Tray has a friend named Trace. Last year after one of our trips down fishing with Joey on the coast Tray came home from school and said his friend, Trace, wanted to go catch sharks with him when we went back. I said sure thinking this would blow over and I wouldn’t hear anything else about it type thing because the kids always ask things on the fly and the next day they’ve moved on to something else and have forgotten what they wanted yesterday. Well, this wasn’t the case on this one. Tray would ask routinely when we were going to take Trace shark fishing. I would always put it off and tell him when we got a good time. You already know the next question I’d hear, “when is a good time”? lol
I soon realized it wasn’t going to move. Trace had a Birthday in September and I thought…..this would be a great birthday trip for both the boys, Trace and Tray. Trace’s birthday is in September and Tray’s is in October. I hooked up with Joey on a weekend and we set the trip. Wind threatened to cancel the trip and about mid week we had some nervous little fellas worried that their trip wasn’t going to take place. As the weekend approached the weather/wind forecast changed for the better and the trip was on.
This trip was like many road trips with a truck load full of guys. The trip down was almost as adventurous as the trip itself. We (Trace, Tray, Chris Watkins, and myself) stopped at McDonald’s in Ellisville that morning for a quick breakfast. Walking out to go get in my truck, Trace jumps in someone’s truck who was waiting in the drive through line. The lady in the passenger seat was scared to death when little Trace went to jump in her husband’s truck. There was a little boy in the back seat that looked at Trace as he was getting in the truck like it was an old friend getting in for a ride….. We rolled at that all morning. Bet that guy locks his doors from now on in the drive thru.
Anyway, we get to Joeys and a shark fishing we go! The wind was tough but the boys seemed to think it was part of the fun of the trip. They enjoyed the rough boat ride as much as they did everything else that morning. We saw a lemon fish on the way out and tried a few tricks to see if we could get a bite…..no luck. That fish was smarter than all 8 boats that stopped and tried to catch him on that day. We finally got down to the fishing hole and we chummed and set the rods. It was a little time passed till we heard the click click of the drag being pulled. Joey grabbed the rod, set the hook, and handed Trace the rod and reel. Trace started cranking. I must admit, I was impressed with Trace and Tray working together to boat the shark. Tray grabbed the dip net to help his buddy boat his first shark and I saw two little fellas celebrate their catch and Trace’s first shark catch ever. I was proud. Here’s some pictures of Trace and his first shark ever!
Trace and Tray boating Trace’s first shark!
Trace and his first Shark! Captain Joey and Tray.
After Trace boated his first Shark, Tray was on deck! Once again, click click. Joey set it and Tray reeled it in. Trace grabbed the dip net and returned the team work and dipped Tray’s shark for him just as Tray did for Trace. I’m telling y’all, it really warmed this ole fella’s soul to see that type of young brotherhood in this time and day.
Tray’s Shark with Captain Joey and Trace.
A short period later we heard it again. Click, Click, set hook, and Trace was on deck! This time it wasn’t a shark but a bat ray! Trace fought it like a man and it was a battle. Trace finally boated the bat ray but it had taken it’s toll on him. It wore him OUT!
Joey holds Trace’s first Bat Ray. Once again, team work payed off.
On the way out we had to stop one more time and try for the lemon fish we’d saw everyone else fail at catching. We cast and low and behold we got a bite! Lemon fish no, black tip shark….yes!
No lemon fish but the boys were just as happy.
The boys, big and small, had a big time! Not only did they fish but they also swam. As you see in the last picture, Joey’s shirts off, the boys hair is wet, and we’re all smiles!
On a different note. Rabbit season is around the corner. Like ONE WEEK! And the cold weather is moving in just in time! Hope to hear some good races and also hear some good stories from y’all over the next few months. Finally the season has come back around! Good luck and be safe.
Remember when you head outdoors, whether it’s fishing or hunting, take someone new with you. Help someone experience their first of something that involves our passion. Play it forward and play it safe.