Coast Lines: Father's Day Fishing

If you’re looking for something to do with your dad on Father’s day this year, try a deep sea fishing trip. From personal experience, it’s one of the best gifts you can give him and yourself.

My dad and I haven’t always been on the best terms. There are too many times that we would fight because one of us made a mistake and refused to admit it. The one time we never argue though, is when we’re fishing.

We’ve taken a boat on the beaches to go out deep sea fishing a few times and we’ve never brought back home a fish. We can barely catch anything, let alone something worth keeping. To me, it was never about going out and getting the big one. It was always about getting time alone with the man I respect the most.

It’s during these trips that I get the chance to really interact with my dad fully. There are no other worries around when you’re 20 miles out to sea. That sense of isolation from the business of everyday life brings me closer with my father every time we go.

While out on the boat, time seems to slow down and my dad and I get to talk about what’s important in life. My dad can wax philosophically for hours and has a wisdom that allows him to speak about the world in a way that seems to fit with the natural order of things.

He gives advice from his past experiences and advises me to not make the same mistakes. Sometimes I listen and sometimes I just have to learn the hard way.

Out on the boat, we both get to take a step back from the real world and evaluate our lives and in an objective manner. We leave our cell phones and other distractions behind. All we have is a cooler full of soda and heads full of discussion topics.

Since becoming a father, I took my two stepsons out on the boat with my father and I recently. This was the first time that I took the boys out anywhere without their mother. Throughout the day I was able to bond more with both of them and learn about their fears and doubts. I also learned that they both suffer from sea sickness pretty badly and shouldn’t eat too much before heading out on the water.

When the boat pulls back in after the day is done, we’re both tired and with no fish to show that we went anywhere at all. What we take back is a deeper understanding and respect for each other, which is better than the biggest marlin in the ocean.

If you want to charter a boat and get out to sea, check out a few of these locations on the beaches.