They say that woman value nurture while men value independence. It is often played out in our media's stereotypes. The loving caring mother who cooks and the adventurous father who likes fishing and hunting. Men are logical and women are emotional, etc.
Well, I have a neighbor who fits that manly profile, unlike myself. I am into academia and have several degrees on my hands and he is into the security business. I am young he is old. Over the last few years, we have gradually become good friends. Our wives are in book club together. My son loves to go across the street to play with their dog and the chickens (don't tell the HOA). We talk and I realize, he is a free spirit and one of the funniest guys I have ever met. If I could write and sell a movie about him, I would. He has been extremely helpful when I need to borrow a tool or figure out its name (say it with me.... "screw driver"..... "Oh yeah, I knew that"). He likes to hunt and fish and I recently discovered he picked up a new hobby in that arena.....
Shark Fishing from the shore! Though I was shocked, I was not surprised (is that an oxymoron). When I enquired as to why I had not benefited from a bounty of shark steaks, the tale got even more twisted. He did not kill them. He measures them, tags them, sends them back into the water after taking an assortment of photographs to prove that he actually did it. He fishes for bragging rights. (Nothing like telling the friends around the water cooler or at the bar after a couple of shots about the shark you wrangled that past weekend. I am sure it is more believable at the bar.) In fact, he does not even like to eat fish of any sort. Hmm, a man of mystery.
Well, after describing this whacked adventure and showing me his scab from a scaly shark abrasion, he asked me to go along. I gladly accepted and began to think of a time that I could go. That time was two days ago.
Never mind that I woke up with a big fever earlier that day, I was not missing out! (I called and got permission first, didn't want to make them sick).
He loaded up his equipment which included a variety of poles, pvc pipes, other fishing gear, salted shrimp for bait, and a kayak. His other crazy friend came up and we began the drive to the beach. We got out, started cutting up the shrimp which was used to catch small fish to use as shark bait.
Is that right to manipulate the food chain like that? Wonder what kind of bait would be used to catch bait to catch me? Hmmm. If anyone wants to catch me, use some money and go to the Mini dealership and purchase a Mini Cooper convertible. Put that car in my front yard with the keys inside and then you have me. That will work... Money = Cooper = Catching me. I dare you to try it... C'mon, be a sport.
Anyway, after we caught some bait, we hooked it onto a rod and reel which was placed in the pvc pipe standing in the sand. Then we took the bait and hook out 300 or so yards out into the water and dropped it. Then, all we had to do was sit and wait.
Sure enough, they took the bait. It was all fine and dandy until that shark started heading down the shore a few yards toward a nearby family fishing with their kids. We kept running after it, reeling it in while yelling to those innocently standing by, "Shark!" After much effort, it finally hit land. We drug it on shore (I say we. I let them do it. I declared myself the cameraman). Everyone was looking at us like we were heroes (or a bunch of dumb asses). He got measured, tagged, and photographed (If I was the shark, I would consider myself screwed too). This guy drew a crowd like a celebrity. The innocent family running for their lives earlier decided they wanted to gather around it and pose for a picture with the shark. They did. After we pushed the shark back in, it wasn't too long that the family got right back in with it. Smart?
A while later, a little after dark, the second reel started moving and this was going to be my time to shine. I jumped at the chance to get this one, having already been part of the rest of the process, I didn't feel like I was cheating or anything. I jumped up and started cranking. In the meantime I was getting outfitted with various belts to keep the shark from taking the pole and to keep me from jabbing the pole into my nuts and started working it, only to discover that the shark caught on to the game. He left the bait. So, back in the kayak to take the bait out.
A little later, there was some more action on the rod. This time it was for real! On with the belts! On with the crank action! It seemed like it took for ever, me cranking while at the same time declaring that there was no way I was going to touch it! No Freakin Way!
It got closer and I got more tired only to eventually meet him face to face. They pulled him on shore, screwed him like they did the other one, and somehow convinced me it was okay to kneel by him and hold him by the tail while they took a picture. He flipped and wiggled a bit. I screamed like a school girl. They told me the picture didn't come out good and wanted me to touch him again. I compromised with just kneeling beside him. We pushed him back in. Okay, they did and I watched the shark try to give my friend a nibble. And then he swam away.
I caught a shark and grabbed him by the tail. He was 5'8" long. The effects of that day are lasting even two days later. I got a boost of self-confidence and my anxiety has diminished. Hey, I can do anything if I can reel in a big ass shark! No worries.
