We’ve seen lots of sports fishermen at the Channel Islands
and have been envious of the fishing tales of success, especially from
neighboring friends who catch mackerel (bonito), halibut by just dropping lines
off their boats. Others have casually talked about going for lobsters at night, as the season just opened.
We are optimistic and have been acquiring some more fishing tools for
the job. However, our success has been ramping more slowly. Rob caught our first small
bonito by trolling a line as we left Santa Cruz Island and headed for Santa
Catalina Island. A few days later, things improved. We had left Twin Harbors
and stopped at Ripper’s Cove, where there are massive power boats and a few
sailboats sharing the cove. All were
fishing, some even from their dinghys and SUPs.
Rob pulled up one larger mackerel, and as we got ready to leave, two
more on a shared line. We were
ecstatic! We headed for the night to a very pretty
cove closer to Avalon called Buttonshell, with a private beach with campers
kayaking and having fun. Coincidentally
we were assigned a mooring ball right next to a big fishing boat named Sea
Dream. The three men were busy cleaning
fish off the back of the boat, and immediately generously offered us a calico
bass. Boy were we happy!
My plans for Surf and Turf that night, turned into Surf and
Surf. We chatted with them for a while, learning of their
fishing experiences ins son was a grad from UCSB in Marine Biology and said that we will
have similar fishing climates in Mexico.
We gave them some wine and treats as a thank you, and brought the
fish back to the boat. Rob and I enjoying
both fish steamed in foil on the BBQ with garlic, lemon and spices, accompanied
with pasilla peppers stuffed with brown rice, two cheeses, mushrooms and
onions, and a red lentil curry on the side. Everything tastes better in the fresh air |
One Fish, Two Fish |
The next morning, they gifted us with two lobster tails, bounty from their night lobster fishing. I surprised them with some warm banana, chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.
Steak and Lobster |
We are starting to "live off the sea", which includes generous gifts from fishing friends.
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