M
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA.
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Mood: looking for joy...
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Porta Bote Story PART 2
Here is part 2. Hope you enjoy!
M
PART 2
I continued putting in my Porta and scouted out little coves,
occasionally I tossed a plastic, half-heartedly since I was more
interested in the view around me. Lord it was glorious, and the
sky was clear and so blue. I drifted close to a couple large
rocks and could see small abalone just below the water line. I
continued on about another mile or so and went out towards a
promising kelp bed. The current was pretty gentle and the kelp
just drifted straight up towards the sun. Down deep, I could
see the fish darting around but none that really interested me.
I decided to put a heavy head on a plastic motor oil minnow
and send it to the bottom. I yanked it around for a bit and then
cranked it back. I got a hit, and checking the plastic, the tail
was nipped but still functional. I sent it down a dozen more
times and finally found something that wanted to play with me.
I was using my trout rig with 4lb test. I often do when I want a
little more of a challenge. It fought like a yellowtail, and I
loosened my drag so it wouldn’t pop my line. We went round
and round and I had a grand time until finally worn down,
coming up from the depths… Mackerel, A smallish one at that. I
shook him off my hook thoroughly enjoying myself.
I moved to the South end of the bed and ‘anchored’ my boat
to a piece of kelp with a bungie cord. I checked my transponder
and found it still sucked down on my stabilizer. Turning on my
fish finder, I zeroed it out and slowly watched the bottom come
into focus. I saw clouds drift through that were probably
minnows, a loud beep signaled a larger fish passing under. Or
not. I was mostly interested in the picture of the bottom and
what structures were below me. .Happy with my findings, I
cranked up Marley and sent down an iron on my lavender pole.
Blue/white is a favorite on a clear day, and within minutes I
had a little wiggler on the end. A Sculpin, Shoot! In my big boat
box, not with me, I carry an odd item. A syringe and Lanocain.
If ever hit by a stingray, or stung by a Sculpin you could
immediately appreciate the sense of this. I made a new best
friend on the Ensenada Clipper one time when a deckhand was
poked hard by a Sculpin. He was in agony, and didn’t seem too
concerned when he saw me walking towards him with a
syringe. I numbed his hand up and he was considerably more
comfortable. Also, I had an occasion to sew my foot up when I
laid it open on a busted bottle once down near Loreto. Graham
was with me and I thought he was going to faint. BE
PREPARED!
Anyway, unless I have a deck to stomp a Sculpin, I usually
don’t like to muck with them especially sans my Lanocain. I
grabbed my dykes and tried to grab the shank of my jig while
the little creep was flipping wildly. Carefully, I shook him loose
and watched him high tail it toward the bottom.
Enough of the bottom, I brought out my trout rig, tied on a light
plastic, laid down across my seats and just flipped that plastic
anywhere. The sun was gently warming, the lapping of the
waves, the rocking of the boat, I was soon out cold.
I woke a couple hours later stiff, cold and sunburned. I had
enough my first day out and thought of spending the rest of
the day finishing my Koontz novel.
I started my motor and slowly motored back. The wind had
picked up and I was freezing. My little Terri cloth outfit sure
was no help. As I rounded the corner back towards the ramp,
my heart stopped. The lapping glassy cove was now roaring
with breakers. Gone was the narrow edge of sand and only
mean slimy sharp rocks were to be seen. Waves crashed in
and only just covered the rocks. I was in real trouble. I never
checked my chart, I thought the tide was on its upswing, but it
was going out. Looking up on the cliff’s I noticed my watcher.
He must have come back for my return encore and he brought
friends, and they were just watching too.
I circled around a few times and backed off the swells. The only
thing I could do was count the waves and find a pattern. I
glanced at the watchers above and counted. Still six of them. I
wondered if rescue would come from that group, but, there
was nothing they could do. I continued my wave count and
shivered from the cold and fear. I figured every seventh wave
was higher and covered the rocks. There were 2 large rocks
that were close enough together that the waves rose higher,
and it would be there that I would have to make my entrance.
The sets were long, so I would need to get a good running
start at it, lift my motor and grind over the rocks on the other
side. At least it would put me in far enough that I could jump
out and grab the bow before it was sucked back. This was the
plan, and if I hadn’t been freezing, and recovering from
pneumonia, I would have chucked it all, tied myself to the kelp
and waited for high tide again.
I glanced up and hoped to find at least one less pair of eyes
watching this show, but there were still six, and they seemed
transfixed. No heroes in that bunch. This was the best show on
the block.
TOMORROW, FINAL CHAPTER
M
[Edited on 8-9-2006 by M]
[Edited on 8-9-2006 by M]
[Edited on 8-9-2006 by M]
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Bedman
Senior Nomad
Posts: 523
Registered: 9-4-2002
Location: Orange County, CA.
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hehehehe...... And my favorite part. Too bad me and Mr. Canon were no where around.
Bedman
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Baja Bernie
`Normal` Nomad Correspondent
Posts: 2962
Registered: 8-31-2003
Location: Sunset Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: Just dancing through life
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Like I told you folks the Lady sure can write---to be continued was placed in exactly the right spot.
And guess what, she has many more stories.
My smidgen of a claim to fame is that I have had so many really good friends. By Bernie Swaim December 2007
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M
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: looking for joy...
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Thanks Bernie and Steve...
Jeez Bedman, are you talking a lime cannon? Oh wait, I just got it I think, do you mean a CAMERA? LOL, yeah, I guess that would be what you mean...
Believe me, I still l see the whole episode clearly in my minds eye.
Thanks to Bernie for your kind words. Now that my body is finally on the mend and somewhat useable again, it's time to go start making new memories
and new stories, however, I sure do enjoy dragging out the classics once in awhile.
Hugs,
M
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M
Nomad
Posts: 392
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: Laguna Niguel, CA.
Member Is Offline
Mood: looking for joy...
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David K
I got the U2. Thanks for the suggestion. I agree, it (double spacing) does make it easier to read.
M
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Skipjack Joe
Elite Nomad
Posts: 8084
Registered: 7-12-2004
Location: Bahia Asuncion
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Yes, M does write well.
It's wonderful to read about a great fishing trip where the writer pursues mackerel and sculpins. So many people feel that they have catch fish three
feet long in order to feel that they have had a successful outing. This beautiful story shows it ain't so. Fishing at it's best is a humble affair
where the surroundings play a big part in the experience.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1687
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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M baby, I had forgotten about your writing talents. It's a great story and great writing.
Get out and find some more memories to write about.
Here is the picture you have all been waiting for! 
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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