Kasia�s Keeper

Type: Chesapeake
Region: Eastern
Location: Chesapeake Bay

It was an afternoon trip, the Brawler II pulled away from the dock at 12:30 on the nose, and although the weatherman promised rain, the sun shone on us during the entire trip. At the helm Captain Bo, on deck his 1st mate Ryan and strolling about here and there a trusted 4 leg companion, Cash, whose favorite trick is to snatch away sandwiches from those who are foolish enough to leave their food unguarded. My crew of six included family, friends, my granddaughter, Kasia, and yours truly. All were excited to be underway and all were anticipating a great catch and true to form Capt. Bo would deliver!

It was a short ride along the Eastern Shore side of the bay when the engine slowed, and the 1st mate began sending out a spread of 6 arm umbrella rigs. We are on a flood tide and I�m thinking things are going to start out slow, boy was I wrong. 15 minutes hadn�t passed before the first pull down. Kasia�s is on the rod and since this is her first rodeo, and all of 7 years old, she tires quickly and Jack, another 7-year-old, takes the rod and lands a healthy 20 incher. Wow, one in the box already, 11 to go. Not more another 15 minutes later, a second knock down, Maria is on it and pulls in our second fish. 15 minutes later a third fish then a fourth, 4 in the box already and we just got started! Suddenly, 3 rods go down at once, Jim is on one, Steve is on one and I take the 3rd. I pull in a 20 incher barely legal, and Jim a 28 incher Catch of the Day! Steve is still struggling with what seems to be a monster size fish. However, he lands a double, two 22 inchers.

Things are looking good and although the bite has stopped, everyone is smiling and bragging about their catch, that is everyone accept Kasia. She has yet to pull in a keeper. Now there�s a changeup. All lines are pulled in and we move to a new location and before Ryan could get all lines out 3 rods do down and then a fourth and fifth! Fish are flopping all around the deck. Some fish get thrown in the cooler and others go back in the water, one of which is Kasia�s throw back. The count is 11 in the box, we need to pull in one more keeper. While I�m giving a dishearten child a heart-to-heart letting her know she�ll get another opportunity� FISH ON! Quickly, Kasia is on the rod and with a little help from grandpa she pulls in a 20-inch keeper! Now the sun is shining on a face wearing an ear-to-ear smile. Job well done.