Waterfront: Little Fish, Big Memories
Grateful. That’s the best word to describe how I was feeling as we walked up to the Fish City Pride, a drift boat that takes large groups of anglers fishing out of Hillsborough Inlet in Pompano Beach, Florida. I was with my two sons, Maxon, who is 11 and Cooper, who had just turned 10.
If you know much about me, you know Cooper has Down syndrome, and this past July we took a group of kids on the second-annual DADS (Dads Appreciating Down Syndrome) fishing trip.
Having a kid with special needs is much like having a second (or third) job. There’s an extra layer of doctor’s appointments, therapists to see, school considerations to debate, and delays in life skills that typical kids master at a much younger age.
At times, it can all feel overwhelming. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful wife and partner, as well as a network of incredible friends and family. The gift of stepping aboard a boat for a little fishing with a little less worry, however, is one that is extremely appreciated.
This trip would have never happened if it weren’t for my close friend Anthony DiGiulian, who spearheaded the idea and used his contacts in the fishing industry to organize the event: Pelagic Fishing Apparel for its contributions and clothing; Capt. Skip Dana, who owns and operates Fish City Pride; the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida for picking up hotel rooms and keeping the event on track; and Troy Ganter, owner of Papa’s Raw Bar, which hosted our group for an amazing dinner.
Whenever someone compliments me or my wife, Diane, on our kids, I always say: “It takes a village.” And we have a pretty awesome village.
I was standing beside Dana as the kids got ready to board the Fish City Pride, and he was beaming with a wide smile. “You know, when I was 7 or 8, my dad pulled me out of school and took me down to this dock and surprised me with a day of fishing,” he told me. Dana recounted every detail of that trip some 40 years ago like it happened last week, down to the number and species of fish they caught. That day aboard a headboat helped ignite his fishing passion which became a lifelong pursuit and a viable occupation. I got the sense Dana was trying to provide the same sort of experience for the kids boarding his boat.
As we tossed lines, I felt lucky to be a part of this group and lucky for the bluebird skies and light winds. Conditions were ideal for finding some snappers and grunts for the kids to pull on. The mates and volunteers helped each angler get his or her rod and reel (donated by Danco) ready and load their bait containers with fresh-cut squid.
DiGiulian’s enthusiasm was through the roof. He, too, was beaming with positive energy. “Cooper, you going to catch another grouper?” he asked my boy, harking back to last year’s outing. Cooper jumped up and gave him a big high-five.
I thanked DiGiulian for about the hundredth time, and he said what he always says: “You don’t have to thank me. I’m doing this for me. These kids give me so much love and joy. I’m happy to be out here spending time with them.”
Dana dialed in the fish, and all down the rail, kids were hooked up. As rods bent, screams of joy echoed down the side deck. I kept having to wipe away tears of gratitude from my cheeks.
Dana and the mates unhooked fish, called out catches and joined in the fun. Then out of nowhere the boat lunged forward. Dana hustled back to the wheelhouse. I looked around and didn’t see my son. My first thought was, please don’t be Cooper. I followed Dana toward the cabin and sure enough, Cooper had managed to jump into the captain’s chair, put the diesel engine in gear and hammer down the throttle.
I was mortified. Dana just laughed. The good-natured captain got a kick out of it and thankfully there was no harm done.
Capt. Cooper was relegated back to the rail, even though he “just wanted to go fast.” As I dropped a bait over for Cooper, the mate came by and asked my son, “Did you just jump in the captain’s chair and hit the gas?”
Cooper nodded.
“Man, I’ve always wanted to do that!” Everyone had a laugh.
We hosted two half-day trips, which is perfect for the kids. Just as they start to lose interest, it’s time to reel in the baits, and head back to the dock. Every person on the trip caught fish and made lasting memories. It’s amazing what a small bottom fish can do for the soul. We all got some great photos of the young boys and girls hoisting fish—photos and memories that will live on for the rest of our lives.
Cooper and I headed to the hotel to cool off and shower up while my older son Max went back out with the afternoon group. He caught 14 fish in the morning and wanted to catch 16 more to reach a total of 30. He did just that, achieving his goal with only a few minutes left to fish at the end of the day. I was a proud dad.
We take a lot of things for granted in life, including fishing. You don’t need a million-dollar boat or a massive fish to have a memorable day on the water. Fishing with these young anglers and their families is a great reminder of that. And a reminder of how lucky we are to be able to get out there at all, and to enjoy some bonding time with good, caring people.
If you would like to support our fishing event, please consider a donation to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida (dsacf.org).
This article originally appeared in the November 2024 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.
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Source: https://www.powerandmotoryacht.com/sportfishing/waterfront-little-fish-big-memories
