Tidelines – September 10, 2015
I got to see a citation red drum put on a big fight and then come into the boat for a quick photo, but even more impressive was the show of friendship I got to witness.
Dan Duffy (right), of Wilmington, and Capt. Jennings Rose, of North State Guide Service out of Oriental, with a 49″ red drum caught on a live finger mullet while fishing a grass bank in the Pamlico Sound.
Capt. Jennings Rose, of North State Guide Service, was the captain that put us on the 49” red. Dan Duffy, from Wilmington, was the angler that got to enjoy doing battle with the largest red (by far) that he had ever caught. And the show of friendship came compliments of Jon Barkman, also from Wilmington.
So the story of friendship goes like this. Both Dan and Jon were each hoping to catch and release a citation-class red drum on our fishing trip to Oriental. They had both never been on a guided fishing trip before, and neither of them have a lot of extra money or free time to throw around chasing fish.
So our trip was a big deal for both of them. They had been looking forward to the chance to catch a 40”+ red drum since we booked the trip back in early-July, but on this Saturday in mid-August, a little before the true big red drum season kicked in this year, only Dan would get his fish. Jon would not, but just as impressive as the fish was how easily and naturally Jon won an emotional battle I’ve fought several times myself, sometimes successfully and sometimes not.
The first spot in the Pamlico Sound where Jennings stopped provided a few warm-up fish, but it was our second stop on a grass bank facing into the northeast wind that produced Dan’s big red drum. Everyone took turns fighting slot and over-slot red drum on lighter tackle, using the lighter tackle because slot drum were the class of fish Jennings expected to find at this location.
Then on Dan’s fourth or fifth turn, the rod bent down hard but the drag just slowly and steadily came off the reel. I suspected and Jennings even said the word out loud: ray. Then something like head shakes started to happen. And whatever was hooked now started to come up instead of just sitting on the bottom. And then finally, out about 50 yards or so, we saw a very large, orange-colored body with a tail break the surface, and we knew Dan had hooked into a citation class red drum on this lighter tackle.
Dan applied constant pressure, and Jennings coached him at every turn, not doubting Dan’s ability but just wanting to get that big fish to the boat before too much time passed and too much stress was put on the fish. The red took a couple of laps around the boat, including several anchor line dodges. Then finally, with gloves on, Jennings brought the fish in the boat and up to the bow where Dan got his photo taken with “a fish of a lifetime.”
Dan’s red was basically our last fish of the day, and though we soaked some baits through the sunset, Jon’s time never came. He didn’t get his own citation red drum.
Now I’ve been in a similar spot as Jon. I’ve been on a boat where a buddy caught a nice fish (or two or three) and I didn’t. Of course I was happy for the friend, but I also couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. I have found myself having to wrestle with my emotions, sometimes struggling more than just a little. Ultimately my happiness for a friend outweighed the disappointment (at least most of the time), but only after a mental give and take. It took me effort.
Jon, however, never seemed to waver. He never focused on the money or time he spent on a trip where he didn’t catch a big one. The only emotions he showed, and showed without any signs of an internal struggle, were happiness, pride, and satisfaction for Dan.
Impressive fish. Impressive friend. But that’s what friends are for, correct?
And just to make sure I don’t get accused of writing an “after school special,” let me finish by noting that Jon had his chance that day. He had a bite right before Dan where what was clearly a very big fish went on a very big run. Jennings was calling it a big red drum, but before the fish finished its initial run, Jon put his hand on the spool to try and slow the fish and broke the fish off.
Dan, like Jon, also acted like a friend that day, but Dan acted more like the friend I am and the friends I have. He called Jon a “fool” and joked and heckled him repeatedly about losing that fish.
Yes, that too is what friends are for, correct?
