I’m quite sure I was born on a boat but actual fishing started for me as an excuse to get some one on one time with my dad. I’d be 4 years old and up at the crack of sunlight just to get the day together. Daddy’s girl? Maybe.
To this day my dad will tell everyone how we would be less than an hour into our morning and I’d say, “I wonder what mom packed us for lunch”. But the calm of the water and the early morning was no match for me. I’d be sound asleep — obviously still have the rod in my hand. My dad would let me sleep because he enjoyed the silence and break of “but why” questions. When he couldn’t contain his inner child any longer he would send me into fight or flight by tugging on my line at the back of the boat. That joke has never gotten old for him — it has for the rest of us.
Fast forward to today and I’m lucky if I get a chance to sit down, let alone nap. I am not a confident Captain on the ocean so I take on the deck hand role. Ocean fishing is a completely different beast and I am loving it.
My husband and I bought our first ocean boat in 2020. We have a serious case of two-footitis and have gone through a few since then.
The first “bigger” boat we bought was a 15 Foot Legend Angler. We bought the boat under the condition it would just be a lake boat. Somehow our first launch was in the ocean. We headed to crescent beach area to let the kids jig for sole. The day could not have gone any better. Beautifully calm water, sun shining down on us and a humpback whale and her calf go right beside our boat. While it truly put the size of our boat (two-footitis beginning) into perspective, I think that was the moment I was hooked. I’ve never missed a chance to be on the ocean since.
In 2021 we made the move to Nanaimo, BC and could not be happier. I will always appreciate the calm and beauty of our BC lakes but there is just something about the ocean that truly makes it my happy place. Every time you leave the dock a different adventure awaits.
We have two boys, Noah (8) and Finn (6), and get them out on the boat every chance we get. It used to take bribes of new Lego to get them to go fish with us, now they really actually look forward to a day on the water. It could be the boat upgrade but I’d rather think we have passed along our passion. I have always loved fishing but I can honestly say I never thought I would become someone who plans vacations around fishing regulations. July 15th I always know where I will be.
Keep your tip up.
Heartly Fishing 