0
South of the Border
4/16/11
It is worth mentioning that leading up to this trip, Tait and Jax thought we were venturing off to Toronto to visit my parents. They were very excited to see all of the usual relatives and take on the usual great times. Little did they know we had tricked them into a trip a little more SOUTH of the BORDER!
We had been traveling for an hour or so when Kevin had to make one of his many pitstops. We pulled over, got the video camera at the ready, put on the van lights and revealed we would not be going to Toronto, but to Florida to fish for Peacock Bass and shark! Well, let’s say we did not get the reaction we had banked on when the camera was rolling. One boy burst into tears because they were actually going to Florida and the other burst into tears because they wouldn’t be seeing their relatives! Our plan slightly backfired. Minutes later, both boys on board, we also announced we would make a small stop at Disney on the way home and they were still most excited about... THE FISHING!
4/19/11
Tait and Jax tumbled out of bed at 5:30 am as we packed Matt’s truck and boat for the trip. Where were we heading? Biscayne Bay, Florida just outside of Miami which is by Key Largo. It was a still hot, sunny April morning as we ventured out. We were still dragging from our 30 hour trip from Maine, but that wasn’t going to put a damper on this day! The four of us were together with a good friend, suddenly with summer weather upon us, fishing on the ocean. Life is good.
Finally, arriving with anticipation to the boat launch, littered with sailboats, speedboats, and flats boats, we loaded Matt’s boat, the Flatlander. We took our shoes off and slipped into the boat excitedly. The bottom of the boat felt cool with its white, smooth surface. All our gear was stowed in its rightful bin and snacks and drinks placed in the cooler. Here we go! We headed out to the crystal blue bay that was a veritable aquarium to these Mainers who were just fascinated by the different kinds of fish we were stalking. Matt took us over to the mangroves and we spotted skates gracefully swimming on the bottom, needle fish with long skinny mouths, barracuda, gorgeous brown and white spotted blowfish etc... And we fished.
Eventually Jax caught a barracuda, Tait hooked one, and Kevin caught barracuda as well.
We took turns as there were five of us on the boat. Matt poled us around skillfully, he up on his platform, as he located fish for us to catch. What a patient man! He got the full McKay experience. Two eager McKay brothers vying for fishing territory and albeit fishing turns. The odd fly we all had to duck for as one of us missed a cast or two; the odd bush one of us hooked. Matt was not phased by any of it. He stayed his course and got us onto fish and good times. At one point we even got to swim in the ocean right off the boat. My favorite part however, was wet wading in the green water for bone fish with my boys. That was pretty much, a dream come true and all thanks to Matt.
4/20/11
Today, we didn’t mess around getting up for this trip. We got up at 5:20 am. We had a taste of what we were in for yesterday, and wanted to go back for more today. So, off we went again, Matt’s truck, Matt’s boat, snacks, the boys and our hopes of catching bonefish or this time, shark!
Today was just as warm and sunny as yesterday; typical Florida hotness. Once we were in the straight away, we were warned to hang on, and hang on we did! The Flatlander crashed upon the waves as we sped to the mangroves at about forty miles an hour. Forget Disney, this was an amusement park ride! Whoa! Hang on Jax! Once we arrived near the mangroves, the waters calmed and we got our flies ready. Immediately we were onto fish. The first fish on was a mangrove snapper with a beautiful shape and color. There were plenty to go around. We saw barracuda that looked as intimidating as their reputation with large jaws and teeth, as well as fish we did not recognize. Later, we saw a shark surface and were very excited about potentially catching one. It was gorgeous out there with mangroves surrounding us, blue and green water and the sun beaming down. We all caught fish, but no shark. It was cool to see one surface!
The boat ride back proved choppy to say the least! We bounced up and down like yo-yos. I was hysterically laughing at one point, partly from fear! But, again, thanks to Matt and his skillful nautical skills, I would do it again. That was an outrageously wonderful day!
Jennifer Bowman-McKay
4/16/11
It is worth mentioning that leading up to this trip, Tait and Jax thought we were venturing off to Toronto to visit my parents. They were very excited to see all of the usual relatives and take on the usual great times. Little did they know we had tricked them into a trip a little more SOUTH of the BORDER!
We had been traveling for an hour or so when Kevin had to make one of his many pitstops. We pulled over, got the video camera at the ready, put on the van lights and revealed we would not be going to Toronto, but to Florida to fish for Peacock Bass and shark! Well, let’s say we did not get the reaction we had banked on when the camera was rolling. One boy burst into tears because they were actually going to Florida and the other burst into tears because they wouldn’t be seeing their relatives! Our plan slightly backfired. Minutes later, both boys on board, we also announced we would make a small stop at Disney on the way home and they were still most excited about... THE FISHING!
4/19/11
Tait and Jax tumbled out of bed at 5:30 am as we packed Matt’s truck and boat for the trip. Where were we heading? Biscayne Bay, Florida just outside of Miami which is by Key Largo. It was a still hot, sunny April morning as we ventured out. We were still dragging from our 30 hour trip from Maine, but that wasn’t going to put a damper on this day! The four of us were together with a good friend, suddenly with summer weather upon us, fishing on the ocean. Life is good.
Finally, arriving with anticipation to the boat launch, littered with sailboats, speedboats, and flats boats, we loaded Matt’s boat, the Flatlander. We took our shoes off and slipped into the boat excitedly. The bottom of the boat felt cool with its white, smooth surface. All our gear was stowed in its rightful bin and snacks and drinks placed in the cooler. Here we go! We headed out to the crystal blue bay that was a veritable aquarium to these Mainers who were just fascinated by the different kinds of fish we were stalking. Matt took us over to the mangroves and we spotted skates gracefully swimming on the bottom, needle fish with long skinny mouths, barracuda, gorgeous brown and white spotted blowfish etc... And we fished.
Eventually Jax caught a barracuda, Tait hooked one, and Kevin caught barracuda as well.
We took turns as there were five of us on the boat. Matt poled us around skillfully, he up on his platform, as he located fish for us to catch. What a patient man! He got the full McKay experience. Two eager McKay brothers vying for fishing territory and albeit fishing turns. The odd fly we all had to duck for as one of us missed a cast or two; the odd bush one of us hooked. Matt was not phased by any of it. He stayed his course and got us onto fish and good times. At one point we even got to swim in the ocean right off the boat. My favorite part however, was wet wading in the green water for bone fish with my boys. That was pretty much, a dream come true and all thanks to Matt.
4/20/11
Today, we didn’t mess around getting up for this trip. We got up at 5:20 am. We had a taste of what we were in for yesterday, and wanted to go back for more today. So, off we went again, Matt’s truck, Matt’s boat, snacks, the boys and our hopes of catching bonefish or this time, shark!
Today was just as warm and sunny as yesterday; typical Florida hotness. Once we were in the straight away, we were warned to hang on, and hang on we did! The Flatlander crashed upon the waves as we sped to the mangroves at about forty miles an hour. Forget Disney, this was an amusement park ride! Whoa! Hang on Jax! Once we arrived near the mangroves, the waters calmed and we got our flies ready. Immediately we were onto fish. The first fish on was a mangrove snapper with a beautiful shape and color. There were plenty to go around. We saw barracuda that looked as intimidating as their reputation with large jaws and teeth, as well as fish we did not recognize. Later, we saw a shark surface and were very excited about potentially catching one. It was gorgeous out there with mangroves surrounding us, blue and green water and the sun beaming down. We all caught fish, but no shark. It was cool to see one surface!
The boat ride back proved choppy to say the least! We bounced up and down like yo-yos. I was hysterically laughing at one point, partly from fear! But, again, thanks to Matt and his skillful nautical skills, I would do it again. That was an outrageously wonderful day!
Jennifer Bowman-McKay
