The one that got away!

Labor Day weekend arrived and it could only mean time for our pilgrimage to Annapolis to spend weekend  on Reel Thyme.  Jeff went up Friday night, Marie and I Saturday morning and Lisa and Einstein arrived mid-afternoon.  This weekend, Jeff had college buddies (Will and Brandon), now living in Charlotte, coming up for the Virginia Tech/Boise State game Monday night.  While in the area, they planned to hook up with their VT brethren including Jeff and to go fishing with us Sunday morning.

Saturday brought some of the best weather that we have seen all year - low humidity with temps in the low 80's - and blue skies.  We took advantage of the day to do some maintenance and cleaning on Reel Thyme.  We brought a power washer with us and used it to clean the non-skid surface on the bow.  It worked really well and was so much easier than scrubbing with a brush.  We also came across a great product (Gel Gloss) that works well in cleaning fiberglass and vinyl.  We used it to remove a light film of diesel soot from Reel Thyme's transom.  Besides doing a great job, the product can be purchased at Home Depot for less than $7 - compared to products at marine stores that cost 2-3 times more. 

Will and Brandon arrived late Saturday afternoon and as neither had seen Annapolis before, we decided to go on a walking tour of the historic district followed by dinner at Federal House.  On the way back to the marina, we stopped for cigars at a local cigar shop and made a final stop at an ice cream store in Eastport where Lisa treated all. Rum raisin ice cream is definitely a weakness for this person - and I am fortunate Marie likes it as well and was willing to share her selection.

Back at Reel Thyme, we put on the North Carolina/LSU football game and mingled outside in the cockpit with beer, wine and stogies.   We watched the game through our windows while listening to the broadcast via the outside speakers - so life was good - entertaining football game with friends and family and no cigar smoke inside Reel Thyme.  After a while, some marina neighbors joined us and an impromptu party was underway.  Captain Kentucky came by to see what was going on.  This is my name for him - quite a great guy who retired 3 years ago, sold his house, cars and business in Louisville, bought a boat, grew a ponytail and started cruising.  In my earlier post, I mentioned that he and his wife navigated the "great loop".  He confided that he "loves" the cruising lifestyle and his wife "likes" it.  They will be leaving our marina in a couple of days to continue their journey - and I hope we run into them again as Captain K is quite an entertaining fellow.   

The next morning we left dock at 6am.  This seemed earlier than usual due to the partying that only ended what seemed a few hours earlier.  Our destination was an area where we had luck previously - near the entrance to Eastern Bay.

After trolling for a couple of hours we could only bring up a couple of small rockfish that were released and one keeper bluefish.  I have heard that some people do not like to eat bluefish as they think the taste is too strong.  Marie has a great recipe for cooking these guys and I can tell you they are quite tasty when prepared correctly.

As the fishing was slow, we made the decision to troll south and pick up our speed with the hopes of landing some Spanish mackerel.  We headed south to buoy 84A.  If we are trying to catch rockfish, we try to keep our speed to 3.5 knots.  This requires us to keep one engine in neutral all the time and shift in and out of neutral with the other engine.  Probably not great on the transmissions - but this is the only way to slow our speed.  Trolling for mackerel requires a faster trolling speed - approximately 6 knots per hour - and we troll with both engines when we are targeting macks.   

It wasn't too long before we hooked up a mackerel.  Everyone was excited when the shout "Fish On" was announced and as Lisa happened to be nearest the rod with our future lunch, she started reeling him in.  Once Lisa reeled the fish in close to the transom, the fish was pulled out of the water and just as I was reaching for the leader line to bring him in, the fish decided he preferred the bay and spit the hook.  It was no more than a couple of feet from where he was suppose to go - but gone nevertheless. There was a chorus of  groans which could only mean a missed opportunity.  Fortunately for me, there were more mackerels and better anglers on board and "the one that got away" became a favorite story line later in the day (teasing the dad).  We also used a net afterwards to land mackerels after this incident!

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Jeff, Will, Brandon and Lisa coaxing a fish into Reel Thyme

Bruce, Will and Brandon after them mackerel

Brandon Dresch with a blue

Will and his mackerel

All in all - a great time on the Chesapeake Bay. We headed back to the marina around noon. Jeff cleaned the fish, Lisa made a beer run to the grocery, Will and Brandon grilled the vegetable kabobs and corn on the cob and Marie prepared the fish. Eating fish that only hours earlier had been in the bay is a meal hard to beat!!

Following our feast, it was nap time for some (a sauna for Brandon), showers and time for some us to pack up and head home. Regarding the sauna, while we thought the A/C was on in the V berth, it was actually set on heat and after a couple of hours of zzz's Brandon came out a little toasty.

Now, we just need Tech to come out with a win tonight and the Labor Day weekend will be complete.

Will Neese and friends