I Caught one THIS Big!
Fishing shows are addictive. Surfing through the digital cable guide at mom's and seeing anything fishing/bass/In-Fisherman/or Bill Dance related brings excitement not seen since waking up on Saturday mornings knowing that cereal and Superfriends were first on the "to-do" list.
For many years, my family traveled to Florida to be pampered by my Grandparents. Among the activities to look forward to was flat-bottom boat fishing and shelling trips. The last time I went was with my younger brother. Bleary eyed and hating alcohol, we still managed to have one of the best times ever that morning. It then became "My favorite thing to do while in Florida."
A little while back I was visiting my Dad in Los Angeles. He had charged me with the task of "thinking of stuff I wanted to do." At this point, I had seen all the requisite LA "places where only tourists go", and Venice Beach is only charming for the first 20 visits. Laying on the couch, getting right on that Dad, BAM. In-Fisherman. Immediately, heart rate lowered, I was fully engaged in the pros and cons of live vs. artificial bait. My dad walked in the room, recognized the angler accents and the unmistakable ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz of the cast and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Laura, are you watching fishing?"
"Totally. I love fishing shows."
"You do??"
"Yes." I was gearing up to school Dad on the finer points of Angling and the soothing nature of its programs. He beat me to it.
"Actually, so do I. I find them very soothing. Like golf."
Ah, a father-daughter bonding moment the likes of which...yeah, it's pretty weird.
Anyway, suddenly it hits me. FISHING! There's an ocean around here right? And boats? And fish? There has GOT to be a charter service like Florida right?
Dad was hesitant, but my exuberance was catching and he went off in search of a boat and a captain while I discovered the cleverness of a remarkable me.
We pulled into the harbor the next day. Expecting the pristine "Boating/Fishing/Shelling" signage I was used to seeing in Florida, imagine my shock when we arrived at what looked like a scene out of a Merchant Marine movie. We wandered around for a while until we spotted a small, badly in need of a repaint, sign the read simply "Charters". The girl in me started piping "ew!" and "this is NOT like Florida at all!" And where the hell were the rest of the families?
So, we find our boat, read: The Orca, as featured in the Spielberg classic "Jaws", and board. The Fishing Party: Six men. 3 Grizzled, hip boot wearing essentially pirate type guys, two younger semi (thank goodness) normal looking guys, the Captain-who could have definitely stood to have a shower...and us. Dad, having just taken some Dramamine clad in a BRIGHT WHITE T-shirt and work out shorts, and a red ball cap, and me in my cute shorts, tank-top, and bathing suit. I looked around at the company and realized they all had something we didn't. Fishing Tackle. Um, hello??? Where were the poles that the company rents to the tourists? Anyone? Anyone??
"Here, you can use this." a large fishing rod unceremoniously thrust into my hand.
"You ever been fishing?" This captain was really beginning to get on my damn nerves.
"Yes, I have, thank you. In Florida. On the Gulf of Mexico." Pssh. Have I ever been fishing before. Christ. Of Course. Aaaand then I looked at my reel.
Ok, a little fishing lesson.
There are a few different types of reels out there, but the most commonly used reels are your Spinning Reels and your Conventional Open Face Reel. The Spinning reel is often called a "Coffee Grinder" due to it's resemblance to the old fashioned coffee grinders...like the one in Dances with Wolves...only cylindrical. These reels are cool because they employ automatic tension during your cast. Which is good. No tangling or "Bird's Nests" as they're sometimes called. Now, the Open Face reel is different. That's the one that looks like a big spool with a crank. These do not employ automatic tension on the line. Therefore, when you cast, you have to keep your thumb on the spool to keep the spinning line that moves back and forth across the spool as you're throwing (casting) the line out, to keep it under control, other wise, bam. Bird's nest, and about 10 minutes of untangling before you're ready to cast again.
I had never used an Open Face Reel before.
"Um, you don't have a Spinner?" Almost came out of my face, but the Captain was busy preparing the "Breakfast" portion of the Chartered Fishing, Breakfast provided portion of the day's bounty. "Breakfast" turned out to be a fried-egg sandwich wrapped in a dirty paper towel.
We pulled away from the harbor and immediately the doubts I had about the day began to melt away as I took in the sea air...realizing that I had never in fact been on a boat in the Pacific Ocean. So, that in itself was a special treat.
Arriving at what the Captain deemed "a good spot", we Anglers readied our poles and cast. Or rather, everyone else cast and Dad and I ended up with the first of about 50 bird's nests that day. It got so bad that after a while I just gave the fuck up and decided to enjoy the day on the boat. This decision was not well received by the older, grizzlier passengers, but whatever. I had a tan to work on.
Suddenly, I hear:
"Sea Lions!"
Ok, another fishing lesson.
On the Gulf, Pelicans are a menace to anyone trying to get any fishing done. They steal your bait, steal your catch, and one always runs the risk of hooking one of the bastards. That means a cut line, not mention a big, mean old hook in the poor Pelican.
On the Pacific, however, Sea Lions are the fisherman's nemesis for the exact same reason. But I didn't know that.
"What?? Sea Lions? REAL LIVE SEA LIONS?"
I was up and leaning over the side of the boat gazing down at two of the cutest little faces I had ever seen. And said as much. They were frolicking around, splashing, and just generally having a good time, and, thus, was I. I lurched backwards as the boat accelerated AWAY from my National Geographic moment.
"Why are we moving?" I asked. Ooh. That sounded sooo girly.
"Because. Unless you want 'em to eat your fish, we have to move."
"Oh." I had so much to learn about this new world of Pacific Ocean fishing.
One of the old coots kinda warmed to me at one point. More likely it was the bikini, but regardless...
"Hey, you... I got a good size fish on this rod. You wanna reel her in?"
Ok, I just now realized there is no way of saying anything regarding fishing without it being a double entendre. Gross.
"Yeah! I'd love to." REEL IN THE FISH! THE FISH!!!!
God help me, it was a barracuda.
I'll pause here so you can all make your requisite "She said: rod, pole, reel, barracuda, good size" jokes here.
Finished?
Good.
Anyway, the rest of the day went pretty much the same. Me lolling around the boat, getting dirty looks from all the guys on the boat, and more than a few
"God Damnits"
From my dad every time he birdnested his reel.
We were exhausted by the end of it all.
But it was a good time.
And I can say my dad took me fishing.
For many years, my family traveled to Florida to be pampered by my Grandparents. Among the activities to look forward to was flat-bottom boat fishing and shelling trips. The last time I went was with my younger brother. Bleary eyed and hating alcohol, we still managed to have one of the best times ever that morning. It then became "My favorite thing to do while in Florida."
A little while back I was visiting my Dad in Los Angeles. He had charged me with the task of "thinking of stuff I wanted to do." At this point, I had seen all the requisite LA "places where only tourists go", and Venice Beach is only charming for the first 20 visits. Laying on the couch, getting right on that Dad, BAM. In-Fisherman. Immediately, heart rate lowered, I was fully engaged in the pros and cons of live vs. artificial bait. My dad walked in the room, recognized the angler accents and the unmistakable ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzz of the cast and stopped dead in his tracks.
"Laura, are you watching fishing?"
"Totally. I love fishing shows."
"You do??"
"Yes." I was gearing up to school Dad on the finer points of Angling and the soothing nature of its programs. He beat me to it.
"Actually, so do I. I find them very soothing. Like golf."
Ah, a father-daughter bonding moment the likes of which...yeah, it's pretty weird.
Anyway, suddenly it hits me. FISHING! There's an ocean around here right? And boats? And fish? There has GOT to be a charter service like Florida right?
Dad was hesitant, but my exuberance was catching and he went off in search of a boat and a captain while I discovered the cleverness of a remarkable me.
We pulled into the harbor the next day. Expecting the pristine "Boating/Fishing/Shelling" signage I was used to seeing in Florida, imagine my shock when we arrived at what looked like a scene out of a Merchant Marine movie. We wandered around for a while until we spotted a small, badly in need of a repaint, sign the read simply "Charters". The girl in me started piping "ew!" and "this is NOT like Florida at all!" And where the hell were the rest of the families?
So, we find our boat, read: The Orca, as featured in the Spielberg classic "Jaws", and board. The Fishing Party: Six men. 3 Grizzled, hip boot wearing essentially pirate type guys, two younger semi (thank goodness) normal looking guys, the Captain-who could have definitely stood to have a shower...and us. Dad, having just taken some Dramamine clad in a BRIGHT WHITE T-shirt and work out shorts, and a red ball cap, and me in my cute shorts, tank-top, and bathing suit. I looked around at the company and realized they all had something we didn't. Fishing Tackle. Um, hello??? Where were the poles that the company rents to the tourists? Anyone? Anyone??
"Here, you can use this." a large fishing rod unceremoniously thrust into my hand.
"You ever been fishing?" This captain was really beginning to get on my damn nerves.
"Yes, I have, thank you. In Florida. On the Gulf of Mexico." Pssh. Have I ever been fishing before. Christ. Of Course. Aaaand then I looked at my reel.
Ok, a little fishing lesson.
There are a few different types of reels out there, but the most commonly used reels are your Spinning Reels and your Conventional Open Face Reel. The Spinning reel is often called a "Coffee Grinder" due to it's resemblance to the old fashioned coffee grinders...like the one in Dances with Wolves...only cylindrical. These reels are cool because they employ automatic tension during your cast. Which is good. No tangling or "Bird's Nests" as they're sometimes called. Now, the Open Face reel is different. That's the one that looks like a big spool with a crank. These do not employ automatic tension on the line. Therefore, when you cast, you have to keep your thumb on the spool to keep the spinning line that moves back and forth across the spool as you're throwing (casting) the line out, to keep it under control, other wise, bam. Bird's nest, and about 10 minutes of untangling before you're ready to cast again.
I had never used an Open Face Reel before.
"Um, you don't have a Spinner?" Almost came out of my face, but the Captain was busy preparing the "Breakfast" portion of the Chartered Fishing, Breakfast provided portion of the day's bounty. "Breakfast" turned out to be a fried-egg sandwich wrapped in a dirty paper towel.
We pulled away from the harbor and immediately the doubts I had about the day began to melt away as I took in the sea air...realizing that I had never in fact been on a boat in the Pacific Ocean. So, that in itself was a special treat.
Arriving at what the Captain deemed "a good spot", we Anglers readied our poles and cast. Or rather, everyone else cast and Dad and I ended up with the first of about 50 bird's nests that day. It got so bad that after a while I just gave the fuck up and decided to enjoy the day on the boat. This decision was not well received by the older, grizzlier passengers, but whatever. I had a tan to work on.
Suddenly, I hear:
"Sea Lions!"
Ok, another fishing lesson.
On the Gulf, Pelicans are a menace to anyone trying to get any fishing done. They steal your bait, steal your catch, and one always runs the risk of hooking one of the bastards. That means a cut line, not mention a big, mean old hook in the poor Pelican.
On the Pacific, however, Sea Lions are the fisherman's nemesis for the exact same reason. But I didn't know that.
"What?? Sea Lions? REAL LIVE SEA LIONS?"
I was up and leaning over the side of the boat gazing down at two of the cutest little faces I had ever seen. And said as much. They were frolicking around, splashing, and just generally having a good time, and, thus, was I. I lurched backwards as the boat accelerated AWAY from my National Geographic moment.
"Why are we moving?" I asked. Ooh. That sounded sooo girly.
"Because. Unless you want 'em to eat your fish, we have to move."
"Oh." I had so much to learn about this new world of Pacific Ocean fishing.
One of the old coots kinda warmed to me at one point. More likely it was the bikini, but regardless...
"Hey, you... I got a good size fish on this rod. You wanna reel her in?"
Ok, I just now realized there is no way of saying anything regarding fishing without it being a double entendre. Gross.
"Yeah! I'd love to." REEL IN THE FISH! THE FISH!!!!
God help me, it was a barracuda.
I'll pause here so you can all make your requisite "She said: rod, pole, reel, barracuda, good size" jokes here.
Finished?
Good.
Anyway, the rest of the day went pretty much the same. Me lolling around the boat, getting dirty looks from all the guys on the boat, and more than a few
"God Damnits"
From my dad every time he birdnested his reel.
We were exhausted by the end of it all.
But it was a good time.
And I can say my dad took me fishing.
posted by LC Greenwood at 10:58 AM
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