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A Fishing Buddy Passes
- By Randall Bryett
- Published 08/3/2008
Randall Bryett
Randall Bryett grew up on the Sunshine Coast of Australia with some the worlds best fishing around every corner. He has worked in many aspects of the fishing industry including chasing the Giant Black Marlin at the prestigious Lizard Island. He is a avid fly fisherman who likes to find his own path. When not traveling he resides in Northern California with his wife Kate and their adopted cats.
It seems the older you get the less complicated life should be but of course it is the opposite. Losing friends and family is part and parcel of this journey through our lives but it does not get any easier no matter how many times you experience it. A couple of good mates of mine are actually father and son. Big Chris and Little Chris Reynolds the "Critta's". Just this last Christmas, Chris Jnr told me that his father had terminal cancer called Myloma and just a few days ago informed me that he had only a few days live. Sadly Big Chris passed on this Sunday at the age of 67. His four children will miss him dearly but cherish the times they had together.
I have plenty of memories of the time spent with Big Chris, sushimi, beers and sailfish, coffee and cigarettes on winter days, boats, sheds and cars, workouts. Monty Python and cry tears laughter are some of thoughts that come to mind whenever I think of him. Even though this news made me shed some tears he always made me smile and so do those memories. Chris was a keen fisherman and chasing Big Jewfish from the beach was a passion of his.
I introduced Chirs to Gamefishing and we had some great times during the 92'-93' season in a boat he overhauled from top to bottom a 19ft Mako center console. He was very good with tools and could fix and build just about anything. I was with Chris when he caught his first sailfish and he helped me catch a couple of important ones also during the Sunshine Coast Gamefishing Club rally days. As a matter of fact he helped me win a trip to New Zealand to compete over at the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club. One day Chris actually dropped my off on the Blinker (a flashing light beacon a few mile off Mooloolaba) so I could meet and fish on another boat during the afternoon.You had to be there but it was bloody funny.
I think of Big Chris as one of my great mates and I miss him. He better have a boat ready when I finally get up there because we will have some catching up to do!!! In the mean time I hope to take his sons fishing on my return back to Australia maybe we will catch the infamous "Darling River Silver Bream".
I have plenty of memories of the time spent with Big Chris, sushimi, beers and sailfish, coffee and cigarettes on winter days, boats, sheds and cars, workouts. Monty Python and cry tears laughter are some of thoughts that come to mind whenever I think of him. Even though this news made me shed some tears he always made me smile and so do those memories. Chris was a keen fisherman and chasing Big Jewfish from the beach was a passion of his.
I introduced Chirs to Gamefishing and we had some great times during the 92'-93' season in a boat he overhauled from top to bottom a 19ft Mako center console. He was very good with tools and could fix and build just about anything. I was with Chris when he caught his first sailfish and he helped me catch a couple of important ones also during the Sunshine Coast Gamefishing Club rally days. As a matter of fact he helped me win a trip to New Zealand to compete over at the Bay of Islands Swordfish Club. One day Chris actually dropped my off on the Blinker (a flashing light beacon a few mile off Mooloolaba) so I could meet and fish on another boat during the afternoon.You had to be there but it was bloody funny.
I think of Big Chris as one of my great mates and I miss him. He better have a boat ready when I finally get up there because we will have some catching up to do!!! In the mean time I hope to take his sons fishing on my return back to Australia maybe we will catch the infamous "Darling River Silver Bream".
