In the late 1980s bottled drinking water popularity exploded with the newer safer polyethylene terephthalate plastic (PET). What in the world did we do before this innovation especially when it comes to the fisherman?
As a kid my dad took me fishing often in the Summertime and we had many rituals and knew what needed to be done for a successful trip. We traveled by car from Pasadena to the Bolivar Ferry very early in the morning (me sleeping most of the way) and later a few years to the Galveston boat ramps when we could afford a fishing boat. In either case the night before the trip we would fill paper milk cartons with water for our fish ice (don’t forget the ice pick) and we would get the Igloo water jug out and fill it half full with ice that we had made in aluminum ice trays, then add tap water so it would get good and cold overnight. No bottled water needed!
Today, of course, my cooler is filled with upwards of a case of bottled water along with soft drinks and a handmade lunch the lodge provides for each guest. Is it really that important what we drink or how? I don’t think so but it’s neat to reminisce on times gone by and share the conversation with the guests that I am guiding. Fishing is such a personal, relaxing activity on our boats these days and the customers respond well to our preparedness on how to put them on fish and cater to their needs on the water. We take great pride in what we do because it’s much more than fishing, it’s entertaining and in most cases we are entertaining customers of our customer! I’m often asked if I still like to fish on my own since I’m on the water 270 plus days in a year. Absolutely is my answer because of that point I made, it’s a personal, relaxing activity! Besides, I am not fishing when I’m at ‘work’, I’m entertaining!
I often think about all the innovations that have come along the way in my short time on the saltwater and no matter how you look at it the basic fact remains, you are after those elusive fish! Fresh fish for a fish fry, family outings and reunions. Whatever the use you just cannot beat a fresh catch. There are many communities that are banning the use or manufacture of bottle water now days due to environmental factors. I guess the trend may be to go back to the ‘old’ days and do things the way I grew up? You can’t understand the refreshment of holding that water jug up over your head and draining that ice cold water down your throat when it’s 95 degrees out on the water, so refreshing!
Capt Stephen Boriskie
Bay Flats Lodge
Seadrift, Texas
