Salty Girl of the Week: Harriet Simmons
Harriet began fishing almost as soon as she could walk. She would fish for bream, through a crack in the dock at her grandparent’s lake house on Kinglsey Lake in Florida. She didn’t use a rod and reel, just a piece of fishing line with a split-shot sinker, tiny hook and little ball of bread. Harriet passed this tradition on to her daughters. She reconnected with a high school flame that loves to fish and introduced her to fishing from a boat, instead of a dock. Her fiancé is a great teacher and in addition to giving her fishing pointers he has taught her to hunt as well. Harriet killed her first hog earlier this year.
Harriet’s favorite captain would have to be her fiancé, Eric Durham aboard his Key West. It’s just right for the inshore fishing that they love to do, although Captain Roger runs a close second. Harriet’s favorite memory of fishing was when and Eric went out with a local guide, Captain Roger Bump and landed a 70 lb Tarpon in a creek between Jacksonville and Amelia Island. It was an awesome fight bringing that fish to the boat and created a memory that Harriet will never forget.
Harriet loves to fish in the Florida Keys. There is such a variety of fish and the water is so beautiful, but since she can only go down there once a year, her 2nd favorite place is a creek that branches off of Sister’s Creek in Jacksonville. It is full of Red fish, Black Drum, Flounder and Trout. Harriet’s most unusual catch was a 4 foot long Moray Eel that she caught this past year in the Keys. It had scary looking teeth and it was probably the ugliest fish that Harriet has ever seen, except for its beautiful metallic green color. While Tarpon is her favorite release fish, Harriet’s favorite fish to catch and eat is Dolphin. She caught her first of several dolphin, this year, in the Keys on a charter with Eric. They actually caught 18 that day, including a 28 lb Bull that she caught using light tackle.
Harriet never leaves the dock without her camera. She likes to take pictures of the fish that she catches because it is so exciting for her. Going from catching little bream through a crack in the dock to catching large fish is an awesome experience for anyone, especially for Harriet. Harriet also likes to post her catches on Facebook. Harriet likes to bring aboard Publix Chicken Salad and Beer. She prefers Budweiser to wash it all down. And you can always catch her with tortilla chips too to use in place of silverware. Pretty inventive!
Harriet’s tip to the ladies would be if you want to catch fish, you have to have your line in the water. Her daughters always get frustrated and say that Harriet catches more fish than they do. And she does because she always has her line in the water, always! GET FISHING!
Harriet’s Mahi
Ingredients
Salt
Pepper
Fresh whole Lime
Mahi Mahi Filets
Directions
Season fish with salt and pepper. Heat skillet over med-high heat. When skillet is hot, spray with Pam and then immediately place fish in skillet. Squeeze some lime juice over fish and cook until edges are not opaque. Flip fish – the lime juice should have formed a dark crust like appearance on the fish. Repeat with lime juice and continue cooking until fish is flaky.
This is very simple, but oh so tasty!
