This last week has been a Jim week for me in the Florida Keys. Whilst I’m here I like some time to get out on my own, looking for new marks, finding out new stuff and meeting new people, which is something I don’t get the chance to do when I’m out fishing up to 8 hours a day with other anglers. It has also been a week for me to chill out and reflect on life and here’s why...

When I first started coming to the Keys in 2004, it wasn’t long before I made some good American fishing buddies – one of these was a retired guide called Dennis. Dennis in his teens had been a full time Musky (Pike) guide, and through his twenties went on to set up a hugely successful haulage business, which wasn’t quite what he wanted to do in life, but hey, it paid the Bills better than guiding. But Dennis was one of these lucky people, aged 49 a stranger walked into his office and made him a ridiculous offer to buy his company and within 24hrs Dennis went from a 7 day a week hands on managing director, to fully retired. That was nearly 19 years ago.

Dennis was from North America, and of all the places he’d fished around the world over his life, he loved the Florida Keys, so once all the paperwork was tied up, he announced to his wife that he wanted to retire to the Keys and just fish. They bought a plot of land in the Keys; he built his own house, with a dock, and also bought the boat of his dreams. Over the six years I have been coming to the Keys, Dennis soon became one of my best friends... he took time to teach me how to fish, he openly showed me marks, tricks, little tips, and dependably every time I returned from fishing, there was Dennis, on his veranda, next door, with beers in hand. I can still hear his deep North American accent say... “How-dit go” and then he would either spark a beer to celebrate, or offer some more good local advice.

Unfortunately one week after returning from my trip here in the spring this year, at 68 years old, Dennis passed away. Sixty eight might be young to pass away, but when you consider that Dennis moved to the Keys and enjoyed 19 years of retirement doing nothing but fishing and chilling under the sun, he actually accomplished a lot more in life than many of us ever will! He accomplished his dreams. Dennis I hope you’re watching down on us, drinking a bud and enjoying some heavenly fishing.

Now Dennis had his own pet Tarpon – just one – that lived under his boat and each day, when he emptied his bait pens of dead fish, he would feed this fish. And again, when he came home from fishing, the 4-5 times each week when he would fish, as he filleted his catch, he would always feed his Tarpon. In the six years I have travelled here, this same Tarpon had always lived most of its life during the day, lounging under Dennis’s boat waiting for a free meal. Now that’s one clever fish.

Since Dennis passed away, his widow Cathy has since moved back up north to be close to family, but what about his Tarpon.... well just last week, when the weather settled, I noticed a huge 100lb plus Tarpon rolling around outside the back of my house here.
I quickly grabbed my rod, defrosted some Snapper fillets, put one on the hook, cast out and sat back hoping but then something strange happened. This big old Tarpon went straight for Dennis’s house and spent an hour rolling, and playing, where his boat used to be... and if I am correct, this fish was looking for free food. Tarpon are ridiculous creatures of habit and by the way, this fish has turned up at Dennis house, with regularity most days since, it’s almost certain to be Dennis old fish. How amazing... that’s nearly five months since this fish was last fed and this Tarpon is still coming back!!

As a mark of respect, I removed my bait from the water, bowed my head and remembered my good friend and the awesome fishing life he lead. I’m now off to the shop to place an advert in the window... “Loving, friendly 120lb Tarpon going to good home – just needs TLC, snapper fillets and dead pinfish daily! Long time owner has recently passed away”

RIP Dennis, you will be sadly missed.

Isn’t it strange that sometimes you don’t realise how much of an influence some people have on your life until they’re gone. Even Dennis’ Tarpon clearly misses his fishing buddy!

Here’s to fishing pals, old and new – here and gone. Without them fishing just wouldn’t be fishing!!