The Big One That Got Away

by Michael Youngblood
(Detroit, MI)

There's nothing like arriving in Panama City in mid-March after a long Michigan winter. Having made the 18 hour drive down south, the first thing I wanted to do after unpacking my suitcase and putting on my shorts and flip flops was to get a fishing line wet in the water.

I found my way to the Dan Russell Municipal Pier and thought I'd try my hand catching some cobia, king mackerel, Spanish mackerel, flounder, red fish or pompano. As luck would have it within 5 minutes of casting my first line I had a bite.

This had to be one of the largest fish I had ever caught I thought to myself. This sucker put up a good fight. The pier was busy that day so a large crowd gathered around to watch me haul in my prize for the day.

Just as I was fighting the fish my line snapped and the fish decided he'd rather go swimming in the Gulf some more than let me enjoy him for dinner.