With deep respect, I honor the lady

This afternoon I decided to head out into the beautiful noon sun and fish the Hillsborough River a bit. Though the river has been barren every time I've fished it so far this year, I was hopeful that the cold front that came through yesterday would push some of the fish out of the bay and into the tributary in search of warmer water. I tied on a 1/4 oz Yo-zuri crystal minnow, (black top, silver sides) and walked down to the water. It was low tide.

There are two docks down near where I fish. I worked them both with about 12 casts each, starting at 9 o'clock on a watch dial and working clockwise to about 3 o'clock. It was on a cast to about 1 o'clock on the second dock that a fish simply crushed my lure and took off in the opposite direction. My line was screaming off the reel. Moments later, the fish launched itself into the air in an attempt to shake the Yo-zuri out of its mouth. It was a ladyfish. A big one.

When the ladyfish hit the water, my line went slack, and I knew I had lost the fish.

And then the fish proved me wrong by jumping out of the water again. My line tightened up and I knew my hook-set had to be true.

Each time I got the fish within 15 or so yards of me, it would peel off some drag and jump. We repeated this for a good five minutes, part of which I had an audience for, as two maintenance workers saw the commotion and came down to the dock to watch.

Eventually I got the fish to the side of the dock. I hoisted it out briefly to unhook it, measured the beast, and then rolled him back into the water.

A 22.5 inch ladyfish--my biggest ever, and the first fish of any kind that I've pulled out of the Hillsborough.

Recharged in my belief that the Hillsborough actually does hold fish, I commenced fishing, but not another bite. It deserves mention that while I was fishing the first dock, the biggest bull redfish I've ever seen (outside of TV) swam right by my feet. It was so big it startled me.

Here's hoping for more Hillsborough catches in the future.