I signed up for a full-day fishing charter out of Aransas Bay. We loaded gear, left the dock before sunrise, and glided across mirror-smooth water. The captain told stories of Gulf life, pointed out dolphins porpoising in the distance, and called out seabirds diving.
Slow trolling lines, we caught redfish, speckled trout, flounder. The sun climbed, splashing the water with gold. By midday, we pulled into a shallow sandbar and anchored. We swam, snorkeled, and ate sandwiches cooled in a cooler.
Back to The Palms, I cleaned and filleted the day’s catch. I made blackened redfish tacos with shredded cabbage, lime crema, pico de gallo. Our group feasted outside under a canopy, swapping stories of fish fights and close calls. Later, a full moon lit the palms, and I walked down to the clubhouse where lights flickered and laughter drifted.