Florida Part 3: Holden's Big Catch!

Holden really enjoyed the dock by our condo. It jutted out into the intercoastal water. There were often fishermen that he liked to watch. One afternoon after a swim, it was just Holden and me, so I asked if he'd like to go out on the dock before heading back to get ready for dinner.

There was a really nice grandpa with several long poles hanging into the water. He introduced himself as "Mick" and said he had two grown sons that lived far away. He told me to soak up this time with my babies, because "One day they will call you up from some far off place asking for pizza money." He asked Holden if he'd like to help him fish, which of course was met with excitement on Holden's part!

The first bite was a little fish. The man told me the name/type but I don't remember now. Holden was very proud of his catch! Mick asked him if he'd like to throw it back or feed it to a big bird (maybe a heron?) that frequents the dock for this reason. As a child I always felt so sorry for the flopping fish and promptly threw them back in, relieved when I could see them go under the water. Holden's response? Jumped up and down, clapped his hands, and yelled, "FEED IT TO THE BIRD!!!"

Here is the poor little fish before he became the bird's dinner.

I have to admit, it was pretty cool seeing the bird get the fish. It swallowed it whole, and we could see it slowly making its way down his long, skinny throat. Here they are throwing the fish to him. (Her?) :)

After that, Mick noticed one of his poles had a tug. It started to really bend, and we realized it was something big! He was so nice, letting Holden help him reel it in. I was afraid it would get away with the amount of time it took for little Holden to turn the reel, but they got it: a pretty good-sized catfish! Mick said Holden must have been good luck because he caught two fish in a row.

Here is our catfish. Mick told us it was a "sail" catfish because of the spiky fin on top of his back, like a shark. He said the birds won't touch them because they are so sharp they will cut them. Holden was a little afraid of the catfish after Mick told him it was sharp, but we showed him how to hold it far away from his body. He was SO proud!

Moments like these just reconfirm that there really are good people in the world. We may never see Mick again, but he meant the world to Holden that day by his simple acts of kindness and patience. I know Holden will always remember him and their fish adventures. It is one of the memories that he talks about most from our vacation.