They had a couple of baits soaking.
The rod went off right beside Liam.
He grabbed it.
The fish screamed toward the mangroves, thrashing under the shoreline bushes. His dad thought it was a shark from the way it was running.
When they got close and his dad saw what it really was, he jumped out of the boat. “We’re not lifting this one.”
Liam stayed on the rod while his dad handled the fish in the water.
“Come on, we’ve got to get a photo before we let it go.”
His dad had never had his hands on a snook that big before.
Liam was excited. But just as important — he was happy to let it go. Afterward, his dad was the one shaking.
Realizing what that moment was.
At six years old, Liam won’t forget it.
Recognition: The Fish Gods were good to the angler that day.