Hooked and Focused: Fishing & Photographing at 4 AM

I am not an early bird by any means. In fact, I made it a life moto to not be up before the sun so you can be darn sure that if I am, it’s for a good reason. This time it was for a sunrise fishing trip with one of my best friends. I am an absolute sucker for any reason to get on a boat and believe it or not, it was my idea to leave by 4 AM.

Tailing Redfish and sunrise photographs were too tempting an opportunity to miss. As the new year comes up, it’s actually become one of my goals to photograph more of my day-to-day adventures. I want more crisp film-like photographs of, well everything, including fishing trips.

Fishing during the early dawn-lit hours is probably one of the most peaceful times I find myself soaking in. Golden rays of sunlight streaking across the deep blue, glassy water of the ocean is a photograph I’m still trying to capture accurately to this day.

That being said, fishing is also the bane of my existence. Sight fishing used to irritate the hell out of me. I mean, I would stare and stare and finally call out, “GOT ONE” only for it to be a sunken log that’s been in the same spot for only God knows how many years. However, with time and practice, my calls now are usually only 45% of the time logs. Kidding! Kinda….

Between casting and keeping an eye for that flash of copper, I’m also constantly distracted by the wildlife around the area. Gorgeous spoonbills floating by and giant Ospreys diving for their dinner captivate me. Kingfishers are my nemesis though. Those little monsters never stay near or still when my camera is out, but as SOON as my zoom lens is off I swear they practically land right in front of me chittering their victory as I curse very unladylike at them. One day I’ll snag a photo. One day.

In the meantime, I’ll keep getting up for those 4AM fishing trips with good friends and the best of times.