t-day fishing

I cant recall many specific thanksgiving day memories from growing up, but we did have a few loose traditions that I can remember. I think we usually ended up at my grandparents house with my aunt and uncle and cousins. since we all lived in the same town, it wasnt really a festive reunion kind of gathering as it might be for families spread out more, but it was nice.

but before the usual family get-together, my dad and I had a bit of a thanksgiving day tradition of our own. relatively early in the morning we would head out to the beach with our surf rods and fish for the jacks and whatnot in the wash. usually by the end of november our favorite beach was quite blustery and cold (for south florida) and the usual dead-of-summer glass-like calm of the ocean was nowhere to be found. but there was usually a school of willing jacks, who would hit our rattle traps and spoons with gusto. they were relatively small, but catching two at a time was always fun.

one of the very few things I miss about florida is the ocean. it and its inhabitants were a source of endless fascination for me, and its beauty is unparalleled, even in the winter winds.