All who read “A Flicker in the Water” feel the influence of The Old Man And The Sea.
Additionally, one of my favorite lines came directly from a sentence Hemingway used. In describing the old man, Hemingway wrote. “Everything about him was old, except his eyes; they were the same color as the sea, cheerful and undefeated”
That moment inspired me to write. “Neither fisherman nor fish go through a full season undefeated unless you are the 1972 Miami Dolphins”.
Today we celebrate the birthday of Ernest Hemingway on what would have been his 127th year.
Moreover, Ernest or ‘Papa’ as he was called has never really left the stage. Additionally, his classic works and larger than life persona continue to inspire readers, writers and sportsmen around the world.
In fact, a good case can be made that his influence on sports-fishing is substantial.
Moreover, it rivals his influence on literature.
Additionally, his boat Pilar, pictured above with Ernest overlooking a Blue Marlin, was a model of innovation in its time. The fly bridge, the installation of extra fuel tanks and a built-in live well were all new innovations. The rods and reels he and his crew used helped land giant tuna and marlin. They fished around the Florida Keys, Cuba and the Bahamas. Legend has it the reels’ power and speed made him the Bahamas’ first to land a giant Tuna intact. It stayed intact, without sharks mutilating it.
I believe in today’s times Ernest would be a tremendous voice for conservation.
You may recognize the guy squatting in the photo above. This is me at the Destin History & Fishing Museum. Additionally, the rod and reel in the case bear Ernest’s name and were used in the Havana tournament in 1960. The rod and reel were donated to the museum.
The Hemingway Billfish tournament still operates today, usually in May or June, under full IGFA rules.
Happy Birthday “PAPA”
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