“What time are we getting up tomorrow?” She asked. “Don’t worry about it, you can sleep in the car” I replied. “You know it’s our anniversary tomorrow?” She moaned. I know, it’s going to be so great.” “Better get some sleep, 4am is going to come quick.” A faint chuckle was heard as she groaned in the dark. It was still dark as we packed up the car in the damp Florida morning air. The kids will not be getting Mickey’s attention for another 5 hours but we pointed the rental car east and set the cruise slightly above the suggested speed. After an uneventful trip to the coast we were waiting for our guide to show at the rendezvous point. One flats boat after another past us without slowing until finally, only five minutes late but 4 later than my patience, the yellow maverick showed itself in the brightening skyline. “That’s our ride,” I proclaimed waking her up beside me. “Happy Anniversary,” I beamed. “This is going to rock!” Introductions, a handshake and we are back in the car heading to the launch.It’s getting brighter now and we are still in the car, following a trailered flats boat through a maze of dirt roads, “Where is this guy going” she asked, and I couldn’t talk because the sun was silhouetting the launch pad for the space shuttle in an orange hue,“Take a look at that hun, that is so cool” I said aloud as we pulled into our destination. After some quick instructions, we were on our way. “This is awesome huh?” I phrased as a half question, half statement, and we pulled onto the first flat. I stepped onto the deck and was instructed to air it out, “Let’s see what you can do.” Obviously, a challenge to my northern climes. So I bombed out 70 feet of line in 2 false casts and glanced at the back of the boat. “Oh, we’re going to be fine.”…”Ya” I sarcastically thought, but I understood what he had done, I spent a year in a boat once. Anyways, after the formality, we motored off the first flat and went fly fishing. We came to the first spot and my newly found friend poled us into some pot-holes which we blind cast into. After being unsuccessful with two patches of dark water the line tightened in the third. “Fish-on” I exclaimed, My wife jumped up to get a better look as I put the fish on the reel and bulldogged him in. It was a modest redfish, my first, sized firmly in the slot, a keeper but released to fight another day. We poled further down the massive flat, in water sometimes no deeper than the knee. As we rounded the point of a mangrove spotted island I noticed the flat’s bottom was a chocolate brown in color. “What’s that all about?” I asked as I pointed the rod tip to the 10 o’clock position. “Those are Reds” The guide proclaimed. “Get ready,” he said. We poled in silently and as we got into range. He told me to “Go ahead, whenever you’re ready.” I put the rod into overdrive and the fly flew out of my fingers. 35 foot back cast shoot 60 feet drop, plop, strip, pause, strip, strip, tighten, “Fish On!” A silver flash flew over my head as the guide cast a Johnson spoon into the fray…”Double Hook-up!!!” He handed the rod to my wife as 200 redfish took off across the flat throwing a wake the size of a small yacht. What glorious chaos!!!! We both landed our fish and released them after pictures to join the school. We ended the day with a redfish count of 5, had many refusals and one shot at a large sea trout cruising fast which moved for the fly but spooked at the last second. What a day, and hopefully the start of a great anniversary tradition. I’m not holding my breath though.