Hunt Smart - Fish Hard

I’ve been asked if I ever did any Peacock Bass Fishing and asked if I could write about. I told him I thought I already did but I would try and write it again.

Years ago when I lived in New Jersey, my Uncle and I fished a lot together. I was going to miss fishing with him because he and my Aunt were moving to Florida to retire. I fished with him a lot and I always got a kick out of how he would catch Largemouth bass with real frogs. Over the years he showed me how to hook the frogs and how to wait that extra second before I set the hook on the bass.

My uncle and aunt had moved to Florida and I still fished the same places we would fish together. It was okay, but it just wasn’t the same. About three months had passed and I got a letter from my uncle. He told the fishing was unreal. He told me in his letter that he lives near a canal that’s in his back yard. He told me it’s loaded with Peacock Bass. These bass fight harder than regular bass. He also told me the Peacock Bass have big black lines on their sides. The thing that got to me was when I read the bass love live frogs. Right then and there I wish I were fishing with him in Florida.

At the end of the letter he asked whenever I am ready to fly down to fish just let him know. I got on the phone and called him. My uncle told me to make plans to come down, and that he and my aunt was going to pay for my plane fare. I didn’t have to bring any fishing stuff, he had it all. You talk about being excited, I was excited. I told him I will see if I can get off from work and get back to him. He just told me when I can get off to fish they will still be there.

I went to work the next day and asked my boss and I got to go in two weeks. I called my uncle and he made all the arrangements. I got my friend to drop me off at the airport. After a few plane changes I saw my uncle at the airport. We talked all the way back to his house about fishing. We pull into the driveway and I could see the canal in the back yard. I saw a long dock, and my uncle said that’s where he fishes from. After I unpacked we went and looked at the dock. I was excited. I wanted to fish now but he told morning time is the best.

In the morning I was going down two blocks away to buy frogs. They sell frogs just like they sale minnows. On the way back to the house my uncle told me about the alligators that swim in the canal. He told me if I stay on the dock I don’t have to worry about the alligators. I told him not a problem. We get back to the house and he gave me all the stuff I needed. He asked me if I remember how to hook the frogs, I said yes I do. My uncle, who was not feeling good, said he was going to lie down for a little while and check in on me later.

I got the frogs in a bucket and two poles in the other hand. I see a patch of lily pads off to the right of the dock. I hook a frog and cast in. I’m watching the frog swimming around and before I knew it, it was fish on! I caught my first Peacock Bass. I caught a few more and I loss some.

I was out of frogs and just then off to my left an alligator comes up on the hill next to the dock. This alligator has a frog sticking out of his mouth. I want the frog but I ain’t going near the alligator for anything.

As I’m looking at this alligator, I took a little drink from my flask. For whatever reason, I decided to pour some on the alligator’s mouth. The alligator let go of the frog and ran back into the water.

I went and got the frog. I baited the frog on the hook. I missed the bass with the frog but as I was ready to leave I hear this noise by the dock. It was that same alligator again. I knew it from the two white marks on its head and now I saw it had TWO FROGS in its mouth. Laughter is good for the soul.

Until next week, -H.S.F.H. -L.M.

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