Greg and Annie Holcombe fished with us today and were generous enough to invite my family along with outdoor writer Sue Cocking. We ran strait to the edge and the water was blue with a good current. Wes and James only had a couple baits out when Annie hooked a sailfish that was jumping all over. After the release we set the lines out and this time everything got bit. We had seven lines out and had something on every single one. Two dolphin, a sail, a tuna, and three bonitas all going different directions. Some how we managed to get everything. We put the lines back out and missed a sail and got another tuna and some bonitas. By now the sun was high enough to give us good light to look for cobias so we decided to change tactics. After forty minutes of searching we found a big school! There were some big fish in the school and when the first bait hit the water a fish close to fifty pounds came up and grabbed it. I knew this was a world record for girls under ten so in order for the fish to qualify, Laurel (8) had to do everything herself with no other person touching the rod or assisting in any way. She hooked the big fish and the fight was on! We continued hooking fish until we had five of them on. I had to stay with the school and with everyone fighting nice fish Laurel had her hands full. We had four big fish in the box when Laurel (and her fish) began to tire. Finally after forty five minutes we got a shot at her cobia, but the gaff pulled out and I had to pull away to stay with the school. After catching and releasing a few more, Laurel was able to get her fish within range and this time Wes put it in the boat!! Everyone was so excited! My brother came over on a small boat and I would point where to cast and he began catching cobias, it was awosome! We still needed another fish to get the limit so Annie put a bait out and hooked a real nice one. As with Laurel's fish, I had to stay with the school and could not help our angler with the boat. Every time Annie would get the fish close, I had to pull away to be able to help my brother. Finally Annie had the big fish beat, Wes gaffed it and threw it in the boat. It hit the deck with a thud! After Freddie got his limit we headed to the dock to weigh the girls fish. My daughter Laurel's cobia weighed in at forty-eight pounds, smashing the old world record of thirty-seven! Annie's fish ended up weighing sixty-five! It was a wonderful day for my family and I, none of which would have been possible without the kindness and generosity of Greg Holcombe! Thank you so very much.
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