ENC 1101-B3 & B4: Writing for Discovery

It is 6:30 a.m. and the boats have just started up all of there motors to begin checking out for the second day of the SKA National Kingfish Tournament. There was about 400 boats in the tournament and all of them would be looking for the biggest kingfish they could find that would help add on to there fish they caught the day before.

I was fishing with Team K.O. which included my dad, Mike my dad’s friend and his son Brian. We had qualified a month ago to fish in this tournament which was a big surprise to all of us since this was our first year fishing in the SKA. We had also won a tournament back in the spring which was a very exciting moment for all of us.

In the first day of the tournament we caught a 39.45 bound fish which was pretty good for a first day fish. But not the best, there was 20 fish brought in that weighed over 50 pounds. But we were very happy with our first days catch.

Now we were going trough the check out and getting ready for another 12 hr. day on the water. Thankfully the seas were flat at the time so we would be able to run the 40 miles we had to. We started to move forward in the line and started and once we got checked out we made sure everything was strapped down and ready to go.

Once we hit the end of the no wake zone we opened up the motor and took off. It was pretty smooth for the first quarter mile but one thing I forgot about was the other 200 boat going the same way as us and the wake that they put out was making the water way pretty rough. And it stayed that way for the 40 mile we had to run it and with all the boat fumes that where in the air it felt like I was breathing straight from a tail pipe.

When we got to the 25’s which is the name of the oil rig that we were going to fish from we looked around and there was already 50 plus boats out there. All of them had already started fishing and some boats were already hooked up with a fish. This was a great sign that the fish would be biting non-stop all day.

The first bait we put out got hit within 5 minutes and it took another 15 minutes to get it by the boat. Once it was next to the boat we realized it was about a 30 bound fish and since we knew it would take a fins bigger than that we decided to let it go. Letting the fish go was very exciting because when we got it next to the boat it was splashing water everywhere. So I grabbed some glove that are made for handling fish and grabbed the tail of the 30 bound King. The first try it just flipped its fin right out of my hand. Then I got it again the time I grabbed it with 2 hands and pulled to the side of the boat. Once the hooks were pulled out of the side of the fish I threw it head first pack into the water. Watching it take off and within 5 seconds it was out of sight.

After another 3 hours and another 8 fish all of which were above 25 bounds each. We were all getting a little worried that we may not get the fish we need. Then next thing we know another fish hits but it acted like another smaller fish. So I started to fight it the it took off, tearing line of the reel faster than any fish I have seen before.

I yelled back at me dad, “Turn around quick!”
He said, “Alright we are getting all of the lines in right now.”
Then Mike said, “All the lines are in, let’s go.”
I started yelling command on where to go and what to do, “Dad, straight go straight” Then the fish started getting closer and we all saw a flash in the water of it ,”It’s a big one. Grab the gaff.”
“Let me know when it is close enough” Brian yelled, “And I will gaff it.”
“It is coming by the boat aging, get ready.” I yelled.

Brian then went to gaff it but it was just out of reach, and once the fish saw the gaff hit the water it took off running another 100 yards of line. By this time 20 minutes had passed. Then after another 5 minutes of fighting the fish I finally got I close again.

“Alright here it is again.” I said then the fish went under the boat, “Dad back up, Back up”
“I’m going”, he said.
“Alright Brian don’t miss him,” Mike said.
“Here it gaff him hurry”, I yelled to Brian.
“Got him, I got him” He yelled, then pulled it in the boat.

Once the fish hit the deck of the boat everyone started yelling out in happiness because we all knew that this fish might give us the weight we needed to get on the board in the tournament.

By the time we got the fish in the bag and all of the equipment beck into the boat it was 3 o’clock and we had had 40 miles to run. When we started off it we a pretty smooth ride but after 5 miles the seas picked up to 3-5 feet with an occasional 6 footer. That made it a very exciting ride back in. We were running about 30 m.p.h. on the way in and every wave we hit soaked us. But we were not getting beat up since we had some bean bags that made the ride pretty smooth but wet.

When we pulled up to the weigh in we all pulled out the fish and got our picture taken with the fish. Then I walk the fish up to the stage and hung the dead fishes body on the hook that went to the scale. Then along with all the spectators in the crowd I watch the digital read out of the fishes weight. It was 55.72 bound which put us in first place. And that is where we stayed throughout the tournament.

When it was all over we walked away with a brand new boat with twin motors. That was valued at $80,000. And everyone came up to congratulate us, even the pro fishing team which I thought was pretty cool.