Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

Where we are

• 
  Chokoloskee marina — Where the Mako lives, where Matt caught his first snook, where Rose waves from the last dock.
• 
  Pavilion Key — The seaplane drop at dawn, Ch. 9; the mangrove hideout.
• 
  Little Pavilion Key — Old Scarface's territory. Hooked by Russ (Ch. 7) and caught by Matt (Ch. 19).

Every place in the book, painted →

Fish in this chapter

• 
  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
• 
  Striped mullet The baitfish the Bagley Mullet lure imitates. Mullet 'splashing in the current' is part of the Everglades… Ch. 4Ch. 5Ch. 6Ch. 15

Crew in this chapter

• 
  Matthew 'Matt' Creek protagonist Ch. 1
• 
  Snapper Dan's neighbor, retired guide Ch. 2
• 
  'Rawley' Simms Grocery-store owner / undercover FBI agent Ch. 2
• 
  Daniel Walter Panther Jr. ('Uncle Dan') Matt's uncle, charter captain Ch. 1
• 
  The third man Smuggler boss (unnamed) Ch. 9

Critters in this chapter

• 
  Mangroves Everywhere. The hideout at Pavilion Key, the storm tie-off, the overhangs where snook wait. Ch. 3Ch. 9Ch. 12Ch. 14
• 
  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
• 
  The smugglers' seaplane Twin-engine floatplane Ch. 9
• 
  The smugglers' jet boat Deep-hull powerboat Ch. 9Ch. 10

From the tackle box

Push pole

Long wooden pole for moving a boat silently through the shallows — how Snapper gets the Mako into the mangroves unheard.

Reading the tide

Fish the hour either side of high tide; 'morning high' means plenty of water over the oyster bars. Dan: the water isn't rising, the earth is turning through bulges of water pulled by sun and moon.

Matt’s list

• ✓ Get into trouble — checked off this chapter

See the whole list →