Fishing with the family is the best!

In the early 70's when I was just a deckhand I first met Gerald Cohen, he was 7 then and fishing with his brothers and sisters. Since those early fishing trips when he was just a teenager he and his family have continued through the years coming down to Islamorada to fish with me. Last Wednesday Gerald brought his family, Wife Liz, daughter's Hannah and Liat and son, Benjamin.

The girls wanted to fish in flat calm seas. I understood perfectly. So we took my 28' First Growth to the backcountry in search of action for the youngsters where we could stay in the protected calm waters of the bay rather than venturing out to the open seas and the swells. Fishing the transition zone where Florida Bay meets the Gulf of Mexico we had plenty of action. Spanish Mackerel, Mangrove Snapper and Grouper were caught. Snapper were kept for dinner. Everyone had fun using the Fox Bonefish Trek and Fox Rage Ultralight rods fitted with Diablo 350 reels.

How 'Bout It was my offshore
charterboat back in the 80's and 90's

no way I am going to hold that fish

Ben and Liat  used the Fox Rage Ultralight Diablo 350 combos

Gerald and Liz Cohen with a Spanish Mackerel

Hannah Cohen took this of an Osprey

Hannah, Gerald, Ben and Liat all caught
Spanish Macks on Bonefish Trek Diablo 350 combos

I had chummed the kids up telling them we might be able to catch a shark or two and now they couldn't wait so off we went to some channels to set up. With a nice incoming tide it did not take long for the Sharks to sniff us out. In fact they swarmed us. Blacktip Sharks were perfect for these young kids to catch and learn how to hook and manage the tackle properly.

Ben had caught his first Sailfish back in December with me and now wanted something bigger than the 25lb Blacktips.  It wasn't long before Ben had a big fish steadily taking line. We dropped the anchor buoy and gave chase. It turned out to be a 150 lb Lemon Shark. Ben was now a happy angler. Ben and his Sisters used the Sailfish Trek Diablo 750 combos to do the fishing today. The Sailfish Trek travel rod is eight feet long and allowed the kids to clear the outboard motors and move around the boat easily without letting the line touch anything to cause broken lines.

I am a firm believer in these 8' rods. And as usual the Diablo 750's never missed a turn.

12 year old Ben Cohen does battle with a big Lemon Shark.

Liat never stopped fishing. a hardcore young angler

the 8' Sailfish Trek rod gives young anglers and
old an easy way around the boat with the long reach

Ben's Lemon Shark

Hannah Cohen with her Blacktip

After about 30 sharks the kids were still going strong. And now 9 year old Liat was hooked up with an 85lb Tarpon. Had to toss the anchor buoy and give chase again. Liat did a great job and dad held onto her back. She was really excited. Great job Liat!!!

Liat used a Fox Sailfish Trek Diablo 750
combo to catch her Tarpon

Gerald touches the trace for daughter
Liats first ever Tarpon release

congrads to Liat

In the end even Hannah,14, who seemed not to interested in fishing, got into the act and released a few of the hungry Sharks. We finished up with a few more sharks then everybody took naps on the ride back.

Captain Skip Nielsen