Once one devotes enough time to the sea they actually never leave her waters. One may physically walk upon the land however their thoughts and soul do not.
Time and tide become one. On the calmest of days you can see yourself becoming part of the ocean. In her slightest ripples you will discover you share the same exact pattern on your sun touched skin. What land landlubbers perceive as wrinkles, we the fishermen understand to be our history. Every line and curve a story from the sea. Some beautiful and some tragic, but all that makes us who we are.
The easiest days fall out of our memory as easily as they passed. But the most torturous paths guide us for the remainder of our years. Those who are burned by the stove rarely rest their hands upon the cooktop again without hesitation. Sometimes losing is our greatest lesson and sometimes coming up short brings the humility we need. We as fisherman perhaps learn the most from slow fishing. If there is one thing these photos and my career track record can attest to, it’s that the brightest days always follow the darkest storms. Most people surrender without knowing how close they are to success.
If I can pass along one thing to younger fisherman from my time out at sea, one thing at all. Trust that tomorrow is a new day, no matter how terrible yesterday was. Tomorrow brings new hope and with new hope comes loads of fish. Stay positive my friends.
