Bear Point is a special place for me. Not only have I caught many fish there, but it used to be a favorite stomping ground for one of my best friends and I. Together he and I covered about every inch of  the cove.

My friend past away a few years ago, but every trip to Bear Point brings back a memory. I’m pretty sure that people that see me think I might need a padded room-standing in the water alone and laughing out loud.

Life has conspired to keep me out of my beloved Indian River Lagoon for a couple of months, but I managed to sneak away for a couple of hours the other day. It was cold and the tide was wrong, but I didn’t care.

Here is a short video I made while there…no fish, but  you might see why I love that place.

I can’t remember when i have been happier to see a  year end. 2011 was trying to say the least, but 2012 is just starting. Let’s hope it holds the promise of new and better things.

My son and I licked off the year with our annual New Year’s fishing trip. We decided to hit the jetty for a couple of hours. I certain have no complaints about the weather. Temps in the 80′s and calm winds made it feel more like May than January.

We caught a couple of jacks and saw several snook milling around the rocks. Unfortunately, I forgot the memory card for the camera so I failed to get pictures.

Here’s wishing all of you have a great New Year.

When I was a kid, my favorite day wasn’t Christmas Day. Sure Christmas morning was filled with awe and wonder.  All the packages wrapped with different paper and shiny ribbons and bows, the anticipation was almost unbearable. However, soon after the early morning adrenaline rush, the reality of traveling to relatives houses, visiting with family and friends and lugging the loot to and from the car made Christmas Day long. Couple the early morning, with ridiculous amounts of food and the ups and downs of opening presents and I was always sound asleep long before we returned home.That is why, December 26th was always my favorite day. That is when my new toys and gadgets got put to use and the joy really set in.

As an adult, all the same processes occur but now I’m the grown-up. As any of you with kids know, Christmas Eve usually ends up being a very late night, followed by a very early morning, then it is off to see family and friends and another late night by the time you return home. For that reason, the day after Christmas is usually a drag.

This  year has been different though. You see I’m on vacation, so I got to sleep late and sit around watching the kids play new video games all morning and play with my new computer monitor. Then we had raw oysters and boiled shrimp for dinner.

The Day after Christmas South Florida style

I could really get used to living like this, unfortunately reality returns next week when I start my new job. I hope everyone had a great and safe holiday. Time to start the countdown to my annual New Year’s Fishing trip with my son.

Season’s Greetings, Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to everyone out there.

This has certainly been a trying year. I think it is the first year I can remember with more bad times than good times for my friends and family. As the time ticks down on 2011, I notice that I haven’t even posted on here in months.

I am hoping to get 2012 off to a good start. I am looking forward to my annual New Year’s fishing trip with my son. It has become a tradition that I hope we carry on for a long long time.

I wish you all a happy and safe 2012. For me I am looking for more time on the water and less time worrying. Photos to come

Some of you may know I spent an inordinately long time building my flats boat from the hull up. I love my boat and would be devastated if anything bad were to happen to it. That being said, I found this article by accident and laughed with the whole family for several minutes.

Titanic II sinks on maiden voyage

I sometimes wonder what people are thinking when they name their children, but to name you boat after one of the worst maritime disasters in history just seems to be poor planning.

Some of the highlights from the article are these:

“When he took his new 16ft boat out for its maiden voyage, it lived up to its namesake, and sank.”

and

“It’s all a bit embarrassing and I got pretty fed up with people asking me if I had hit an iceberg.”

 

I’m thinking that the ocean gods took one look at the name on the little craft and thought to themselves,”Really, really you went there? Well, watch this!” And ZZAAAAAPPPP–sending another Titanic to the abyss.