Quick Trip... Big Payoff

June 23rd

Still on the grind after our successful shark trip, not able to keep ourselves away from the sea we ran out for a quick run about with Uncle Steven. Any trip with Uncle Steven on deck, catching fish is of the least importance.... Pure comedy pours from this mans mouth, he will narrate the snagging of a Bagall with the furor of David Attenborough and convince you its the most ferocious fish in the sea. Its hard to turn down such a show, while JJ scouts the depths for wrecks until finally landing on a nice piece of high bottom.

A bucket of clams, and a few rigs.... We dropped down and had instant head shakes and pokes at the bait. One by one we reeled up on some nice sized Black Sea Bass, hand over fist filling up the box and easily limiting out. I had the hot rod of the day, and just couldn't keep them off me, but JJ came up big with a nice sized knucklehead for the win. Uncle Steven did a great job hustling up his share of keepers and keeping the crew in stitches, with play by play commentary.

Not being greedy we decide to pull up anchor and try our luck on the bunker schools which were everywhere and as big as football fields. JJ threw the treble hook at the huge black swarms crashing the surface, and live lined a few on the outside hoping the Stripers were under them somewhere, but no luck.

Only planning on being out for a few hours to catch some sun, we ran down the beach to the mouth of the inlet and gave the fluking a shot. A few short drifts, turned up no keepers but plenty of shorts as we decide to call it a day, head back, clean up and settle in for our Mako BBQ with good friends, family and Capt. Big Johns Birthday.

Sometimes, these short half day trips, with no pressure turn out to be some of the best days....

Any day on the salt is a great day, but being around friends, and family with the sun on your face, cold beer in your hand, and my briar pipe in my teeth, force me to remember whats important.... Enjoying life for the now, and never letting the good be swept away by the tide of the bad.

Happy Birthday Uncle John.

-Marco