freeline-106 - Flipbook - Page 194
MITCH HAMMONDS
o f t h e w i l l o w s f ro m t h e g rave l m a r g i n s , b u t t h e b ro l ly wa s
j u s t a b o u t w i t h s t a n d i n g t h e b a t t e r i n g . At a ro u n d m i d n i g h t
a n d l o we s t p o i n t o f p re s s u re fo r t h e eve n i n g , I c o u l d j u s t
a b o u t m a ke o u t t h e s o u n d o f t h e a l a r m g iv i n g o u t a fe w b e e p s
fo l l o we d by t h e c l u t c h , a n d a g a i n my m i d d l e ro d wa s away.
Stood up to my waist in the waves, wind and rain, I
managed to slow the beast on the end of line and turn her
away from the danger of snags and head first into the net .
Parting the net in the howling winds, there lay a perfect
f a t d u m p y m i r r o r, a d a r k c h e s t n u t c o l o u r w i t h d i s t i n c t i v e
small scales along her back. It was a recapture of the mirror
I’d had in late spring. I called friend over to witness and
weigh her before slipping her back.
FREELINE 62
