THSCC Forums

Wow, that's a great story Bernie! Funny thing is what I got from it was hooking a fish that big may sink the boat so let it go!

John, don't be too sure of what the boy would like. Remember he hasn't experienced it yet....
About twelve years ago Gwen and I took a friend and his sixteen year old son deep sea fishing, the kid was totally bored and made no attempt to hide the fact that he was pushed by his dad into this. He sat in a corner of the cockpit with his lower lip stuck out so far you could have put a six pack on it. We hooked a few dolphin and let him reel them in....still no enthusiasm... then a sail fish came up along side the boat as we were boating a dolphin so I had our mate drop a bait in front of the sail. There was a large splash and the line was peeling off the reel so fast that the kids father was afraid to touch it ... so Gwen took the rod and set her self in the fighting chair to fight the sailfish. Only it wasn't a sailfish, the bait had been stolen from the sail by a 600lb blue marlin, and the fight was on. The MOONRAKER backed down on that marlin for over seven miles. Chasing that fish the cockpit filled with water and the transom door had to be opened to drain the water from the boat, several times. The kid came to life with eyes as big as basketballs he grabbed the bait cooler which was floating out of the boat over the gunwales. we were backing into seas that were about six foot so every wave broke into the cockpit, everyone was soaked,coolers were floating, gaffs were branished,extra rods were stowed, and the cockpit was cleared of all non essential gear, a monster was hooked to Gwens line and was jumping all over the ocean. The kids dad retreated to the salon, but his son stayed in the thick of the battle helping where he could. After about an hour the marlin swam the line into the boats props and we lost the fish......But we hooked the kid for life.....he's now a charter captain, running a boat for a living.....all because his dad took him to place he didn't want to go and he knew nothing about....

i think John that you need to work on the Missus not the young'n.

oh yeah, one of my other mottos.............

marriage, everyone should try it two or three times...............

I.. Well.... Uhmm can't quite follow your motto but, different strokes I suppose


But in all seriousness I know there are family birthday parties for the kids and it just stinks it's that weekend, but I wouldn't miss it for the world. Now all the family

ChumpCar just cancelled the March date at Charlotte. FYI.

I still wonder how they keep going. They seems to operate under the Federal Governments rules of finance. Maybe they print their own money too?

some of their events have a sizeable turn-out. 70 some cars at Nelsons, last years Charlotte event had 40 - 45 cars for a 14 hour event. you saw the turnout at VIR. 90 cars @$1100 each.

Being a dork,