilarating moments from my years of saltwater fishing is an
easy thing to do. Here are a couple of them: Last October when I took my fiancé on her first offshore trip and we found an acre of ravenous little yellowfin tuna just 12 miles off San Diego and as we drifted down into the school I watched her reel and her hands until line started to peel off under her thumb and she was squealing with excitement and I was trying to keep my own voice calm, saying, “Wait, wait, wait, wait,” as the fish took line and then I gave up and shouted, “Okay, now!” and she flipped the reel into gear and the hook bit and the most delightful kind of hell broke loose. And the previous spring when a good friend who guides fly fishing trips in Idaho finally managed enough time for a trip to San Quintín and after playing a frustrating game of hide-and-seek all morning with breezing yellowtail we were finally in exactly the right place at exactly the right time with a dozen big fish crossing 15 yards off the bow and I said, “Ten feet in front and 10 feet past,” and as soon as his jig hit the water I knew it was right and he started to wind and we watched the lead fish catch sight of the jig and time seemed to stand still as it flared off from the pack and lunged and then that same wonderful hell broke loose. I could go on, but the pattern is probably apparent. For me, the best parts of saltwater fishing are the occasional opportunities I get to introduce others to it. Here’s hoping we have such opportunities for years to come. |