Dangerous Encounters

Where we are

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  Sandfly Pass — Out to the Gulf for Comer Key camping.
• 
  Comer Key — Beach camping, the moccasin, the shark. Matt's first keeper redfish years ago.

Every place in the book, painted →

Fish in this chapter

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  Redfish (red drum, 'spot-tail') The first keeper Matt ever caught, at Comer Key. Rose's cooler-toppling redfish at the marina. The 22- and… Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7Ch. 8 +1
• 
  Tarpon ('silver king') The trophy fish of South Florida and the tournament's main event. Old Scarface. Rose's 68-inch, 81-pound… Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 7Ch. 8 +3
• 
  Common snook Fishing royalty. The black lateral stripe is the tell-tale. Matt's 36-inch, 20-pound monster at South Point… Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 4Ch. 5 +2
• 
  Shark on the beach ('Mako') Black dorsal fin and red eyes in the lantern light at Comer Key. Dan cuts the line: 'There is such a thing as… Ch. 8

Crew in this chapter

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  Matthew 'Matt' Creek protagonist Ch. 1
• 
  Daniel Walter Panther Jr. ('Uncle Dan') Matt's uncle, charter captain Ch. 1
• 
  Snapper Dan's neighbor, retired guide Ch. 2

Critters in this chapter

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  Cottonmouth (water moccasin) The snake drawn to the lantern at Comer Key. Ch. 8
• 
  Sharks of the Ten Thousand Islands The 'Mako' on the beach at Comer Key; the hammerhead at the ghost net. Ch. 8Ch. 16
• 
  Mosquitoes, sand fleas, no-see-ums 'It was the mosquitos that chomped at his peace of mind.' Dan's homemade lavender repellent. Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 5Ch. 16

Boats in this chapter

• 
  The Mako Center-console bay boat Ch. 1Ch. 2Ch. 3Ch. 7 +3

From the tackle box

Boat poles

Heavy rods with woven 30-lb test, steel tip leaders, and forged hooks for beach-casting at tarpon and sharks.

Steel leader

Wire leader that toothy fish can't bite through.

Sand pipes (rod holders)

Aluminum pipes hammered into the beach to hold rods after a long cast.