The big fish

My son is obsessed with fishing. He first got interested in it back in year 3 when he met his best friend, who was a serious fisherman at the age of 8. Since then his interest has waned a bit, but over recent months it’s back with a vengeance. He’s been hoarding money for a while and now he’s started spending it. On fishing stuff.

He’s obsessed with fishing and he’s ‘really good at it’. But, here’s the thing. He’s never been fishing. He will tell you he has, but he hasn’t. He’s played in a local brook a couple of times with his friend and my brother took him ‘fishing’ at the beach once three years ago. They caught nothing.

I was wondering what he was going to do with all this fishing stuff, with nowhere locally to fish and no family or friends who fish (his best friend moved away a year ago). I feel like an unsupportive mum, but I just don’t know how he can do this hobby.

We picked up a tanned, happy confident boy from Scout camp today. ‘Have you got your photo? And your rod?’ the leaders called after him.

Rod?! More fishing paraphernalia we don’t know what to do with. And how did he afford that with the £15 he had to spend on camp?

‘I caught the biggest fish!’

He caught the biggest fish out of everyone who had done fishing on the camp. There were 3,000 people on that camp. And my boy, who loves fishing so much but has never actually done it before, caught the biggest fish! He won the rod for catching the fish.

I’m glad I was wearing sunglasses because it doesn’t do to be seen crying about your boy catching the biggest fish.

But I was just so proud of him and so happy for him. He may never have fished before, but his love of fishing and his absolute belief in himself meant he proved that he really IS good at fishing!

Photo credit: Smugmug.com – Poacher 2013
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18 Comments

  1. Thanks very much, everyone! Apparently the fish was 4lb. I think it looks bigger than that (not that I know anything about fish!). He’s now researching places he can fish locally.

  2. Wow! That’s great! It’s so funny where they pick up these random and weird interests 🙂 It’s wonderful that he discovered he really is good at something that means so much to him. Well done!

  3. It looks like a carp… Carp(e) Diem? He certainly did! Ouch. Sorry….

    “He’s never been fishing… My brother took him to the beach once three years ago. They caught nothing.” Erm, that, I’m afraid, IS fishing 😀

  4. Well done to your son – that is a very large fish for a small boy to catch, no wonder you were so proud of him. I bet he had a fab time at camp! Thanks for sharing with Country Kids.

  5. This is a fantastic post, well done for catching the biggest fish. I can’t believe how well he did for his first time, I can tell how proud you are.

    Thanks for linking up with Small Steps Amazing Achievements :0)
    x

  6. Thanks very much, everyone!
    He had an amazing time at camp, Coombe Mill, and the fish was the icing on the cake!
    He’s going to try fishing again tomorrow, Jane! Wonder if this was just beginner’s luck? Would love him to catch more.

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