“You should put down that fly rod and go with gear, you’d actually catch fish”. I’m absolutely certain that the person responsible for such impractical life advice lacks the ability to prepare a home cooked meal.
Overtime.
Modern Zen philosopher once said.
A fish with innards of peanut butter and chocolate, is a cake. A cake with innards of fish, is a croquette. Smart guy. Shanununununununununununun….
What it boils down to
Is this, the definition of to the gills. Gale blew so hard this morning that the Bite me Too boys folded and decided to pursue other game. Myself, I played hooky from other snags and rode my little bike to where the smell suits the nose. The air was salty, fishy and bloody as they all crashed into my legs. I casted and I caught, repeated over and over again. There are times in life when you really appreciate all the practice you’ve put forth. Harness forces outside the body to manifest the dream. To the fucking gills.
What to do?
Liquid Jewel.
Cats got my tongue lately, maybe its the salt? Whoever “They” is, says that pictures are worth a thousand words anyhow. Well “They”, mine are worth millions so I’ll take a break from the yammer. I’m no poet and have never been a fan of inside jokes, so I’ll leave it up to you.
Crushin’ it.
I spend all day doing the crab dance in the cockpit, running hydraulics, pulling traps to a deafening Detroit Diesel 892.
While my fellow deckhand snaps the claws, jiggles pufferfish and licks the puss.
You can always count on this guy to put fish in the boat. Massive Tripletail (Dang ol’ Grouper Gar)
The Florida Stone crab fishery is very sustainable and unique in that the crab can regenerate its claw when broken properly. These jumbo claws go for 30$ a lb in restaurants and sell like wild fire. I’ve played with crabs before, but these ones fight back. Crushing with 17,000 lbs per square inch of claw and taking your finger with.
The Gulf of Mexico is a very unforgiving place that most just assume is a small, calm pond. Offshore is a washing machine, common to be rolling in 6 ft seas coming from every direction.
Currently the water temperature is around 80 and will drop to 60 in the winter months. Coming from a polar opposite in Alaska where the water temperature rarely surpasses 60 has been a true adaptation.
Most Fly.
Goodnite Gulf.[/caption]
Guns, Hogs and Grouper Oh my!
Come out and fish with us!
Right Away.
Its almost like they knew I was coming. First cast and good morning. Run to the left then the right, sweat it out and slide right into hand. Waking up to sun silhouetted lizards on my window is better than hot coffee. These fish are much smarter, faster and quiver after the skin is shed. Snapping necks and cashing checks from here on out.
New York is.
Once every year I briefly return to my home state and hang with my favorites. We forage on the local flavor, climb waterfalls and play grab ass with 30lb King Salmon til we’re useless. Supposedly insanity is doing the same thing over and over again with the same results – Well, so far its only getting better. So long NY, I love you.