That Sinking Feeling

It takes more than a few waves over the transom to swamp an offshore boat. But Stan didn't know that.

- Doug Pike

Three kinds of people fish offshore: boat owners, people who are helpful on board, and everyone else who finds a ride. And because they don't know as much as the first two groups, "everyone else" eventually falls victim to a prank.

As a friend and business associate of Paul, Stan was thrilled at the invitation to join Paul on his 63-foot beauty of a boat for a day over deep water. With Marco at the wheel and a deckhand prepping baits, they pulled away from the dock just before dawn.

On the ride, Paul shared video from a few recent trips. The boat was fishy, always had been, Paul explained. There'd been many a big fish fought from that chair, and Stan would be next to get that experience.