The beginning of a new year has officially kicked off. To many, this marks the end of “the most wonderful time of year”, as extended family members and long distance friends pack their bags and head back to the real world. This may be a little bittersweet for most of us; I know I wish there were more excuses to plan trips and spend time with those I truly care about.
Though ours concludes today, the holiday season provides a great opportunity to bring our loved ones into our own little slice of the world. Those living in Florida are uniquely equipped to do so- I’m willing to bet a large number of you are used to hosting around this time of year. The eternally warm Florida climate provides a haven for those relatives sick of the biting cold up north, and travel proves to be pretty risk free on our end. After all, there’s no need to worry about the runways freezing over around these parts.
A good host always makes sure that their guests feel welcome. A great place to start is food, and plenty conversation about years past, along with catching up from the year. Inevitably though, talk can only take you so far. I cannot speak for everyone, but I seem to be most comfortable connecting with people when we’re all doing some sort of activity together. Be it exploring the area, traversing a theme park, or hitting a couple golf balls at the local range, I find that these are the moments I cling to most when I remember the time I’ve spent with the people I care about.
This brings us to fishing.
In my mind, there is no activity more representative of our home state, nor more personal to me than taking someone you truly care for fishing (bonus points if they’re under the age of 10, or if it is your guests first time holding a rod and reel). Think back to your first fishing trip; Whether from a pier, off the surf, or maybe even off the bow of a charter boat, you were likely accompanied by someone who was more excited to show you the ropes than you were to actually drop a line for the first time.
You may not remember what you caught that day, but that feeling likely still lingers. The anticipation built by waking up at absurdly early hours, hopping in the truck and passing out as your father, your sibling, or a good friend hauls you to the spot. The jumpiness you felt when reaching into the bait bucket, hoping not to get horned by jittery shrimp while you attempted to put one on your line. The rush you felt the first time a little pinfish tapped your line, and you were convinced that you had hooked up onto something fierce. All of these feelings culminate into one big unforgettable experience, that you still look upon with the upmost nostalgia. The funny thing is, for that loved one who showed you the ropes, this may have been just another Saturday morning. They might not know how much this day meant to you, but they ignited a spark in you that hasn’t died down to this day- and, now grown, you have the chance to do this for one of your family members.
It may just be another day out on the water for you. But don’t miss this opportunity to take your little sibling, child, or family friend out and teach them how to fish. It may take a little effort, but the best part is that YOU decide how the day goes. You can decide how simple or complicated to make the trip- whether you rig up a Walmart spincast with a little ball of bread and fish for little bluegill out of a creek running through your backyard, or take the first steps in showing someone how to fly fish or tie a line-leader knot, the effort will be appreciated. They will forever look upon the memories that you made, and every time they pick up a rod in the future they will be whisked back to a much simpler time, free of responsibility and full of happiness.
Even if you take out someone with a little bit of experience, there’s still room to impress. Your relatives and friends from different regions likely don’t have the same variety of fish to catch as we do down here. I recently had a friend from New Jersey come stay with me for a couple days, and of course I insisted on getting him out on the water. Mind you, he’s never caught much of anything besides Striped Bass. I’ll tell you what, I’ve never seen someone’s face light up so much after catching one of those darn Salt Water Catfish, or Spotted Sea Trout, or the tiniest Red Grouper you ever saw. Florida fishing is just on another level, and will captivate most who are not used to it. Their expectations will likely be low, and easily surpassed.
Even if you prefer to spend time alone, there’s still room for fishing on your holiday schedule. For a lot of people, the holidays induce more stress than fun, so it’s important to make time for yourself as well (cue the mother in law joke that I’m too lazy to shoehorn into this section). Stepping out for a bit of peace will clear the mind, just what the doctor ordered. If you can help it, support a small business by grabbing your tackle from a local bait shop, or eating at a hole in the wall restaurant on the way back from your fishing trip- spread the wealth during the holiday season, because these people need your support to keep food on the table and presents under their trees as well.
We at the AAF hope you usher in 2026 on the right foot. We hope that the next 365 days are filled with less work and more fishing than ever before. Nobody will ever look back at life and say “if only I hadn’t made time for myself…”.
Happy New Year folks!