SALMON FISHING

 

 

 

PRUDENCE HAS SAID ALL SUMMER THAT HER HUSBAND, VINCENT WANTS TO TAKE DARRELL AND I SALMON FISHING. VINCENT IS CAPTAIN OF THE SHENANDOAH AND TAKES FOLKS OUT CHARTER FISHING. PRUDENCE AND VINCENT LIVE AT AMERICAN SUNSET DURING THE SUMMER,  AND HAVE BEEN DOING THIS FOR LONGER THAN 17 YEARS. DARRELL RIGHT AWAY SAID HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO. HE DIDN'T WANT TO TAKE THE CHANCE OF GETTING SEA SICK. PRUDENCE SAID TO TALK TO GEORGE, ONE OF THE OTHER WORKAMPERS THAT ARE FRIENDS WITH PRUDENCE AND VINCENT TO GET THE DETAILS. I HAD TALKED TO GEORGE ABOUT ME GOING BY MYSELF, AND HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE OK. HE PROMISED TO TAKE CARE OF ME IF I GOT SEASICK.  I DIDN'T KNOW VINCENT.....JUST HAVE WAVED AT HIM, BUT I USUALLY SEE PRUDENCE EVERY DAY. SO, ON WEDNESDAY EVENING, SOMEONE KNOCKS ON THE DOOR, IT'S PRUDENCE....VINCENT WANTED TO TAKE GEORGE AND I FISHING THE NEXT MORNING. RIGHT AWAY I PUT ON THE PATCH BEHIND MY EAR FOR SEASICKNESS. WENT DOWN AND CHECKED  IN WITH GEORGE, AND  THEN DROVE DOWN TO THE HUNGRY WHALE TO BUY A ONE DAY FISHING PERMIT. GEORGE  SAID HE WOULD PICK ME UP AT 5:15.

 

IT WAS STILL PRETTY DARK AND THE HARBOR LIGHTS WERE EERIE....

 

 

THERE WERE TWO OTHER GALS ON BOARD, I WAS GRATEFUL FOR THAT.

 

 

WE TOOK OUR SEATS AND I WAITED TO GET SEASICK.

 

 

I HAD RESEARCHED "WHAT TO DO TO KEEP FROM GETTING SEASICK", SO I WAS PREPARED. I HAD RECEIVED ALOT OF ADVICE FROM FOLKS ALSO. RON TOLD ME, "DOROTHY, IT WON'T MATTER WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE A FAMILY, IF YOU GET SEASICK, YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO DIE". I HAD BROUGH'T CRACKERS, PEPPERMINTS, GINGER CANDY, GUM, ALL THE REMEDIES SUGGESTED. IT TOOK AN HOUR AND A HALF TO GET TO THE SALMON. WE STOPPED TO FISH AND I SAID TO GEORGE, "IF I WAS GONNA GET SICK, WOULD I HAVE BY NOW?". HE SAYS, "SOME FOLKS ARE SICK BEFORE WE LEAVE THE DOCK. I THOUGHT, "I'M GOING TO BE OK."

 

 

WITH A LITTLE INSTRUCTION, I  STARTED FISHING.......I CAUGHT THE FIRST FISH......A SILVER SALMON....I WAS EXCITED!!! IT WAS VERY HEAVY REALING IT IN!! VINCE CAME OUT AND SAID, "THAT'S THE BIGGEST SILVER I'VE SEEN ALL YEAR, BUT, IT WASN'T A KEEPER.  SOMETHING ABOUT HAVING A FIN, OR NOT HAVING A FIN... WILD OR NOT WILD..I HAD MY CAMERA ZIPPED INTO A JACKET POCKET, AND COULD NOT GET IT UNZIPPED TO TAKE A PICTURE AND THE GUY KEPT SAYING, I'VE GOT TO GET IT BACK IN THE WATER, OR IT'S GOING TO DIE. SO, I SAID, PUT IT IN!! SO, NO PICTURE. WE WOULD FISH IN A SPOT FOR A WHILE, AND IF NO ONE CAUGHT ANYTHING WE WOULD MOVE. THE ONE YOUNG GAL, IT WAS HER FIRST TIME ON A BOAT ALSO, WE KEPT ASKING EACH OTHER....ARE YOU OK?  WE BOTH WERE.  UP UNTIL SHE ATE SOMETHING AND THEN I SAW HER STANDING BY THE RAILING, I ASKED, "ARE YOU OK? SHE SAID NO, I'M GONNA THROW UP".  ANOTHER MAN FROM ARIZONA WAS VERY SICK ALL DAY. HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO FISH. I COULDN'T BELIEVE I WASN'T EVEN A BIT QUEAZY. IT WAS A GREAT DAY, I LOVED BEING ON THE OCEAN. I CAUGHT ONE MORE FISH, THAT ONE WASN'T  A KEEPER EITHER. I HAD A TENDANCY OF PUTTING MY LINE IN TOO FAST, AND POOR GEORGE HAD TO KEEP UNTANGELING  IT. HE WAS VERY PATIENT WITH ME. IT WAS A PRETTY CALM SEA.

 

 

THE SUN CAME OUT FOR AWHILE, BUT THE OCEAN STARTED ROLLING....I THOUGHT IT WAS A TRUE TEST THEN. I WAS FINE!!!  IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE WE HAD TO START THE HOUR AND A HALF RIDE BACK TO WESTPORT. THE YOUNG GAL WHO HAD BEEN SEASICK CAUGHT THE LARGEST SALMON. SHE WAS SO PROUD OF IT!!

 

 

THAT PRETTY MUCH CURED THE SEASICKNESS!!

 

 

VINCE WAS DISAPPOINTED I DIDN'T CATCH A FISH TO KEEP. I TOLD HIM I HAD PLENTY OF FISH IN THE FREEZER, I HAD JUST ENJOYED BEING ON THE OCEAN.

IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY AND I FELT BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE OCEAN FOR A FEW HOURS. AS WE WERE HEADED BACK, THE FOG STARTED ROLLING IN.......

 

 

AFTER I GOT BACK TO THE RV I STILL FELT LIKE I WAS ON A  ROLLING SEA. I WAS TIRED AND WENT TO BED EARLY....BUT NO SEASICKNESS!!! THE NEXT DAY I WAS SORE IN A FEW PLACES FROM TRYING TO BALANCE MYSELF ON THE BOAT.