by Linda Aksomitis

Captain Walt got the first bite. But, it was a disappointment - just a stingray - so back it went.

Captain Walt checked my gear. "Fishing on credit I bet," he laughed.

I stared at him blankly.

"The fish have likely eaten your bait." He grinned. "Reel in and I'll fix you up."

I was back fishing. Then I felt it. It wasn't a gentle little tug like they'd told me to expect at all. It was a full-fledged yank! I started reeling. The demon on the other end of my hook fought back.

"Hey you guys, I can't do this!" I yelled. My wrists ached. The rod bent into a bow I thought would surely snap. It was all I could do to wind the reel. I wondered if my Grandmother would have enjoyed this fight - likely. I worked harder.

"Sure you can," said Captain Walt, getting the net ready.

I leaned back and braced my feet to keep from losing my balance and being pulled in by the fish, instead of getting him out. I reeled some more. It didn't get any easier.

Captain Walt with the SECOND biggest trout of the day.

Finally the fish rose out of the water, hanging off the end of my hook. It was a shark. Just my luck, my first saltwater catch had to be one of the most ferocious in the sea.

"Too bad," said Alan. "I thought maybe you had a Red on the line." Adrenalin still pumping through my veins, I wished it had been a big Red. That would have made my Grandmother proud.

With Captain Walt's guidance, I learned the technique of picking up a shark so it didn't get even with me by taking a bite of my hand. Unlike a fish, it felt leathery, without a slippery slimy texture at all. I gently released it into the water.

We decided to move the boat and drop anchor in a new place. My next hook caught in a reef below the water and snapped. The only good thing was I watched Captain Walt assemble all of the intricate little pieces of a fishing line. (CONTINUE...)