Ratspeak

Monday, April 17, 2006

Long time, no post.

Okay, so I haven't posted for a while. Sue me.

I went fishing yesterday. Really fishing. Deep sea fishing. I was further out into the ocean than I have ever been on an ocean-going vessel before. Maybe 60 miles (round that off to 100 kilometers for my Canadian friends) from land. We were hoping to hit Snapper or Grouper. We didn't. A few people on the "party boat" we were on did, but still nothing huge. I did catch a grouper, but it was way below the legal limit, and I had to throw it back. I caught a Ruby Red as well, and used it as bait, but it caught nothing. I enjoyed the experience. I might do it again, but not in a rush.

I also got sunburned. Not badly, but unevenly. The left side of my body took much more than the right, because that is the side that was facing the sun for the hour-and-change ride back in from the fishing spots.

I also learned that there can be some really irritating people on fishing party boats. There was one guy on the boat who was trying to sound like an authority on everything. He, unfortunately, did catch something - a 20.5" Red Snapper - .5" over the legal limit. He even looked like an idiot bringing it in. Rather than bracing his pole against one of his hips, he had it braced against his crotch, just above his junk. And he was pretty much doubled over. And his buddy had to help him. It was sad, and of course, on the way back in, I had trouble blocking out his commentary on catching it. Like he was the great hunter, catching a fish that just barely didn't ahve to be thrown back.

Still, the company was good (I went with my boss, Steve, with whom I get along very well), and being out on the ocean was fun. This is the kind of thing I wanted to try when I came down to Florida. I'm glad I got to. And now?

I'm off to get ready for a visit down here from my wife.