Respect

The sun hangs low in the sky, barely kissing the crimson horizon. Waves keep rolling as the water slowly rises. The seagulls seem to float effortlessly over the waters edge. Crustaceans peak out of their holes and retreat at the sign of any movement. I can feel the cool crisp ocean breeze cleanse my soul as I stand in awe of such a beautiful sight. I firmly grip my kayak and decide that its time to make my move. As I wade out into this other world, the waves violently crash into me. Some would consider this troublesome, but to me its soothing. Once I make it to the first sandbar, I get in my kayak and head straight for the open ocean. The adrenaline starts to trickle down my spine. After fighting my way through the rough surf, I finally reach calmer waters. It is a truly scary feeling being totally isolated, knowing that predators lurk in the shadows, but I crave this feeling and this is why I came. I drop my bait into the water and turn around. It would not be a good idea to paddle straight back. I let the waves carry me like a surfer as I use my paddle for balance. I'm only a few feet from the sand when I hear a high pitched buzzing. I leaped from the water and grabbed my pole. I secure the pole in my belt holster and the fight is on. This pre-historic beast gives all the effort he's got. Now my spine feels like Niagara Falls as the adrenaline starts to take affect. I know there is sounds around me, but I hear nothing. Nothing exists except for myself and this aquatic monster. I can feel him trying to anchor his nose into the sand in an attempt to prevent me from winning this fight. This is where most people would give up, but I'm not like most people. I hold on and continue to slowly pull him in. After 2 hours of fighting, I feel him give in to his fate. As I finally catch a glimpse of my very worthy opponent, I'm amazed by the evolutionary perfection. This beast pre-dates the dinosaurs and survived the last great extinction, but is now endangered by us humans. I respect my opponent, so I unhook him and help him catch his breath by moving him around in the water. As he starts to regain his energy and head toward his natural habitat, I whisper under my breath, "Good luck".