08-23-15
OTW at 0700. Rollers in the river are never good. A strong NE wind met me as I cleared the trestle. The incoming tide kept the waves just under white caps. The boat ran on top like a surfer. The wind in my face was the only nuisance.
Eight years ago today I shared a much better weather day on Great Bay with my friend, Dick Cummings. We all knew him as Dad.
Looking back at my records we checked twenty eight traps that day and put twenty three keeper lobster in the cooler. But what I remember most was the school of pogies we saw at the Adam's Point mooring field as we checked our last couple lobster traps.
My gill net was in the cuddy and a few drifts later me had a half dozen pieces of live bait. Not having a bait tank on board we put a couple each in five gallon buckets.
We went to Fox Point. When you fish live bait it is always good to know where the swimmer is at the end of your line. We'd been fishing for a few minutes when a bass started chasing a pogie on the surface. This was like ninety degrees off the direction Dick was holding his pole. As he reeled his slack up there was a huge splash where the pogie "used" to be.
As his line came taunt to the reel the drag started to sing. After an epic battle Dick had his first keeper striped bass.
My pogie had different ideas and instead of playing on the surface it dove. There is something about a striper strike on live bait. You feel the fish start swimming for its life then-BAM.
I dedicate today's Great Bay bounty to you my friend. RIP. See you on the other side!
Celebration of Life
08-24-15
Our Dad would have been 86 years old today. In his last few good years we would always take a trip out into Great Bay in search of a striped bass or two to celebrate. Tonight Shawn and I did our best to keep that tradition alive.
Out to Fox Point we went and the bass didn't or should I say Dad didn't let us down. The bass were literally boiling. They were easy to find by the popping sounds and the amount of terns working over them.
Shawn had the touch as he came tight twice after slinging his slime into the crashing school of stripers. I had plenty of bites but just couldn't set the hook.
Sadly the waning daylight was our enemy anticipating the six mile journey back through open bay to the dock. We left the bass harassing bait all around us.
On our way through Adam's Point I just couldn't resist a few more casts to the Rock where last year on Bud's birthday I caught a keeper.
About the time Shawn reminded my of the fleeting daylight I got a bite and the fight was on. It wasn't a keeper but the memories of tonight sure were.
Shawn and I make a good hunting and fishing team. Thanks Dad for the genes.