After the Squall

After the squall we took a walk up to Sherry's. Of course she was not there but CJ's Deli, right next door, agreed to cook some fish for us. We ran back to the boat, refreshed our cocktails, and took a small bag of Triggerfish up to CJ's and had a great lunch. We walked along the shore around and down to a new bar at the end of the line and had a cocktail and watched the dredging operation.

From 2012-05-13

They are dredging the canal and widening the government dock to accommodate the ferry boat from Ft Lauderdale. The project is scheduled to be finished by the end of the year, so realistically it might be finished by next May or June. Could be a fun way to come back and get on the boat if we decide to leave it over here next year. Big John's is being renovated and is supposed to be open by Memorial Day. We did notice the "No Pot Smoking" sign had been removed. We hope they put that back up as it was just part of the scene there. Will check it out on the way back through.

On a side note, a few comments on CJM's posts about fishing. I did throw out the first bait when making the crossing, but CJM said I should add to the spread. She was also ready to reel up about 15 minutes later, but I said, let's give it until noon. After the first couple of cranks I made with the reel when the fish finally stopped speeding away, the handle of the reel came apart in my hand. The rod, reel, and lure, a purple and blue Moldcraft Chugger, was the exact same rig we caught our first Blue Marlin on at Cat Island two years ago. It was the same rod and reel GP caught both of his Blue Marlin on with us. Thanks to Dr. Dave, a new handle is on the way so watch out Blue Marlin!!!!!

From 2012-05-11

The Grouper hit was a Grouper. Grouper somehow eat the bait clean all the way up to the hook. Barracuda rip and tear at the bait leaving ragged pieces. We trolled over a fish trap line that was submerged a few feet under water. Both lines caught on it. The port line peeled all the line off before we could get the boat stopped and broke off. I might add it broke right where the WWS guys retied the wire to the new backing I put on after the Wahoo trip. When we backed up to retrieve the starboard line the other lure was hanging right beside. We got the lure and fed the wire into the back of the boat and then respooled it on the reel and were back underway. I would have bet the farm that that wire would have never gone back on without a huge birds nest. And, I'm sure the term "clusterf@*k" was designed to be used for times like that because indeed it was.

All in all, a good first 3 days.

CTM