This whole thing is really about my buddy Joe and I making a half cocked promise to each other. Really. 

Joe and I have known each other ever since high school. We’ve had great times together as kids, were roommates at one point, and still kept up our friendship when I moved away from Maryland to Florida after my horrible girlfriend cheated on me. Really…she was a shitty girlfriend. 

Fast forward about fifteen years and here is Joe and Jaycen (more on him in a bit) showing up in Florida for my 40th birthday party, which was incredible those guys would come. After a few beers (and many more that came after), Joe and I were talking about how much we both wanted to do fishing trips that were shit we just dreamed about and “at some point” in our lives wanted to do. We both knew it, there was know damn way either of us on our own accord were going to individually take these trips. The money it costs, being away from our families, blah, blah, blah, blah. 

That night Joe and I made a alcohol induced promise to each other that we were going to hold each other accountable that each year together we do some kind of bucket list fishing trip. I don’t know if it was the realities of turning 40 or the beer/shots talking but it was a commitment that we both really meant to follow through on. Go figure. 

We have on different occasions tried to include Jaycen in these trips but for some reason or another he seems to miss them. Throughout trips we do, you might see Joe and I giving Jaycen the bird pretty much everywhere we go. It’s really turned into a thing. It’s all out of fun towards Jaycen and who the hell knows, maybe one day he’ll come with us on an adventure. I’m not sure who we’d flick off then but we’ll cross that bridge if we get there. In the meantime, Jaycen is going to get plenty of photos from Joe and I. 

Life is damn short. Don’t wait until you are too old to do the things that really make you feel alive. Our adventures will hopefully inspire you to do your own adventures. Maybe it’s not fishing but whatever is that thing for you, just find a way to make it happen. Hell, go get your buddy drunk and make him promise you that you’ll do a bunch of crazy shit together. You won’t regret it. 

Aaron Rich
Chief Fishing Bucket Lister