The actual day of his birthday we were planning on going Deep Sea Fishing, however, Brandon came down with a stomach bug. We thought being in the middle of the Gulf with a kid with a stomach bug was a recipe for disaster. We postponed the fishing trip for Thursday of the same week.
The day of his birthday we had a special dinner, ice cream cake and presents. Keith had a nice relaxing day with no pressure to do anything. We spent the afternoon at the beach, saw our first pod of wild dolphins swimming, walked the beach looking for shells and took a drive down the coast.
The pile of presents and the kids with their dad after the mayhem!
Thursday morning we woke up bright and early. We had to be at the fishing dock by 7:30. Our boat was leaving at 8:00 AM. We decided to do the half day of fishing. We only went about 12-15 miles out on the Gulf, so our fish weren't monsters, just 'little' guys. They were mainly 4 -7 pounds. The day was perfect, flat glassy ocean waters and warm. We met a lot of great people on our boat. I was particularly happy that it was calm, since I easily get motion sick.
Amy & Brandon on the boat and ready for fishing!
Amy & Ethan & Keith on the way out to our fishing destination.
This type of fishing is different from what we were use to (not that I fish all that much). We all have a spot on the boat with a pole. The pole's aren't the best, a little used :). We used squid for our bait. We had to bait the hooks ourselves. Squid is a bit slimy and smelly! Once the line is baited you drop it in to the bottom, than wait for the fun to happen. Often times our lines were crossed, needed to be uncrossed, people hooked other's lines, and occasionally you catch a snag on the ocean floor about 40ft. depth.
We had a contest running with the kids. We would pay a dollar for the first catch, the biggest catch and for the most fish caught. Each kid won. Amy got the first fish. Ethan the biggest fish, a 17in grouper. Brandon got the most at 6 fish reeled in.
Brandon with one of the six he caught & Ethan with the Red Grouper. This wasn't big enough to keep, but big enough to win the biggest fish award!
After the fishing was done and we were heading back a pod of dolphins decided to join us. They escorted the fishing boat for a long time. It was the exciting to lean over the edge of the boat and watch the dolphins swim with the boat and see them clearly. Our pictures don't do it justice.
Two different sets of mom and babies swimming beside the boat!
The kids with our catch!
The Birthday Boy with his bounty!
We had a great day fishing! How can one compete with fishing on the Gulf of Mexico on a beautiful day? It has been hard to top this day. It has been Keith's favorite thing we have done since arriving down here, which is great since it was his birthday fun day!
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