Years back, a tough old salt told me the story of the Silver King Fish at the bar we both frequented. John’s long gone now, but he was part of a charming era of Miami’s history, a time of movie stars, gangsters, gambling, and lavish weekends 90 miles away in Havana. The fifties. John worked on the charter boats that took yankees and Midwesterners fishing off the coast of Dade and Broward counties.
He would relate how he would establish rapport with the passengers with charming joviality. He explained that it was important to make the passengers feel like we cared about them and we made them feel special. As they approached the teeming schools of king fish the “vacation fishermen” would begin to get strikes. John would select a middle-aged fellow and help him land his catch with a big gaff hook. Another Miami con had begun. “Oh my God!” John would rasp out in well-practiced disbelief. “What’s the matter?” John would reply “I can’t believe this!” in the roar of a grizzly. Again “What, what?” At this point it was the tourist that had been hooked as well as the fish. “I would yell out ‘This is a Silver King!’ “said John, acting out how he would stroke the flapping fish, his face contorted in amazement and voice rising in crescendo. “Can I eat it?” came the naive query. And here’s where John would utter the Academy Award winning words: “Good God, man. Are you crazy. This is a grand trophy.”
From the bridge the captain would also express amazement. “There hasn’t been a Silver King caught in these waters in over thirty years!” He would come down and erupt in an animated dance and the celebratory exhilaration would mesmerize all aboard. Unseeable dollar signs would reflect in John’s and the captains eyes. The bump initiated, the hammer closes. Touchdown. Taxidermy time. A tidy sum would be extracted, contract signed, and all eyes beamed in glory for the tourist’s good fortune. John and captain would earn their usual commission. And pictures were taken(no film in camera of course) to be sent back to Oklahoma or wherever he was from.
They had to hope the fellow did not see the hundreds of “Silver Kings” being pitched up to the filleting tables when they came into the docks. But if he did, “Hey a contract is a contract,” John would explain “ and there were also the rules of the sea to be upheld.”
A time or two the fellow turned out to be a lawyer or a doctor and John could see a little “I’m not going for this” trouble coming. And here’s the art of the real con man. Conning your way out of getting caught. “Look,” John would begin with sincerity. “ It’s been your trip to Florida. And you were really thrilled weren’t you? The fish will arrive in six weeks and you’ll have it as a forever memory to share with friends, family and grandchildren. So in a sense it really is your “Silver King. See?” The man could now appreciate it looking at it that way and they’d shake hands and sometimes the fellow would come back next year. I heard the story many times. Every one a little different. And I never minded paying for the drinks as he conned me with his stories.
29 responses to “(repost) The Silver King by Carl D’Agostino”
Maxi
July 24th, 2012 at 09:00
Great story, Carl. Being from Miami, I can truly appreciate a “fishy tale.”
Blessings – Maxi
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Carl D'Agostino
July 24th, 2012 at 12:15
iT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE PIECES BUT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE THE ONLY ONE TO READ THIS REPOST.
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carldagostino
April 29th, 2011 at 23:08
The photo of you(I suppose it is you) should titled “Celebration of Life” It seems you are in take off mode. If you hear John’s voice in a conch shell at the beach there hang it up immediately. I think you will find blog A Friend to Yourself a refreshing look at things re who we are and how to live.
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judithhb
April 29th, 2011 at 22:28
I just wanted to say that I have nominated you for a Versatile Bloggers Award – http://growingyoungereachday.wordpress.com/2011/04/30/one-award-one-wedding-great-celebrations/ just because I like what you say and how you say it.
Have a great weekend.
Judith
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carldagostino
April 29th, 2011 at 22:46
Appreciate your kind consideration. Quite an assortment of talent you’ve listed.
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judithhb
April 29th, 2011 at 22:52
Well I seem to spend an inordinate amount of time each day reading blogs; being directed from one to another. Good job I am ‘retired’.
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judithhb
April 29th, 2011 at 01:30
Great story. My late husband was a deep sea fisherman, mainly fishing in the warm waters around the Bay of Islands in New Zealand. We did visit Florida and the Baja Peninsula for him to fish also.
But my story (and it’s true) is that when he landed his first Marlin in NZ he was asked by the local radio station how long it took him to land – his reply with just a small smile “Eleven years”. Not easy catching the big one on fine lines.
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carldagostino
April 29th, 2011 at 02:44
It often takes several hours to land a fish like that. It can be so exhausting, fisherman rotate holding the line.
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craig
April 28th, 2011 at 21:45
“TONIGHTS THE NIGHT”
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carldagostino
April 29th, 2011 at 02:42
I won $700
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planejaner
April 28th, 2011 at 15:44
Carl–
I was chuckling from the get-go.
well done, my friend!
blessings
jane
(I once hunted a jackalope. He was a tasty treat.)
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 16:17
I’m glad. It is one of my fav pieces
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Mark Petruska
April 28th, 2011 at 15:16
Sounds like a watery version of snipe hunting. Woody Boyd would make the perfect mark. 🙂
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 15:32
I love snipe. Basted in garlic butter of course w/sprinkle of parsley
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Mountain Republic
May 4th, 2011 at 08:42
You haven’t eaten snipe until you’ve had ’em deep fried…..southern style!
MR
Good post!
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carldagostino
May 4th, 2011 at 08:49
Can I use Italian bread crumbs or will the seasoning overpower the natural flavor of the snipes?
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Debbie
April 28th, 2011 at 11:14
Great story, Carl! Makes me wonder just how many times I’ve been “conned” and didn’t know it!
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 13:13
Best not to think about it. By the way, I own a toll bridge I want to sell. It goes for a mere $5,000 and you can make at least $2,000 a week collecting tolls. Whaddya say?
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kateshrewsday
April 28th, 2011 at 10:32
Loved this, Carl. There’s always someone with an ingenious way of making a fast buck…
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 13:11
John had plenty of more scams but he never really hurt anyone(not too much anyway). After 4 years WW 2 in the Pacific , he felt life owed him a little something here and there.
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blackwatertown
April 28th, 2011 at 10:27
I was going to say that I’ve heard/read that one before. But I’ve a sneaking feeling it was here. Does that count?
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 13:09
Yes, you may have read it here about six months ago. How’d you like to do some fishing in Miami, by the way?
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blackwatertown
April 29th, 2011 at 18:46
Some day maybe – as long as there are some Silver Kings left.
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flyinggma
April 28th, 2011 at 09:26
Love the story Carl. It doesn’t matter the place or time there is always someone out there trying to scam others. If they put as much effort into their job instead of the scam they might do truly great things that could benefit many instead of just lining their own pockets.
I like the idea of being on the cover of America’s Lottery Winners, perhaps you’d share the cover?
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carldagostino
April 28th, 2011 at 09:41
Good. It was my first post July 31, 2010 so as I repost today I hope I get some feed back now that I have some people following the blog. It really is one of my favorite pieces as was John one of the most delightful and memorable characters(I do mean characters) that I ever met. Eager to see what the day brings. Thanks for visit. Over the last 6 years I have hit the Ca$h 3 about 20 times for $500 each hit but nothing beyond that. I would love to have to pay $10 million in income tax.
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Deborah
August 4th, 2010 at 16:33
Carl,
Fish story greatly improved – more clarity of person. I also enjoy the look of the whole blog and the way you alternated between text and cartoon, you know like your favorite magazine, The New Yorker. Good job! Look forward to more.
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carldagostino
August 4th, 2010 at 19:22
Look at my other things. Please tell Jennifer. Then I’ll have my two fellow(ooops, sister) English teacher faculty members from 25 years ago hooked up.
I love New Yorker for quality cartoons. Hate them because they won’t publish mine. My favorite mag? America’s Lottery Winners with me on the cover!
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Rick Flynn
August 1st, 2010 at 21:50
Congratulations Carl!!! Looking forward to more stories!
Thanks, Rick
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carldagostino
August 3rd, 2010 at 22:28
Thanks for your help!
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