Pat gave me a call this week with a mission: his three grandkids were in town on vacation, had never been fishing before, and were eager for an unforgettable adventure. He wanted to show them a slice of wild Florida—and maybe reel in a few memories along the way. We set off and made a quick run to the first spot, where the action was hot from the jump. The kids got in on double-digit catches, hands-on with everything from feisty snook and speckled sea trout to mangrove snapper and a solid whiting. They were hooked! Kids were grinning ear to ear, laughing, and wide-eyed at every bend in the rod. We even caught glimpses of the local wildlife along the way, making the trip feel like something out of a storybook. Later that day, Pat texted me to say the kids were absolutely fired up and couldn’t stop talking about the trip. One for the books for sure!

Marc reached out earlier this week with a mission—he and his son were in town on vacation and had their sights set on chasing redfish in the legendary waters of Mosquito Lagoon. At sunrise, I met them at the dock and we set out aboard the new Pathfinder 2300 HPS, slicing through the glassy water with the promise of adventure ahead. We hit the first spot just after 7 a.m., and on their very first cast—boom—a monster crushed the bait. After a drag-screaming battle, they hauled in a massive 45-inch overslot redfish, the kind of fish that turns a good day into an unforgettable one. High fives, adrenaline, and ear-to-ear grins followed. Moments like these are what fishing with family is all about—memories that will echo for a lifetime.

I recently had the pleasure of taking a couple out for a little “day date,” but this wasn’t your typical lunch and mimosas kind of outing. They wanted redfish and redfish they got. Conditions weren’t ideal; the water clarity was less than perfect, making the hunt in the flats a bit trickier. But the fish didn’t seem to mind. The bite was on, and it wasn’t long before drag was peeling and hearts were pounding. After a few close calls and missed shots, they each locked into overslot redfish, one after the other. Heavy runs, blistering fights, and big smiles as both landed their personal bests. There’s just something electric about watching a couple share that kind of adrenaline-fueled moment together on the water. Flats fishing may be unpredictable, but when it all comes together those are the days you don’t forget.

Tomas hit me up looking to beat the heat with a nighttime fishing trip here in New Smyrna Beach. We met up just after dark and got right to it, snook were fired up, and we made quick work of ‘em. The temps stayed cool, the fish were chewing, and the vibe was spot on. Solid night on the water with plenty of action and good company.

Bruce flew in from Virginia, trading striper runs for something a little wilder—his first taste of redfish action in the skinny waters of New Smyrna Beach. Though he’d logged time chasing fish up north, the idea of stalking reds in knee-deep, crystal-clear flats was a whole new world. But he was fired up and ready to dive in. We kicked off the morning with high hopes, heading to a spot where a school of 60 reds had been hanging tight the last couple weeks. But with the recent water temp bump, the big group had broken up. Still, a few stragglers lingered on a shallow point. Bruce launched his first cast and—bam!—a redfish slammed the bait. The fight was short-lived, though, as the fish shook free. Bruce was gutted for a moment… but the sight of that explosive eat had him hooked for good. We pushed deeper into the backcountry, and the next flat came alive. Overslot reds cruised through like torpedoes in the sun. Bruce had half a dozen solid shots before finally connecting—and this time, the hook held. After a hard-fought battle, he landed a massive 32” overslot redfish—an epic way to cross redfish off the list. The day didn’t end there. Later, under the edge of a mangrove, Bruce stuck his first-ever snook, a solid fish that made for a perfect finale. Two firsts, plenty of action, and a day neither of us will forget.