Fishing 777!

I haven’t always been a fisherman.  I hadn’t even set foot in a boat before I was almost 33 years old.

My Honey, an avid fisherman since he was a little kid, has taught me everything I know.  I had what is often called “Beginner’s Luck.”  I caught my first fish — a beautiful redfish — on my second cast, while wading waist deep on an oyster bar.  We ate it for dinner.

I was HOOKED!  He now says I “outfish” him.

I know better, Lord.  My current prowess (and even that early catch) were thanks to Your Grace.  I didn’t know You when I caught that first fish.  But today, I couldn’t help but think I have moved from Fishing 101 all the way to “Fishing 777.”

What else could I call my latest, apparently-foolproof, Divinely-inspired technique?!

We drove over to Punta Gorda today.  A sunny day with clear blue skies.  Chilly morning temperatures, seventies by the afternoon. The only real challenge was the wind.  Relentless.  A bit cumbersome.  But real fishermen don’t complain.

They just get it done.   🙂

After putting in and maneuvering across Charlotte Harbor, we entered a “fishy-sounding” place called Alligator Bay.  Which dumped into the even “fishier-sounding” Alligator Creek.  Shallow water, mostly. Not another boat in sight.  In the lee of a mangrove island (i.e., out of the wind).  Finally.

The tide was at its lowest.  The water just sat there.  Worst possible time to fish.  Nothing was biting.  After fighting the wind and the waves, all I wanted to do was relax.  So I did.  I sat on the bow, closed my eyes… and began to listen to praise music on my headset.

Gratefully worshiping You, Lord.

BAM!!!  Something BIG hit my bait and zoomed by!  I pulled my rod up sharply to set the hook… and had the Fish Fight of my life!  Was it a catfish?  A jack?  Whatever it was, it fought like… a fish that hated being hooked!

My Honey pulled out the net.  A couple of minutes later, I had landed THE BIGGEST TROUT I have EVER CAUGHT!!!  All I could say was, “Thank You, Lord!  Thank You, Lord!”

Tomorrow night’s dinner.  I can already almost taste it.

So is that the secret to Fishing 777, Lord?  Just start worshiping You… and we will land a trophy???  It doesn’t really matter… does it?  Fish or no fish…

… worshiping You is always a winning proposition!

“Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  (Philippians 3:13-14)

We’re back home now… but I’m a little too wired to sleep.

Maybe I should count fish???   🙂

Abba’s Girl

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