By Kevin Ogle
Seagrove Beach, Florida is one the best kept secrets along the small stretch of road called 30A. For many on their summer vacation their idea of an adventure is going into Seaside for Murphy’s Midnight snack at Barefoot BBQ. That coupled along with the “B double E, R” run makes for some good times. For CJ, a 12-year-old boy from Newnan, Georgia there was only one thing on his mind and that was going kayak fishing with his dad, Chuck Moeling. Chuck is a competitive angler and an IGFA Titleist, getting his inspiration early on from fishing Jack Wingate’s summer fishing camps in Lake Seminole, Georgia.
Chuck and Jack made the mad dash into Destin to prepare for what would become a lifetime memory. First on the list was the Bass Pro Shop in Destin for tackle and tips. Some folks like to go into the enormous tackle store to just simply walk around and look at the big aquarium holding redfish and grouper, others may be looking to buy some sunglasses or flip flops for the beach, but CJ was there to learn about what was biting and how to rig up his tackle and get out on the water with his Kayak. Marshall Mathes, Bass Pro’s in store guide told them that the word out on the water right now was that the kingfish bite was getting hot and to catch a smoker on some light tackle in a kayak would be an exhilarating way to pass the day out on the beach.
Chuck and CJ began gearing up to hit the water with eager anticipation to make the most out of a short time out on the water before the family dinner. CJ and his dad were very excited about putting their gear to the test with some smokers. Finally, they were trolling some dead cigar minnows around the weed line about a mile off of the beach. They were out for an hour or so and did not get a bite. It was time to head home and they were about a half of mile out when pandemonium took place. The bait got hit once, then again, and after that it was Fish On! Chuck handed the rod over to CJ who fought the fish, getting it closer and closer to the beach.
CJ’s younger brother, Robert, was boogie boarding in the surf when they paddled up with the sailfish behind them, and they yelled at him to get the family and the camera. Robert ran and got the family as CJ got out of his kayak and started fighting the fish in the surf.
“Then the sailfish took off running down the beach and CJ had to run down to catch up. I ran ahead and asked folks if they would get out of the water. They were all remarkably helpful and agreeable,” said Chuck. “As CJ fought it came into view in the surf—man, what a beautiful image that was seeing a sailfish in the crystal clear surf! When CJ pulled it onto the beach, I grabbed it by its bill and quickly drug it a few feet out of the surf.”
Knowing that they didn’t have a lot of time if they wanted the fish to live (CJ felt very strongly that he wanted to release the sailfish alive), Chuck quickly unhooked it and helped CJ lift it up for pictures by the crowd. Within 90 seconds they had the fish back in the water headed out to revive and release it. There was remarkably little blood—the circle hook was right in the lower jaw so there had been no threat to internal organs—and the fish quickly started kicking as they walked it out past the sand bar. CJ grabbed the bill when it was time, and he gave the sailfish a quick last pull to let her swim free. She kicked a few swift times and disappeared gliding toward the deep water—a very pretty sight.
Kevin Ogle is Co-Publisher of the Big Bend edition of Coastal Angler Magazine.
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