Rick Crawford
For some unknown reason I have always been obsessed with tropical islands. Perhaps it is because I grew up on an island off the coast of Georgia called Whitemarsh Island and my imagination used to run wild just knowing that the creek down the street from my house led to the Wilmington River, which led to Wassaw Sound and the rest of this big beautiful world? Maybe it was the influence of Jimmy Buffett singing “One Particular Harbor” that introduced me to the idea that there was a paradise out there somewhere? Or maybe it was reading Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic, “Treasure Island” as a kid? I’m sure it’s a combination of all of the above, but when you add surfing and fly fishing to the mix, they actually give you an excellent reason to visit the places you imagined in your head. Islands covered in lush palms, exotic flowers and colorful parrots. Blue crystal clear water, white sand and coconuts. Lovely people, unique food and new cultures. Aloha shirts, grass skirts, bonefish and good swell.
Lesson 2: Travel Often
I think anglers and surfers are alike in their love for travel as we pursue our passions with vigor. I have had the good fortune to travel a fair amount and have surfed Hawaii, Costa Rica and along the southeastern coast of the US, and fly fished in some remote pretty remote places as well, which I am extremely grateful for. My wife and I made it a point to travel as much as possible while we were DINK’s (duel income, no kids!), such as: Tahiti, Moorea, Rangiroa in the South Pacific; Abaco and Exumas in the Bahamas; Belize, Jamaica and Turks & Caicos in the Caribbean; and the Seychelles and South Africa in the Indian Ocean. We saved our money every year for a big trip, and it was certainly worth the sacrifices we made to be able to experience different scenery, cultures, food, waves and fish species together.
I think most anglers and surfers jump at any chance to chase waves or fish, given the opportunity. Generally speaking fish live in the most beautiful places, and to be more specific, bonefish live in the the most tropical and beautiful places. Waves break everywhere, but some places, such as Hawaii and Costa Rica, are situated in just the right places to produce better waves than others. My point is that fly fishing and surfing can take you to some of the most amazing places on the planet and the answer to whether you should buy the ticket, should always be “YES!”
For me, traveling helps to gain perspective, and is a very humbling experience. We all share the same basic human needs of food, clothing and shelter and I believe that most people have good hearts, are proud of where they come from, and are eager to share their food and culture with you. Chasing waves and fish around the world has also taught me that I have so much that I take for granted and getting to see how other cultures live helps me to be more humble and grateful for what I have.
Traveling helps us realize that we are all more alike than we are different. Anglers and surfers understand that chasing their passion leads to a sort of spiritual fulfillment as the whole traveling experience results in becoming a better person while catching a few fish and waves along the way! My advice…travel often!
Click here to read “Lessons from a Life of Fly Fishing & Surfing: Part 1” and stay tuned for Part 3 next month!