Capt. Jack Reinhart, Port Canaveral, Florida
If there is ever a man that has a story to tell, it would be Captain Jack Reinhart, of Port Canaveral, Florida, and not just one story but many. Over the years as I have visited with Capt. Jack I seem to learn a little more about him and many interesting things he has done during his lifetime.
My husband, Captain Richard, has actually known Capt. Jack since the early 80's and at one time worked in his store "Captain Jack's Bait and Tackle" which Capt. Jack and his wife Peggy owned from 1983 until 2000, after which he opened his present store CJ's Rod and Reel Repair. Captain Jack's Bait and Tackle was the most popular store at Port Canaveral. Anything you wanted and needed along with Jack and his wife could be found in their store at any given time.
Before moving to Florida in 1970, Captain Jack had many adventurous years of his life. At the age of seventeen he entered the Navy and served in World War II on a Landing Craft. He was in the Navy for five years and twenty-eight days. He met his wife, Peggy, in 1962 living in Maryland, as we were talking about his younger years he said to me with a big gren on his face, "I was a smooth operator then", referring to him sweeping Peggy off her feet. I just cackled as I knew how much he was in love with his wife. After his years in the Navy Capt. Jack worked for the National Security Agency for twenty-six years. Oh how I thought he must really have some intriguing stories to tell me especially the years he was under President John F. Kennedy, however, when I ask all he said was "I can't talk about it", there was definitely some secret work he had been involved with over the years and still felt he couldn't divulge that information. One thing he did share with me was that in July of 1946 he was aboard a ship fifteen miles from ground zero where he was a witness to the atomic bomb testing on two occasions at Bikini Atolls in the Marshall Islands.
As Capt. Jack has witnessed history in the making during his life, he has always had a great passion for fishing. One of his best memories was catching a 60 1/2 pound, 7 foot 4 inch White Marlin off of Chincoteague, Virginia. As he moved to Florida he continued to fish while being a charter captain on his boat the "Moondoggie" in the seventies and early eighties. Later, he worked at Cape Marina for a short time then decided to open a tackle store himself. The "Big Boys Toy Store", Captain Jack's Bait and Tackle, the place you would take your catch to weigh in and take a picture. Richard and I alone have hundreds of pictures taken in front of Jack's place during the years he was the owner.
Many people have crossed through the path of Captain Jack over the years. Visiting his store I enjoy looking at the wall full of interesting photos from famous people he took fishing or just customers to many different memorabilia plotting the course of his life. When you visit Capt. Jack at Port Canaveral, you will see what I am talking about and enjoy looking around. |
