I love fishing and cod fishing is the best. As a little girl growing up in Round Harbour, Hermitage Bay, I loved going fishing. I remember my mom, her uncle and I would get in a dory and roll out in the bay and get a fish for a meal.

After moving to Bay D'Espoir under Joey Smallwood's resettlement program and getting married and building a cabin in May's Cove, I got to go fishing again. If we wanted a fish for supper, we could go off and get one.

Then the cod moratorium came. I was heartbroken, because I could not fish for cod anymore.

When the recreational fishery started, I was so happy. Every year, my husband and I would go out to the cabin and get our cod.

For the last few years, we weren't sure if the recreational food fishery would open. I was driving home the day they announced the opening of the recreational food fishery. I was so excited. I did not get a chance to get out the first day, as I was working. Early Monday morning, I was ready and excited to be going cod fishing.

After reaching the cabin and unpacking, we finally left for the fishing ground. We first tried off May's Cove head. My husband had his faithful hook and line; I had my brother-in-law's rod and reel, which he was good enough to leave for me to use. My husband was telling me to drop my hook, and when I felt it hit the bottom, to quickly reel in some line so it wouldn't snag the bottom. And what did I do? Hook it in the bottom. And then it started, "I knew just what you were going to do; that's Mel's rod and now you are going to lose his lure," said my husband. After moving the boat many times, we finally got it loose.

We moved off that spot, and tried another. By this time I was a little bit scared of trying the rod again, but gave it another try anyway. I dropped my hook and quickly gave it a wind up and on the second wind I hooked something. Oh, no, I thought, it is the bottom again! I tried to reel it in, but it was too hard. I looked at my husband and he said, "You've done it again, haven't you?"

"I don't know," I said. Then I felt the line come off the reel.

I passed the rod to my husband, and I heard the magic words, "You have got a fish on."

Well, both of us were excited, waiting for the fish to come up - and, of course, I wanted my picture taken with it. I tried to hold it up, but it was so heavy. I decided to lie with it on the beach so I could get my picture taken with it. It was between 50 and 60 pounds. The sound bone was 18 inches long.

We had some supper that night. The fish got salted and dried for the winter.

I am happy to say, "I caught the big one that didn't get away."

When the recreational fishery opens on Sept. 26, I hope I will have my own rod and reel. My birthday is Sept. 13 and I hope my husband is going to buy one for me (hint hint).

This is my 572-word fish story; I know that pedal boat would look some nice in Mary's Cove and of course I could always use $500.   Submitted By: NULL