Recreational Boating.......................
Ahh, a day spent fishing the waters of Cedar Key. People come from all over to shove off in their boats to angle around the sand and oyster bars searching for that big redfish or speckled trout. Cobia are being caught now as well. It's busy from dawn to dusk at the two boat ramps at the city marina. All the parking spaces fill up early in the day. Boats coming and going. Fishing gear and fishing tackle passing back and forth. It's all about putting the outfitted boat down the ramp and into the water then climbing aboard and heading out. It's a great feeling. Shussing along on the way out to a favorite fishing spot. All the gear and bait packed in. Anticipation. BUT WAIT! I know 3 gentlemen who didn't get to the shussing part. They didn't even wet a line. No baiting hooks with shrimp, no tying on jigs, no handling a wiggly catfish off a hook. They almost got to the good part; they just didn't follow a couple of basic rules for successful fishing.
When backing down the ramp with boat on trailer, put transmission in park and press down hard on the emergency brake BEFORE you exit car to checkout your angle.(can you feel the water coming?) Yep! No shifter in park and no emergency brake. Of course the brand new Honda SUV and new trailer with new boat slid down the ramp and into and under the water. The boat floated off the trailer and was tied up, but the SUV and trailer went under and out of sight. Oh, the crowd gathered, men speculated, pointed their fingers, and shook their heads. We all stood there looking down into the water wondering what to do, and then along came Ken Daniel with his clam boat around to the ramp. He immediately jumped in the water and, with the help of Billy from Island Hopper Boat Tours and Rentals, secured a line to the trailer and began towing it back up the ramp. A short time later a tow truck arrived and with a strong steel cable and winch pulled the SUV from the bottom of the marina waters and out into the parking lot. Meanwhile boats were backed up waiting to trailer their boats and go home to fine fresh fish dinners from their day of fishing the fertile waters of the Cedar Keys. I'm sure the three gentlemen wished they could do the same. Preparation for a successful fishing trip is important. Not just the bait and beer. Follow a few basic rules and enjoy. You can go fishing with me for $45.00 for 4 hours and I will bring everything you need. Just eel-mail me...shanadan50@hotmail.com and forget the rules. Keep a tight line, Capt. Dan | 
