I get a load of emails every week in my inbox, and I try to answer as many as possible. Typically when folks send photos I might not hit the reply button, but I do file the photos and captions to run in either the weekly video fishing forecast on Thursdays at noon, or I’ll prep them for future publication in The Fisherman.
Word of warning however, I have about 80 reader photos with captions socked away in a folder for future print, and not a whole lot of space in which to publish. Keep an eye out down the road, as some of the really great pics in higher resolution may be used in articles as well, possibly even a cover shot. All I can say is, hang in there!
In late August, I received a great photo from Dominic Bolognese of him and his son Dom with a summer striper at the Jersey Shore. Sometimes, a story comes my way that’s just too priceless not to share immediately. And given the fact that the kiddies are heading back to school – or in my case, planning a wedding, and moving into a new apartment in Brooklyn – it’s a great story about time spent with family, and how fishing together means so much to so many.
Growing up, my father used to take me fishing at the beach. Some of my best memories with him were made with a fishing rod in my hand, standing along the surf and waiting for that bite. At the time, I probably didn’t realize just how much those days would eventually mean to me.
My father passed away five years ago, and since becoming a father myself, those memories have taken on an entirely different meaning. Now I get to take my son fishing and give him some of those same experiences my dad gave me. We have our own simple way of doing it—we float bobbers in the surf with bait and catch striped bass and fluke. There’s nothing complicated about it, but watching that bobber disappear and seeing the excitement on my son’s face is something I’ll never forget.
Every time we’re standing together on the beach, part of me thinks about my dad. I wish he could be there to see his grandson fishing and enjoying the same thing he taught me to love. In a way, though, I feel like a piece of him is there with us.
Fishing has become more than catching fish for me. It’s about memories, family, and passing something from one generation to the next. My father gave that to me, and now being able to give it to my son means more to me than I can really put into words.
I wanted to share our photo with The Fisherman Magazine because I know there are probably a lot of fathers and sons out there who understand exactly what those days on the water can mean.
Thank you for taking the time to read our story.
- – Dom Bolognese
Have a story to share? Email jhutchinson@thefisherman.com.
