Tuna, Albacore, Trout, Sunfish, Nile Perch, Channel Cat, Guppy... A Fish By Any Other Name Is Still Worth Catching

Let's Go Fishing

--By Rita Wysong
In his teens, Bob made it to Eagle Scout, an honor achieved by few boy scouts. He has always loved nature and could name dozens of trees, flowers, etc. He learned how to swim and taught his sons and grandsons. He also taught them how to fish and never tired of telling the kids, "Let's go fishing" after cramming bread dough in their pockets for bait. Bobby could hardly tear himself away and would fish for hours.

Birthday Fishing Trip

In Jidda, Bob put his new rod and reel to good use, catching very large fish from the Embassy launch in the Red Sea. Albacore, a twin of tuna, was his favorite catch. One albacore was the size of Linda, age 7.  He would clean the fish, put some in our freezer and give some to friends. I prepared the fish in many different ways including albacore salad (just like tuna). Delicious!

Click on picture to read Grandpa Bob's version of the story...

During a trip to Alaska, I brought in a 34 lb. king salmon, the thrill of my life. Your Dad was not impressed and was not a good sport about the whole thing.  He was very disappointed that time that he didn't get a "big one."  But he and Jeremy had especially good luck on a trip to an island by plane, catching dozens of trout.

In Khartoum, Bob and the boys liked to fish for Nile perch. They loved the perch prepared by our houseboy, Michael.   Many years later, when we took Bobby on a trip to the Chesapeake for the weekend for his birthday, Bob and I both brought in 50 lb. black drums. It was like hauling in a huge 50 lb. person -dead weight and little fight. Bob smoked the fish and it and the salmon were given to friends for Christmas as gifts, with cheese and bagels. A real delicacy.

When we bought a cabin in the country, Bob often took his boys and grandsons fishing at the Potomac, a stone's throw away from the cabin.  One year, John won a prize, bringing in the largest fish that summer.