Alex (18), Robert (8), Dominic (6) and I went on a fishing trip with my dad and his wife on Sunday.
This was on a chartered boat out on the Chesapeake Bay. My dad takes me and a few of the kids a few times each summer on these trips.
The kids and I left the house around 6am and picked up my dad and his wife and were at the dock by 7.
This is not your father’s fishing trip. You aren’t going out in a little john boat with a cooler of Schaefer beer and some soggy sandwiches from a gas station (not that there is anything wrong with that).
This is on a nicely restored 50 year-old ‘bay boat’. The boat is around 45 feet long and has a galley, bedroom and a head. So no peeing over the side of the boat (ok that’s a negative – but everything else is a plus).
Captain Tillman and his first mate, besides being great fishermen, are also great cooks. When you show up at the dock breakfast is ready. A table for six is set on the deck of the boat and the food is waiting for you. We aren’t talking a box of donuts and cold cereal here. Today's breakfast was eggs, sausage, bacon, scrapple, biscuits, fresh fruit, juice and coffee.
We eat breakfast while the Captain heads the boat out into whatever spot in the Bay he thinks the fish might be hanging out in. We normally fish for Rock Fish (striped bass) and sometimes Blue Fish.
After fishing for a few hours the first mate bakes some chocolate chip cookies and puts out some other snacks.
Lunch is served around noon and today it was: crab cakes, roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob and salad.
The fishing was so–so today. Each of the kids caught one fish. We were able to keep two and threw one back since it was too small.
But the weather was incredible (note the savage tan on me). It was sunny with a nice breeze and got up to a high of 85 today.
Dominic and Robert were surprisingly well behaved. I guess they took the threat of being thrown overboard seriously.
So we will be having fresh fish on the grill tonight.
Das Boat
Morning Chow
How Alex spent a good part of the day
Dominic with his fish
Robert and his fish
Alex woke up long enough to catch the biggest fish of the day
Going under the 2 spans of the Bay Bridge
A cargo ship waiting to go up the Bay to Baltimore and un-load. I hope it's carrying running shoes
The hardy fishermen
3 comments:
how in the hell do i get invited onto one of these things??? i am your BFF for crying out loud!!!!!!!
WOW! Looks like alot of fun! BTW, re: Spinal Tap , the way we describe Ben to people is that "he goes to 11!" Of course, so many people being American Culture idiots we would have to explain. Oy Vay!
Speaking of boat trips, we have been watching the Alaska Experiment on Discovery and have decided to go on a cruise to Alaska. I don't know when this will take place. Knowing our family, it could be a few years. But I said to Ben, "So help me, if you are a putz on the trip, I am throwing you overboard, kid!" He looked at me with complete seriousness and said, "Please don't." Clearly, I sounded convincing.
I grew up in Florida and now I loathe the heat and sun. My oldest, Andrew, is the same. We are desperate for Alaska...so I hope we do pull it off.
Now, I think it's time you took your BFF on a romantic cruise.
~Rach
(there's a fine line between stupid and clever)
Looks like a great adventure! The one young kids never forget. We love fishing too.
Of course, when I see your Alex, I have the impression to look at my Alex, boring anywhere there isn't WIFI, with just the MP3 more. Fortunately, a fish jumped in her arms to finish the fishing party with a smile!
So, you're the kind of family leaving for a picnic with all the material, no place for improvisation? Crystal stemmed glasses, and china? C'est la classe!
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