Florida angler Ke'Mari Cooper became a poster child for #BlackBoyJoy in a viral catch-and-release video last October. The video, shot by his father Velt Cooper, made its rounds on social media and eventually fell into the hands of the CEO of wildlife and outdoor retail conglomerate Bass Pro Shops.

In the adorable video posted to Ke'Mari’s YouTube channel, the young boy was surprised by the size of the bass he caught. He even threw his hat and ran around Waverly Pond Park after viewing the weight of the fish. As the 10-year-old reeled in his then-personal best, a 7-pound bass, his father recorded him.


Ke’Mari screamed out, “Show me what you workin’ wit!”

“That’s all the support from y’all,” Ke'Mari said. “Thank you, God for this fish.”

After basking in the moment, Ke'Mari returned the fish to the water and said, "Let's put this baby back in the water. My personal best.”

“I hope you go back and be better. One day we're gonna meet back again. I'll see you later," Ke’Mari said, according to ABC News.

Cherish The Day creator and producer Ava DuVernay quoted the line when she shared the video on Twitter in October.

After Johnny Morris, CEO of Bass Pro Shops, saw the video, he invited the father and son duo to a special VIP experience. The two were invited to the Daytona 500 race and a personal fishing excursion with Morris.

On Sunday, the Coopers visited the track prior to the race and joined in on a drivers' meeting. The two also got a chance to go infield to see an all-encompassing view of the track.

Adding to the allure of the day, Morris took the 10-year-old and his dad fishing. In a photo shared to Twitter, Ke'Mari poses with the CEO and his "new personal best"

Ke’Mari joyfully reels in the bass and screams as he sees the large size of his new catch. Relishing in another #BlackBoyJoy moment, he shows off his dance moves and yells, “Yes Sir!”

“Got the chickens waking up,” Velt said. “Look at Ke'Mari Cooper! Shouts out to everybody at Bass Pro.”

The Florida native and his family also received an invite from the manager of the Tallahassee Bass Pro Shop to visit the store, WTXL reported. There, they presented him with a Johnny Morris Signature Series reel and professional rod.

Ke’Mari's father told ABC News fishing was a family tradition and that they have been fishing together for years.

"He's a bright young man, and I just wanted to pass on the genes that my father taught to me. It kept me out of trouble. It kept me humble. Fishing keeps me patient," Velt said.

Ke'Mari has a bright future in bass fishing with the support of his loving father and now the support of Bass Pro's CEO — yet his biggest catch is all of our hearts. 

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