James is a kid who loves to fish. “I started when I was little and I still do it today. I’ve progressed from a hook-and-bobber to the intricacies of fly-fishing. The thrill of that tug on my fishing line is something that stays with me,” he wrote.
James is a young man of 16 battling a life-threatening medical condition. He loves his home state of Florida’s prime natural habitats. They inspire him. “The best part of travel is… the breathtaking beauty of nature. Sighting tadpole eggs, listening to the call of bird, watching a fish dart out from the sea grass and jumping over a stream,” he further wrote.
James wished for a 2016 Hobie® Mirage Pro Angler 14 fishing kayak, “Something I will use, cherish and learn from… Crafted to be stealthy, maneuverable and comfortable. (It) will let me take my fishing to the next level,” he wrote in his letter to the Make A Wish Foundation.
On Monday February 22, the South Florida chapter of Make a Wish and Hobie dealer Nautical Ventures fulfilled his wish—and then some! James’ new Pro Angler came rigged to a T, with a Lowrance Elite-5 CHIRP Fishfinder, a Power-Pole Micro Anchor, and a Hobie evolve electric motor kit. There were rod holders, an H-Crate, and plenty of other accessories in the package worth over $9,000.
The staff at Nautical Ventures clearly wanted to make James’ wish come true in style.
James was thrilled and wasted no time putting his Pro Angler through its paces in the navigation channel behind Nautical Ventures, but not before he’d checked out every inch of the boat. Nautical Venture’s Frank Ferraro said he could tell James really knows his stuff.
“Fishing is a spiritual thing for him. I suspect it’s a big part of his healing process too,” Ferraro said. “It really is a feel good story.”
