Do You Know the Mullet Man?

It's 3:15 AM and I have not had any coffee.

I managed to stumble out of bed  to find a cup of ambition in my kitchen.  For some reason, I insisted that I accompany my husband, Kyle, and his friend Matt to Cape San Blas in Gulf County.  Matt, who is the owner and operator of Off the Map Expeditions, an ecotour business out of Wewa, Florida had informed my husband that the mullet were "running."   My husband was very excited about this and made plans to go. I thought this would be the perfect time to try out my camera that my husband had procured for me the previous year for Christmas.   I had been toying with the idea of getting some good shots of the sunrise at the beach for some time and this was the perfect opportunity. 

My husband, who has been witness to my many finer traits, looked at my the night before this trip and with a serious tone said, "I just want you to know that we need to be in Wewa at 4:45."

"Oh, that will not be a problem.  We can be there.  I just will take a quick shower in the morning," I replied.

"Let me just tell you that when my feet hit the floor and I am walking out the door ready to go," he said.

"Okay."

"No, let me tell you that if you are not ready and I walk out the door I will leave you here.  So if you plan on getting a 'quick shower' then you need to be up at 3:00 in the morning."   He was beginning to annoy me.

"Let me tell you...I will be ready before you even roll out of bed and let your feet hit the floor," I said smiling smugly. 

The the next morning I was cussing myself for insisting on going.   For some reason, Mother Nature decided to drop about 20 degrees and I was not prepared for the shock of 56 degrees outside at 3:55 AM.

"Holy smokes...it's cold!" I cried.

My husband, ever supportive said, "You will be fine." 

I curled up in the passenger seat and prayed he would turn on the heater.  

He did not.

The drive down to the cape was long.  It was close to 6:00 AM by the time we reached the Cape with Matt.  Scanning the water, Kyle and Matt searched the water for signs of life.  I really was not sure what to look for.  But, then again I was still half asleep.  Suddenly,  I was jarred to my senses with the truck coming to a halt.   The guys scrambled out of the truck rushing for their cast nets.  In the sliver of dawn, I watched as they gracefully tossed out the nets into the calm of the early morning gulf.  I quickly grabbed my camera to document this event.  The nets looked like pancakes.  
That reminded me that I was still hungry. 

Pulling the nets in they smiled as the mullet tried to wriggle free.   I smiled as well.  Illuminated by the rising sun, I got to witness something you do not get to see every day... joy at its purest.  

It was a good day.


Side Note: Should you be interested in booking a tour with Matt please visit his page at www.offthemapexpeditions.com.   I don't think you will be disappointed.