What can be said about the great day we had Sunday? My family and I spent the afternoon down at Hunter's beach and capped it off with one of those awesome pizzas. After dinner my 9 year old, Claire, and I went out to try our luck on the mud. We got out to "The Spot" at about 7:30/8:00 to find we were all alone. We anchored up in 30 fow and within 5 min Claire's yelling,"I'm under!" A nice 16.5" eye. She had the magic touch because it didn't matter what rod she had in her hands that bobber went down. I wasn't to be left out forever, and we had doubles. I landed a fat 24" or so going as fast as I could to get over and help her in her battle with her pig. The poor girl is there with the end of the rod between her legs, right hand choked as far up the rod as she could, trying to real that thing in. With my fish back in the water, I grab the net and turn around to see the rod tip snap up in the air. I was crushed. Claire says frankly,"Dad, that was a 28 incher. I saw it! That one would have gone on my wall." I laughed. I did not see the fish and so this fish story begins and I'm sure she will be telling it for years to come. By the nights end, we had only 2 in the livewell but landed a dozen or more overs. We got back to the fish house and first thing she tells her mom,"I lost a 30 incher." That's my girl!
These are memories that will stay with you both forever. Just goes to show ya, the catch and release program (without the "catch" part, unfortunately) really works! The fish was only in the water a few minutes and it already grew 2 inches!!!!
Way to go Willy. I am very proud of the 'lost 30 inch story'. That girl has real promise. Sounds like a great day. I am missing Hunter's and buy Bobber and Jon colds one real bad. Try to keep Jason outta toruble too. Have fun, Malmo Mike
The pizza is a must have for me everytime I'm up. Yeah, Claire's stretching was quite surprising. I had no idea that she was picking up on her mother's bad habits.
I had no idea that she was picking up on her mother's bad habits. 
