PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla. (WJHG/WECP) – Wayne Foster didn’t come to Panama City Beach expecting a quiet morning on the water.
In town from South Florida for a family gathering, he planned a small fishing contest with relatives at Frank Brown Park. But when the group scattered, Foster still found the perfect way to spend his Saturday: fishing alongside his uncle.
“Getting that big fish, the most fish, whichever one comes first,” Foster said, describing the friendly competition that runs in his family.
Foster has been fishing most of his life. “Ever since I was probably about four or five,” he said.
Their outing coincided with Florida’s freshwater license-free weekend, a statewide opportunity that lets residents and visitors fish in freshwater without purchasing a license. The goal is to make it easier for young adults, first-time anglers and families to try the sport with no permit required.
For Foster, it meant grabbing a rod and “trying to catch the tail end of it,” he said.
At first, the bite was slow.
“Today hasn’t been my day for some unknown reason,” Foster said.
Then things turned quickly.
“Oh, he just caught one in my line,” Foster said, jumping in to help his uncle as the fish hit.
A spotted bass soon came out of the pond, proof that even a quiet morning can turn into a memorable one.
After insisting it wasn’t his day, Foster landed another fish moments later.
He said fishing offers more than just the thrill of a catch.
“It’s just a peace of mind and just, you know, the competition, the camaraderie… getting other people involved and just having a lot of fun,” Foster said.
The last day to fish without a license is Sunday.
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