APALACHICOLA, Fla. – One second Michael Frenette was talking about the dream his father instilled in him. The next he was embracing his dad after his surprise arrival.
It was emotional for both anglers that Big Mike suddenly appeared Saturday at the Bassmaster Yamaha Redfish Cup Championship presented by Skeeter.
While Michael and Robinson were landing the fish to take the lead, Big Mike was driving the eight hours from his Redfish Lodge in Venice, La., listening to every second of Bassmaster LIVE and the weigh-in feed.
“It’s a crazy surprise,” Michael said. “Now the pressure is on.”
“Now we have to win,” Robinson said.
“There’s no pressure. There’s no pressure,” said Mike Frenette, considered redfishing royalty for his work to grow the sport.
After Michael put his team in the hunt with a 7-pound, 4-ounce catch early on Day 2, dad knew he had to be with him. With the event’s best bag of 13-4 for a 23-6 total, Frenette and Robinson head into Championship Sunday with a 1-pound lead.
Mike hoped to arrive for the weigh-in, but traffic slowed his progress. Steve Bowman, who heads up JM Associates’ management of the tournament, knew he was coming. With most other anglers packed and gone, he had the crew (me) stall the anglers with a lengthy interview session.
As Mike walked up behind the Yamaha trailer, Bowman diverted the anglers’ by having them look toward Scipio Creek at this “crazy bird diving.” With his son turned away, dad walked up behind Michael. He turned and was speechless.
“What are you doing here?” Robinson said.
Michael knowingly pointed at Bowman, then hugged his dad. There were silent for a moment, before dad simply said, “How about that?”
Overcome, Michael walked away to collect himself. Mike hugged Robinson and said, “Marky Mark, I’m proud of you. Both ya’ll.”
Robinson was brought to tears, too.
During the interview, Michael said his thoughts on the water are with his dad and brother, Stephen. Being so close to his dream had him contemplate and appreciate what got him there.
“I’m fishing with my brother and my dad all day long, talking to them in my head. They mean everything to me,” he said. “Mark comes from the same type of stuff. It’s my dad and my brother on the water, that’s our life.”
Michael came back, wiping away tears, and was asked for comment.
“I don’t have to make up a story. I just told you, and I didn’t know he was here,” he said. “The fact that he’s here right now is unbelievable. I love ya.”
“Me too, buddy. I love both ya’ll,” Mike said.
There were more embraces, some head taps, producing a touching moment at the 2024 Redfish Cup.
