Special to Neighborhood Post

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Norman Maclean's fishing-centered 1976 novel, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories, wasn't based on the Moyher family of Port St. Lucie. Neither was Robert Redford's subsequent 1992 film adaptation.

But they could've been. Tom Moyher picked up the fishing bug from his family around the time Maclean's novel was published. And his 15-year-old son Tyler is carrying it on. Since joining the Fort Pierce-based Teen Anglers organization last October, Tyler already has first-, second- and third-place finishes.

"For my first-place finish, I caught a black drum that weighed around 3 1/2 pounds," Tyler said. Having the trophy in hand makes remembering the date easier. "It was last December 16."

"He was only about a year old when we helped him catch his first sunny fish up at my parents' place in Georgia," his father said. "He caught his first on his own at age 2, a small-mouth bass, in Port St. Lucie close to city hall. I got started fishing the same way, through my father, at about age 5."

Even though Tyler's mother Jo-Anne and 17-year-old sister Kayla aren't as enamored with fishing, Jo-Anne does occasionally accompany her husband and son.

"When I can get her out there, she loves it," Tom Moyher said.

The couple, who just celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary, own and operate the Port St. Lucie-based First Choice Cleaning Service. The business serves commercial and residential clients from Fort Pierce to Palm City.

"I was a helicopter mechanic for 20 years with Sikorsky Aircraft," Tom said, "until United Technologies Corporation had their big downsizing."

When Tyler competes in Teen Angler tournaments, it's often from the family boat, an 18-foot Sea Chaser Carolina Skiff.

A freshman at Lincoln Park Academy in Fort Pierce, he cites math and engineering as his favorite subjects. Becoming an engineer is a possibility.

"Engineering, at this point, is my second choice," he said. "I'd like to be a fishing guide someday."

That career would have Tyler following in the footsteps of Joe Ward, who operates Capt. Joe's River Charters in Fort Pierce and started the saltwater division of the 12-to-18-year-old Teen Anglers.

Ward also has a fishing-centered family. His wife, Cammie Ward, started Junior Teen Anglers for 5-to-11-year-olds. Their grandaughter, Savannah Ward, was named last season's Junior Teen Angler of the Year. Son Rob Ward is a certified captain who works for Pursuit Boats. His wife, Tammy Ward, helps Cammie run Junior Teen Anglers.

"Tyler and I both saltwater fish at times," Tom said, "We enjoy the chance to go deep-sea fishing, but most of the time we're flat-fishing in the estuaries."

Tyler gives the Wards credit for expanding his fishing knowledge.

"They always have meetings before tournaments," he said, "and they've helped me learn a lot about ecosystems. It's helped my fishing."

Tyler must balance his schoolwork to remain a part of Teen Anglers, since Cammie Ward checks report cards to make sure participants maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average. He's also working on his baseball prowess, since he's part of Lincoln Park Academy's junior varsity team. But Tyler was a late-bloomer in baseball by comparison, starting in the sport at age 5. Most of his free time still involves the water.

"Any spare time he has, he spends fishing," Tom said.

With his consistent showing thus far, Tyler might have a legitimate shot at consideration for this year's Teen Angler of the Year award, which will be handed out at the organization's annual banquet in September.