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From: seapuppy
Date: 8/1/2017
Time: 5:15:37 PM
[XX] From the Memoirs of a Surf Fishman
A Scenic Drive Through Down East………..(With a Pup on the Side)
The alarm went off at 5:30 and I kept bangin’ the snooze until 6. Better get up! Crossin' from Ocracoke over to Cedar Island this mornin’ on my way to Davis and my reservations are only good until 6:30. Fired up the Jeep, Warrior and I headed to the ferry landin’. It's a bitterly cold 40*. The wind from the NW at about 25 knots, the sun just wakin’ up from its nighttime slumber. All of us aboard, the ferry pulled out of Silver Lake straight into the teeth of an angry Pamlico Sound.
Before I could get out on deck, a youngster & his father approached the Jeep & knocked on the window. ..Is that Warrior?.. Seven year old Christopher Bass asked with only his eyes peerin’ just above the bottom of the window. ..Sure is, come on girl, stick your head out the window.. As Christopher, wrapped in a heavy coat & standin’ on his tiptoes, stroked her head tenderly, he said he always looked forward to the adventures of The Warrior and now he had finally met his all-time favorite fish-dog. His father said they ..Really enjoy reading your stories. We always read them together. Thank you for writing them.. ..Why…. thank you.. I replied as I was momentarily taken a’ back. ..I really appreciate it. Thank you so very much.. It was incredibly gratifyin’ to see the way the youngster was so thrilled to meet Warrior. What a special moment….. It alone make’s all my time & hard work worthwhile… (It’s just too bad dogs aren’t allowed on deck or in the cabin area.) Like I’ve said so many times before: The Warrior is the STAR ! Without her, these stories would’ve never been written. She’s the inspiration. It’s surprisin’ how many people are touched by these stories. Where they come from I can’t say. The person that writes ‘em ain’t me. (Trust me! Wish I was..) I’ve made a real effort lately to "clean up" the stories as it's apparent young people are readin' them too, not only their parents.
After talkin’ to Christopher & his father I got outta’ the Jeep & chocked the wheels. It’s very rough & I just don’t trust the parking brake.. Man !! It is Brutal out here! Cold as a Witch’s T/&..(~i~~~t~~Woops! Can’t be sayin’ that here!) I walked over to the other side of the ferry & the cars on the westerly side were gettin’ soaked by spray in the north-westerly wind. My Oh My…Talk about lucky, lucky, lucky that I was fortunate enough to be on the east side!
Climbed up into the back of the camper, cooked up some breakfast and coffee, the trip lastin' a good two hours, plenty of time. Still half asleep, ate breakfast, then crawled up onto the upper deck and almost dozed off. Soon the pitch of the ferry’s engines begin to slow. Sounds like we’re here. Brought Warrior all the leftovers, fired up the Jeep, & we’re down the ramp and onto Cedar Island.
Pulled the Jeep over to the side of the road and let the traffic go by. Now, with no one behind us, we took our time ridin' through the Cedar Island Community. Talk about the end of the world. The folks of Cedar Island are as about isolated as you can be. Imagine the way of life here & of the times gone by. Durin' bad storms I'm sure they are cut off from the outside world. A hardy breed of people that have, over the years, learned how to survive on their own.
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Cedar Island History ~~~ Must Read ! ~~~ [It’s a great website with many Down East stories of the past gone by]
http://www.downeasttour.com/cedar_is/CSWMGathering.htm
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http://www.downeasttour.com/cedar_is/city-by-sea.htm
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As we leave the quiet community behind, the road transitions into a long, narrow causeway with wide ditches practically overflowin’ their banks after the recent storm. I pulled over under a lonely, raggedy, windblown tree & got out of the Jeep. Even though my face stings from the chilly wind it is strangely silent out here. Before me, just pure undisturbed marshland for as far as the eye can see. As a fisherman/outdoorsman I can only imagine all the secret places where the marsh overflows with fish & of the abundant game/water-fowl to be found across this endless steppe of wilderness. Oh, what tales the elders could spin. As I stood there mesmerized, gazin’ out over the salt marsh, lookin’ like waves of grain on a wide open prairie that never ends, the grander of this view overwhelms my senses with just how small & insignificant we are. Mere words can-not describe the feelin’. I know I speak for all of us, when I say, this is why we keep comin’ back…..
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As Route 12 ends, we took a hard left onto Route 70 and headed for Atlantic, another small, isolated community of the many here Down East. Drove past Morris Marina, where a small ferry takes fishermen and their vehicles across Core Sound to Portsmouth Island. (Been there. Done that.) All the while, searchin' for the Red & White grocery store, to stock up on supplies. The last chance I'll have for the next couple of weeks. I know it's here as many years ago I stopped there on the way from Portsmouth Island to Davis. Findin' the store, we picked up some last minute perishables, hamburger, eggs, fruit & The Best Homemade Sausage you could ever find. Everyone in the store talks with the Down East accent. I'm sure they all know I'm a stranger just passin' through. Imagine most everyone was born and raised here, probably not too many outsiders settle in this quaint hamlet. These folks are lucky to live so far away from the big city, no rush hour, hurry to get here, hurry to get there.
Headin' further south down the windin' Route 70, we’re just takin’ our time, soakin' up the beauty of the area. Passed through the small communities of Stacy and Sealevel, Core Sound in the background, fishin' trawlers along the way. Everywhere you look is a picturesque painting in real life. I'm stoppin' at every "Fresh Shrimp" sign along the way but, no one has any, no doubt due to the nor'easter that roared through here late last week. The odds that the ferry service has shrimp is not very good if these shops don’t have any. Only have about one pound that I bought in Nags Head Wednesday night.
We arrived at the small community of Davis & stopped at the gas station on the corner. The attendant allowed me to top off my freshwater containers. Somethin’ that’s not available on the island. Filled the Jeep with gas, gettin' every last drop in the tank possible. Gas on the island is very expensive as it has to be ferried over from the mainland on an otherwise empty ferry. On these long trips I remove “the weekend coolers” so I can carry an additional 18 gallons on the front cooler-rack givin' me a total of about 40 gallons. (My –SPR-: Strategic Petroleum Reserve) [This term will be used later in this journal]. This extra supply will allow me to spend a significant amount of extra time when I’m on the south end of the island. It takes a good part of the day to run back to the cabin area to refill the tanks & at this time of year the days are very short. Hopefully, I won’t have to run back north.
About 10:45 we pulled up to the ferry office to see if they had any shrimp. My reservations are for 1pm, if they don't have any I know a small seafood shop a few miles up the road in Smyrna. Well, just as I suspected, they had none but, I was informed that I could go across at 11am, they were ahead of schedule and were just beginin' to load up. Doggonit ! Looks like we're not gonna' find any fresh shrimp, my favorite bait. Sounds like we’ll be lookin' for clams & sand fleas very soon.
Pulled up to the ferry landing and picked up some additional ice. Climbed the steep ramp up onto the ‘Capt Alger’ & we’re on our way. The other truck camper onboard is driven by Don, one of the long time regulars out here. He's retired and spends two weeks to a month out here at a time. I met Don on my first trip out here (Must’ve been in the early 80’s) and have seen him every year since. He is one of the most givin’/carin’ person I have ever met. He has taught me so much about fishing & more importantly about life itself by followin’ his example. I went up to his truck and asked ..Are you followin' me again !??.. ..Hi Bruce! Do you still have that KrazZz,’ fishin’ dog with you?.. He said laughin'. Seems like every time I go across to Lookout Don's on the same ferry & it's never planned. I got into his truck & we talked awhile, discussed different mirrolures & rubber swimin' baits. ..How's the fishing?.. ..They've been catchin' specs’ pretty regular.. ..Sounds good.. As I gave him a copy of my 2005/6 stories I had written so far. ..You're in there !..
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Don & his rig
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The ferry arrives at the island landin’, it's flooded & after considerable difficulty backed the Jeep down the ramp into well over a foot of sound water, the tide runnin' unusually high. (Explains the high water along the causeway earlier this mornin’.) No problem with me as it helps keep the ‘day-trippers’ outta’ here. ;>}= Drove outta’ the water and pulled up near the island concession area to drop the tire air pressure a bit. Don's headin' south in search of the specs’ , I'm headin' to the north end of the island first thing. I know once I go down south I'll never be back up there. Haven't been up to the north end in about five years. Since then Hurricane Isabel (2003) cut a good 2 miles off the northern end of the island. There was an inlet formed about a hundred yards wide, it's a good mile across now. Don said if he doesn't see me in a couple days he's gonna' come lookin' for me !
We headed down the narrow back road as I wanted to scope out the areas of Core Sound that would be easily accessible for when I start lookin’ for clams as the shrimp runs out. At this time the water is too high to search for ‘em. The tide needs to be low to have any level of success.
http://s13.photobucket.com/user/seapup/media/Cape%20Lookout%2006-1/3a526c29.jpg.html?sort=3&o=13,
Out here you must be entirely self-sufficient as only gas, ice and some bait (if available) is sold at the cabin area. (And possible emergency items. A few years ago I developed a really bad poison ivy-type rash, they sent anti-itch cream across. The rash got so bad that I had to cross the ferry and Kyle, one of the deckhands, let me use his truck to go to the doctor in Sealevel.) Additionally, I only have about three corncob mullet so in a couple days my cut bait will have to be what I can catch bein' bluefish, roundhead (seamullet), pinfish, white sea perch, black drum & other varieties of fish. One year I was down to usin’ red drum! [And..Yes, drum will catch drum !] Out here you can't be choosy, it's entirely up to you to keep yourself stocked up with bait and it's here all around you if you’re willin’ to make the effort.
The back road finally endin’, we pulled out on the beach. The ocean’s blue and clear with bright sunshine shimmerin’ silver on the surface. Not a cloud in the sky, the temp has warmed up to the mid 50's, the wind still NW about 15 knots. Gorgeous day! Stopped by the only other fishermen up this way. Talked to them for a bit. They said they had been up here for 2 days and hadn't caught the first fish. (Ya’ never know if folks are tellin’ the truth. Hey! We’re fishermen! Myself? I would never lie ! ;>}= ) Warrior standin’ on the seat with her nose on the windshield. She knows somethin’s up. Bein’ on the beach mean’s one thing, fishin’ ain’t far away! A short time later we made it to the north end of the island. The shore is loaded with roots & peat from where the last hurricane [?? See Below??] had once again cut off more of the island. (Found out later that an additional 200 yards was cut off from the Nor'easter just last week) Just northeast out in the inlet was some of the most beautiful drumwater you will ever find. My mouth was watering with anticipation! The others may not have caught any fish but, I'm plannin' on changin' that!
Put on my waders & Warrior into her wetsuit, we walked up to the northeast corner, cast out some mullet on my medium conventional & shrimp on the light tackle rod. The tide high right now hidin’ a steep drop off, where the peat ends & the sand begins, right at the back-side edge of the breakers. Warrior slippin' off the end a couple times & then swimin' back in. Looks like it has the makin’s of a good flounder hole. We fished awhile, takin' it easy & drinkin' a couple cold ones. Been a long day. Haven't found the first fish, maybe the other fishermen were right?!
As the tide dropped the outer bar got very shallow. It’s time to go find the fish. I cut some mullet & shrimp, put Warrior's life jacket on over her wetsuit, grabbed one of my tall rodholders, soft cooler, one medium conventional, the light tackle rig & we crossed the deep water between the beach & the bar. Warrior ahead trailblazzin', allowin' me to see the high & low spots, by if she’s walkin' or swimin'. We made it out to the bar & headed north to the very tip. There’s a steep drop-off with deep water for about 30 yards and excellent drum water on the other side. (Oh to have The Seapuppy here!) Big waves are comin' in, tied Warrior's rope around my waist, then to her lifejacket to keep her from bein' swept off the bar.
Cast the big rig’s baits out to a small cut in the outer bar. A very likely spot where the drum should lay in ambush. Started castin' & retrievin' the light tackle rig baited with shrimp, with two #2 Eagle Claw bronze long-shanked, beak style (very sharp) hooks & 1oz. round/teardrop type sinker with swivel (The swivel very important—So you can’t feel it rolling) , so it will roll around. Kinda' hard to 'search' if you're holdin' bottom. (Ya’ think?) The current will push the rig around. I know they're here, just have to find 'em.
About that time the big rig took off. After a brief battle landed a very nice 26" puppy drum. ..Dinner! Who says there's no fish up here??!.. as I put it on the stringer wire, tied to the rod holder. ..KraZZ Dog! Leave that fish alone!.. Cast the big rig back out & continued to play with the light tackle rig, startin' to get strong strikes & Whamo!! Nailed another slot pup about the same size. All those years walkin' the bars in Ocracoke Inlet I have developed a real knack for readin' the water & findin' reds almost anywhere I seriously fish. Many times on the first cast. (Today, first cast out on the bar) I AM Whitewater!!
For the next couple hours landed 8 more pups all in the 25" range, one time, 2 at a time (A fantastic battle on such a light setup !), all on the light tackle shrimp rig in the same area, just inside the inner edge at the end of the bar. I would cast a few feet up current from the hot spot & let the current push the bait to right where they are. If I was to cast straight to the spot where I’m hookin’ up the rig would end up driftin’ away from it. Warrior constantly searchin' for the pup on the stringer, goin' underwater, chompin’ down on it & prancing’ all over the place with it held high. It’s my fish!! ..Drop that fish Dangette!!.. Again, when I'm not lookin' she grabs it again.
The cool breeze startin’ to really bite as the sun began to lay down behind the dunes. It’s time to go in. Warrior followin’ behind, carryin’ the pup in her mouth. She’s makin’ ‘Dog’on! sure that fish ain’t gonna’ escape. A real live dedicated fishin’-machine ! She’s so much fun to fish with ! -[Really Miss Her. So fortunate to have her durrin’ this time of my life.]-
Arrivin' back at the Jeep I drained the waders & got into some warm clothes. Put the Jeep up on some 2 foot long 2 x 12's just in case the water gets too high tonight. The Jeep is parked back toward the last (tiny) ‘dune’ in a small area just above the high tide line (Note grass line in pic.) If the water gets too high there's no escape. Cooked up today’s puppy drum, fried taters & rolls, Warrior & I ate till we were stuffed. Excellent ! Caught that fish a couple/three hours ago, it was still alive when I cleaned it. Went straight into the fryin’ pan, as fresh as you can get !
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Climbed up onto the upper deck, laid back for the first time since 6 o'clock this mornin’. Boy am I whipped, been dreamin' about this bed all day long ! So comfortable up here, far & away better than my bed at home. Had a really KoOL day, crossed two ferries, rode though the small Down East communities. And, later in the day found the puppy drum on the first stop of this two week odyssey. Slowly drifted away dreamin' of the adventures to come.
to be contined.....
It's Not a Fishin' Trip ! It's an Adventure !
Pup & The Mighty MysticWarrior
Remembering My Buddy.
Who says pups don’t Smile?
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Dedicated to The “ MysticWarrior” & “The Head Naga of The World & Universe” We miss you Both..tear..
[A Quick Tip] Even though I’ve never seen anyone do this:
A point about bleedin' red drum (like some people do with bluefish) after you catch it. A while back I had a pup get hooked in a major artery in its tongue area, bled so fast it was dead in minutes. Thought to myself, this one ought to eat real well. Cooked it up that night & it ate like dry tuna, bland & tasteless. The other fish that hadn't been bled out had a so much better rich taste. Best not to bleed a puppy drum.
Need some help:
Does anyone know what hurricane I referenced in the story? Maybe Ofelia- Othilia ? It would have been early Fall 2006. I’d like to add the name to the story above. THX !!
[XX] From The Memoirs of a Surf Fisherman
11-25-06
November 25th 2006 Ocracoke Island-Cedar Island-Davis Is. --(Vacation ' 06)—
Revised Version 5.3 (7-17)
Tide Runner,
I did read 'All the Drowning Seas' About the cruiser HMS Defiant in early WWII. Thought it was very interesting. I have a hard time reading Novels. Can very seldom finish one so that’s saying something if I read all the way through it! One thing I could say though. By reading novels it makes me a much better writer as I learn different ‘plays on words’(Sometimes I even write ‘em down) that you will never see in straight up military history. Thx for the tip.
'All the Drowning Seas by Alexander Fullerton
Synopsis from online:
"As the Japanese sweep across the Pacific, the Allies make a last-ditch effort to defend Java. Captain Nick Everard, commanding the cruiser Defiant, joins a mixed group of Allied ships to engage a superior Japanese invasion force. Nick is badly wounded and his ship is caught alone in the tightening noose of Japanese dominance. To escape, the battered Defiant must play a cat-and-mouse game with the hunting Japanese among the islands of the Java Sea.
