King: Want a thrill? Try fishing from a kayak

• By SAM KING
• Special to The Advocate
• Published: Oct 13, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

There are few pleasant things you do for the first time after reaching the age where you have more pills than thrills.

Bull riding and hang gliding are out of the question. I’m going to wait until I’m 90 to try hang gliding. I won’t have nearly as many years to lose.

Although far from the challenge for the afore mentioned items better classified as death wishes, fishing for red fish out of a kayak is — and was — very tempting for one who has already lost more agility than some people ever found.

I have problems moving around in a bateau and have shuddered at the thought of hopping into a canoe and fishing — unless I’m wearing a bathing suit and want to get wet.

My son Sammy and his family have started kayaking, as have many people, usually those younger and more agile than I. Then he carried it a step farther, venturing into the salt water marshes and fishing for red fish.

After a recent good morning of bass fishing, he suggested red fishing out of the kayak for that evening. At first I was a little reluctant, somewhat insisting that his wife Sharon go.

After Sharon more than graciously bowed out, we headed to Houma and southward to a canal near storm-swept Dulac.

You almost felt guilty for going fishing with so many signs of devastation from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike everywhere. But, life, as good as possible, was returning with a few businesses crowded and several vehicles parked at boat launches from Theriot to Dulac to Cocodrie.

A kayak was placed partially in the edge of the marsh water and partially in the soft mixture of mud and shells. Me getting situated in the kayak was a teetering experience. I felt like a jumping jack in a bowl of Jello.

Sammy gave the kayak a shove and there I was — kayaking, just like I knew what I was doing, teetering and tottering from left to right, all the time while wondering what to do with this “broom stick” with curved, rubber paddles on each end.

It took about 10 minutes before I could sit and relax without sending out small wakes. Then, I tried to reach the fishing rod without making waves.

Once I was ready to cast, there was the inevitable thought — what will I do if I get a big fish hooked?

I found out shortly with, thankfully, a speckled trout the first to be caught by a very nervous fisherman. The longer we fished, the more confident I was in the kayak.