In the Dictionary, Ultimate is defined as: "The best achievable or imaginable of its kind", with this in mind Ultimate Fishing would mean a trip that makes you feel as if you have achieved something. To narrow it down, I believe that a fishing trip with the feeling of being achieved would be something along the lines of a very difficult big fish to catch such as catching a musky in the south, or catching a big bass up north.
I can remember taking my second trip to the Florida Key's at age 13, we had a 21 foot center console boat, with a 150 4-stroke on the back, we were down there the month of February and a massive cold front had just moved out. I woke up at 6am, I was the only one awake.. took a glimpse outside to see nothing but dense fog, thunder, and lightning, you may think this turned me away from fishing that day like everyone else, but no.. not me! My Dad was in the first stages of Lue Gehrig's Disease aka ALS, and during that stage he was very picky, he had to be doing what he wanted, and that morning my Dad and I convinced everyone else to come along. So since I was the only one that knew what they were doing, I ran the boat and took it about 7 miles out. The storm had passed but there was still thick fog.. so thick you couldnt see the front of the boat, let alone other boats. Once I had gotten out to the spot, I threw in the chum bags and started taking the poles down, and before I knew it the fog had just lifted up, and the water was slicker than glass, behind the chumline the water was silver because of all the baitfish behind us, I had a great feeling that today was going to be unforgettable, within 5 minutes 3 mackerel had already been landed in the boat, and by the end of the day we had to have someone sit on the cooler in order for the fish to not jump out, we caught over 80 pounds of meat in the 2 hour time period we fished, all spanish mackerel. I could see satisfaction in my Dad's eyes, and I sure am glad he went, because that was his last legit fishing trip.
What better way to spend his last trip! I always think of him every time I go back to the Key's and especially that spot, it was so special we even spread his ashes there! I would have to say that was my Ultimate Fishing Trip, and no one can take that from me!
My Dad: Todd Overgaard