Unlike my father, mother was a chicken of the sea. She readily admitted it but she also confessed her love for fishing.
Many conditions had to be met for mom to join us fishing. Day time fishing only. Good weather with minimal wind. The destination had to be close to land. She wanted someone available to assist as needed with clearing lines, putting on a new hook, icing her catch and doing the boat chores.
Including mom in our plans for tomorrows adventures Dad suggested we go fishing for jacks. Waking up early we loaded the truck and drove east to Secret Harbor. It was one of moms favorite places to fish.
Unloading the truck we filled the boat with everything needed for our adventures. Rowing out to the bait ball dad cast the fry net a few times and caught enough fresh bait for todays fishing. Finding a spot in the bay that was most desirable to mom, we set the anchor and started a light chumming.
It did not take long for the chum to work. A flash of silver just under the surface near the boat proclaimed the arrival of many jacks. Putting a single fry on the the tiny hook I tossed it in the water and instantly my fingers were working the thread like line and bringing in the the first jack. Mom and dad each brought in their first catch too.
It was almost a racing game. How quickly can one take the fish off the hook, re-bait it and toss it in the water. As the baited hook hit the water a jack held on. It was a hand running non stop action kind of fishing. The kind of fishing ever fisherman dreams about.
I enjoyed watching the little fish race to the baited hook. I tried guessing which one was going to get the bait. With one following the other they raced alongside the hooked jack all the way to the spot where I pulled it out of the water.
With each fish weighing about a pound a piece and the three of us pulling them in, hand running, it did not take long to fill our coolers.
Calling it a day we fed the fish with the remaining bait, pulled anchor and brought the boat ashore. Dad and I unloaded our catch and put the coolers in the truck. While I moored the boat dad sold some of the fish to the ladies working at the resort.
On the drive home mom suggested we do this again tomorrow. Dad and I readily agreed!
