The shark tale

Each year we make a beach trip, John spends weeks (and I'm not even kidding) planning his fishing for the trip. He shops online, he makes trips to local stores, he talks to people. He STAYS informed and tries to be ready for any and all fishing scenarios once he's there. Pretty much the first thing he packs is his fishing gear. I could say he's never been so proactive like this when it comes to me, but I'm not gonna.

Well, once we arrive in Destin and on the way to the beach house, we must stop to purchase a fishing license so that all the components are assembled. And by the first afternoon his pursuit of the perfect fishing experience begins. Well, this year he considered it an epic fail. There were too many factors he couldn't control such as, too many people on the beach, too many people in the water, the waves kicking the crap out of him as he tried to throw the line. And then one afternoon a man and his kids tried to snorkel around John to see if they could watch a fish grab the bait. He was sooo unhappy about that. Then one morning he went to the bay to try to catch red fish. He caught no fish, not one fish, two fish, or a red fish, or a blue fish. As our week wore on, it became evident the fishing was crappy. Which made him a bit grumpy. But he did have one highlight. On our second night, he caught the one and only black tipped shark willing to play the game. It was his first shark of the week and his third overall. And once again it was unforgettable. Just as you'd expect shark catching to be. Of course it was documented. But because that night I forgot my phone and my camera, Melanie, Lauren and Mollie, got the money shots. Thank goodness, cause if not, John would have nothing but a story to tell. And it's been my experience that a story's always better with pictures.

So the way it works is, he wades out into the surf with this huge fishing rod and throws the bait out as far as he can into the dark of night. Then he comes back to shore, puts the rod in the holder, and we wait. It's my favorite part. John has the patience to wait for hours. I do not.


Then it gets exciting. The rod tips, John sets the hook, and the fight is on to get the thing that took the bait to the shore. Finally, it gets close and we see what it is. Then, someone's gotta grab it.....but it ain't gonna be me.


So who's it gonna be?


People and dogs got excited to see.


And then Austin jumped in for it.


He wrestled it down. But these suckers are super strong.


And don't easily give up.


Then the scariest part comes when the hook has to be taken out of his mouth while avoiding the teeth.


It's a 2 man job.


Austin looks as if he's thinking about hugging it out.


Nah, just kiddin.


But it's a delicate transfer.


He never gave up.


Finally, the money shot.


Just before he went back into the water, Ila wanted a closer look.


But then she changed her mind.


Then it was back to the water for the little but scary cartilaginous fish.


Then we ended the night with a cute picture of Austin and Lauren.


And after the catching of the shark, this is what my cousin Joe concluded. "So now we know without a doubt there are sharks in the gulf." Yep. I mean we already knew, but John confirmed it. And yet the whole week we swam and kayaked all day long. Even though we were sharing our swimming hole with em.

I really don't have an end to this post, unless it's "stupid is as stupid does."

Sounds like an end to me.