Great trip. Fantastic fish. You probably now more than ever believe as I do that those dear to us that have been lost can and will on occasion contact us. Here you were feeling melancholy, remembering your dear friend Ray by dedicating a fish. Ray, I am sure was great guy who must have cared about you a lot to have called in a favor with the Jewish Carpenter that he pals around with now. I never met Ray, but I am sure he was grinning from ear to ear, when asked Jesus "to send that big bastard one he will know came from me"
There is definitely fishing in heaven which is a great thing. It just hurts an awful lot when one of our buddies gets called up for a charter. Remember that outing and take comfort knowing while you can no longer fish with Ray as you used to, every time you fish, Ray is never far away.