NJ Saltwater Fisherman Forums
NJ Saltwater Fisherman => Non-Fishing Discussions => Topic started by: harbison on August 09, 2018, 08:14:07 PM
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sltHunting and fishing a lifetime in Paradise
What an honor being a Florida native, a Florida sportsman.
As a life-long Florida sportsman nothing pleases me more than to reflect on memories of days, years, decades, long gone. To share these memories with fellow sportsmen-women all over this great country of ours is to me a dream come true. Come along with me. Join in and share your memories as we take a look at, 'Hunting and fishing a lifetime in Paradise'.
I was born the day after...
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/1a_zpsh4piu7dc.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/1a_zpsh4piu7dc.jpg.html)
the attack on Pearl Harbor.
By the late middle fifties I was fishing the Florida 'Middle Grounds' just South of Gandy Bridge. The trout fishing was outstanding.
Rabbit & deer hunting with hounds on the thousands of acres of open area sand hills around Weeki Wachee Springs was outstanding. (LtoR - brother, me, mother)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/5_zpsmdp5f8eu.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/5_zpsmdp5f8eu.jpg.html)
During the summer bass fishing in the many small lakes was very good.
In the late fifties we decided to take our hunting to the next level, we joined a club near Floral City, Florida:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/1_zpsxacekmc2.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/1_zpsxacekmc2.jpg.html)
The snipe, duck, turkey, squirrel hunting was superb:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/2_zpsrv5ufq99.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/2_zpsrv5ufq99.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/3_zpsmzr8yrgi.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/3_zpsmzr8yrgi.jpg.html)
It was a family affair:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/4_zpsortsszof.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/4_zpsortsszof.jpg.html)
During the sixties the fishing was outstanding:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/6_zpsxcl6hi2z.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/6_zpsxcl6hi2z.jpg.html)
We sold grouper for 25 cents a pound:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/7_zpsd4e46rxy.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/7_zpsd4e46rxy.jpg.html)
We took our tarpon fishing seriously. We won many awards in in the Tarpon Fishing Tournament:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/8_zpsqaissqvi.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/8_zpsqaissqvi.jpg.html)
By brother and high school friends were very involved:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/9%20jpg_zpskqgas026.png) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/9%20jpg_zpskqgas026.png.html)
Often we would invite the local media. Mr. Archie Blount, Tampa Times:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/10_zps56kcgffe.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/10_zps56kcgffe.jpg.html)
In 1970 I married Thelma, the girl of my dreams. Thelma was born on a mountain in Tennessee. She loved to fish & hunt. We bought three acres and a pond loaded with bass:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/11_zpsf7hiomew.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/11_zpsf7hiomew.jpg.html)
We loved to fish along the grass flats just before Honeymoon Island:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/12_zpsdgbhcxfa.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/12_zpsdgbhcxfa.jpg.html)
Our three daughters often joined us at camp:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/13_zpsszhzcqtd.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/13_zpsszhzcqtd.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/14_zps7uxpymty.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/14_zps7uxpymty.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/16_zpsxypeqzm6.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/16_zpsxypeqzm6.jpg.html)
Next up, our hunting camp for the next twenty years, Madison County's Buck & Boar:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/17_zpsebfpgop9.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/17_zpsebfpgop9.jpg.html)
The hunting was outstanding:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/18_zpsf20pcncy.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/18_zpsf20pcncy.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/19_zpsoig2o83a.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/19_zpsoig2o83a.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/20_zpsv601kmvm.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/20_zpsv601kmvm.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/21_zpswyc8pjhm.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/21_zpswyc8pjhm.jpg.html)
The camp cook-outs were enjoyed by one & all:
[URL=http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/24_zpsxeyzillh.jpg.html](http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/25_zpsczh5rkhb.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/22_zpsev2qmubq.jpg.html)
And for good reason! Ever try wild boar on the grill? You will never forget it:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/26_zpsazcvoszj.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/26_zpsazcvoszj.jpg.html)
Thelma & I celebrated out 39'th wedding anniversary while hunting at B&B. No place better than Madison County's best, O'neal's Country Kitchen:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/27_zpszduckdzl.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/27_zpszduckdzl.jpg.html)
Little did we know this would be our last. Cancer took her, and our daughter, Betty, shortly thereafter:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/28_zpsleeqobvu.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/28_zpsleeqobvu.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/29_zps2pihyq1m.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/29_zps2pihyq1m.jpg.html)
To say the losses was devastating would be an understatement. Life, as well as hunting & fishing, as I knew it was over. Eventually I was able to make the best out of the situation. Enter Two Guys & A Hog Outfitters. Less demanding, but still the excitement of the hunt:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/30_zpspoxqk9zd.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/30_zpspoxqk9zd.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/31_zpspqoup8sc.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/31_zpspqoup8sc.jpg.html)
Exciting to the max!
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(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/32_zps3tsxq5us.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/32_zps3tsxq5us.jpg.html)
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/33_zpsb6bsey2d.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/33_zpsb6bsey2d.jpg.html)
My guide, Francisco, a long time fixture at Two Guys, guided me to my personal best ever:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/34_zpsv51vzytt.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/34_zpsv51vzytt.jpg.html)
What a way to celebrate big birthday number 76:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/35_zpsnhs3smwz.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/35_zpsnhs3smwz.jpg.html)
I have always loved to make people happy. Sharing our Florida, our Paradise, does just that. I began sharing both hunting & fishing stories many decades ago. My Marina of choice, Madeira Beach, Florida Hubbard's Marina. First up, fishing on the 90' Florida Fisherman l with the man himself, Captain Wilson Hubbard:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/37_zpsskibdqpg.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/37_zpsskibdqpg.jpg.html)
Today it's a real fishing machine, the Florida Fisherman ll:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/38_zpscrbluxvw.jpg) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/38_zpscrbluxvw.jpg.html)
The fishing is outstanding. I took this picture:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/36_zpswepwd4pl.png) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/36_zpswepwd4pl.png.html)
To talk about family, to talk about tradition, is to talk about fourth generation owned & operated Hubbard's Marina:
(http://i644.photobucket.com/albums/uu162/harbisonphoto/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/39_zps139uo2u8.png) (http://s644.photobucket.com/user/harbisonphoto/media/Remembering%20Fl%20Fishing%20and%20hunting/39_zps139uo2u8.png.html)
What an honor being a Florida native, a Florida sportsman.
Bob Harbison
Husband, Father, Native Florida Sportsman, and proud member of the:
Florida Outdoor Writers Association.
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t^
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t^ ....... chrz