The Kamikaze Redfish

Fishing trips can sometimes be memorable not because of the number or size of fish landed, but because something totally unexpected happens. About 40 years ago I was fishing off the north end of Anclote Key. My gear consisted of a live shrimp suspended beneath a bobber, on medium spinning tackle. I always enjoyed fishing with a bobber because I liked the way it would twitch slightly, and then descend beneath the surface as a fish took the bait. When that happened on this trip I set the hook with gusto, and the mono, which was probably 5 years old, parted just above the bobber. Since the bobber started to cruise along slowly, it was clear that I had hooked the fish. I quickly tied on a 52M Mirrolure and made a cast trying to snag the line below the bobber. There was an immediate hookup and, recognizing the frailty of my tackle, I gingerly brought the fish to the boat. I then netted a 20 inch Redfish. When I examined it I found that my lure was clamped firmly in its mouth, right next to my shrimp! So I had caught the one that got away, before it actually got away.