Another Day in Paradise

Yesterday I discovered that May is “Share a Story Month.” Today I want to bring you some joy by sharing a story recently written by my brother, Frank Franzen. In recent months, Frank has become relatively immobile. He has turned to sharing his Florida fish stories as a way to find his purpose in the face of this life change. It’s a great example of finding purpose even in devastating circumstances.

Frank told me that a weighted mullet net has a radius of ten feet and to make a “perfect throw” takes patience and skill. Remember that as you read on.

Enjoy!

ANOTHER DAY IN PARADISE

By Frank Franzen

It was a beautiful August morning in Tampa.  Even better, I was off work.  

Not a cloud in the sky but I knew full well the wrath of thunder, lightning, rains, and wind that could come in the afternoon. Being a still morning, I packed up my mullet net and coolers and headed to Dunedin Causeway to do a little mullet fishing. 

My choice spot was a small bridge on the first canal that linked the north and south sides of St. Joseph Sound. Very good tidal flow. The canal had condos on three corners and a sizable marina on the southwest side where the canal met the sound.  

I parked, hauled my gear and proceeded to fish. After I caught about a dozen mullet, I noticed the weather was changing radically and not for the better. 

A squall line was coming in.  

The wind howled. The rain came in sideways. Enough lightning and thunder for everybody. I got in my truck to wait it out. 

It finally slacked up. Just drizzling a little bit.  “Will fish again soon.” I started to scan the canal for mullet signs. Lo and behold, what got my attention was a very tired Irish setter swimming against the tide in the canal.

I could tell the dog was desperately trying to get out.The canal sides were concrete completely covered in razor sharp oyster shells at water’s edge. I have dogs and watching this was unbearable.  I got an idea and smiled to myself.  

“Why not?” 

I grabbed my 10 foot radius mullet net, crossed the bridge and strolled into the condo property from where I could hopefully reach the dog. I walked by a few buildings all adorned with signs. “NO FISHING” “NO TRESPASSING” “VIOLATORS WILL BE PROSECUTED”  “SECURITY GUARD ON SITE” 

But I was on a mission to net a dog. I found the dog and threw what we call “a perfect open.” 

The dog was in the net. 

The trick was to get him over the seawall but stay away from the oysters. I am a good size man and was able to accomplish that feat. Now, I had a tired and very confused dog enmeshed in monofilament and lead line. 

I started to work cautiously to free the dog. A shrill voice with a New York accent interrupted me, telling me that I could not fish on the property. I turned and faced a well suited—but thankfully unarmed—security guard. I attempted  to explain what I was doing. 

It is, after all, a bit unusual to see a dog in a fishing net.  

Mr. Security Guard went to a new level. He screamed that I couldn’t have a dog on the property either. 

I lost it. 

  Simply told him I would be very glad to distance myself from the property as soon as I freed the dog. He threatened to call the police. With expletives deleted here, I told him to go ahead. 

A pair of Dunedin deputies arrived within a few minutes. The security guard wanted me arrested. I explained to the officers what I did. One deputy got a bemused look on his face and said he needed to make a phone call. 

They had just received a report from a couple living on a sailboat in the marina across from the condo reporting that their dog was swept overboard in the squall.

Next thing I knew I saw a young couple walking towards us.  They got closer and the smiles broke out. 

I had netted their pet.  

The deputies and the couple all shook my hand with thanks and gratitude. 

I walked back to my truck.  

Lit up a cigar.

Thought to myself,  “No one’s going to believe this.” 

Just another day in paradise.