If you found yourself drawn to surfing the net and chasing reports while at work and in between fishing outings then you've seen a ton of good and bad fishing pictures. From grown men holding schoolies, to kids holding monster, to breaded bass on the sand, to bloody bass on the deck and in coolers, you've seen them all. But this photo from Peter James caught my eye.
I don't know the guys, well two guys and a kid, in the photo but it is three generations of anglers posing for a proud photo. From what I have deduced its grandfather, son, and grandson. Pete, Pete, and Brady. Let's say the son is about 50, that puts the old man, respectfully, about 70, and the kid, about 13. If the elder Pete started striped bass fishing about 50 years ago that's somewhere around the 1970's.
I wonder in his rolling years he'd ever imagine posing for a photo in 2024 capturing a day when he, his son, and grandson, would be sharing the beach and consistently catching good sized striped bass on the beach on a nice November day. I'm 56 now, and in 14 years I'll be 70. At that time who will joining me in a photo while fishing, fly fishing of course, for striped bass here in New Jersey? Will my kids be in a photo, probably not, as none of them has grabbed onto my passion for fishing. Will it me and the grandkids? Who knows, I may or may not have them. Will I even be in New Jersey? And the big question is, "Will I even be here on earth?".
I have seen my old friends come and go with most of them continuing to fish into their 70's, 80's and 90's. While they say 70 is the new 50, a 70 year old body is still a body that has worked and ran hard for most of it's life. It's tired. But we continue to push past the aches and moans and groans to get out there one more time. Today I will fish with Leif, who just crested 60, and the two Trenton Joe's, in their mid 70's, who will be out there patrolling the beaches of IBSP looking for signs of bait and bass to stop at and give it a few casts.
I give respect and props to the eldest Pete in the photo. Good on you for exposing your son and grandson to the passion of fishing. Hopefully, your work will get passed on down your bloodline and photos like this will tell your families tory of good times, good fish, and good memories.