by Captain Jack

The night before Fishmas

Well Mates, Fish Santa has been seen in the area serving up fillets of sole to all the good fishing girls and boys and bringing good cheer to the men and women on the boardwalk. Yes, this is the time of year when one and all can just relax in the good memories of the year 2001. There were all those hookups, snapoffs, spoolya’s, gaffs, and landings. Fish on the dinner table, fillets in the freezer, and visions of future fishing trips.

Just close yer peepers and let yer’self go…

There were the Bucky Boys from Philadelphia falling all over themselves just for the Halibut. Martin "Hook’em in the Lip" and Andre with Terry "the Mackerel Slayers" being followed by Fish and No Game. Submarine Captain Gary Gaudet at the wheel hailing the other members of the Sub Fleet, Captain Greg and Smitty. The Shark Hunters wit stories that would run yer blood cold and Alex, Rocky Pt. Fuel dock, who was almost eaten alive.

Then, last week, me mate Otis and Kyakman get the captain here to go Striped Bass fishing. How was it? Wide open and they is good to eat too.

But, Fishmas is not all about the past or the present; it’s about the future. It is sharing all these memories wit the wee ones coming up and wanting to share a place at the rail on the vessels, City of Redondo, SeaSpray, the Special, BettyG and Highliner out of the Redondo fishing Pier. It’s the captains in the wheelhouse, the deckhands, the pinheads and the fish; those pesky fishes. So, on the eve of Fishmas here is some’tin ta read to those wee ones to help them get their visions.

The Night Before Fishmas

T’was the night before fishmas and all along the dock,

All the deckhands and pinheads were hanging their socks;

They were stuck on the walls all over the ship,

Hoping that Fish Santa would soon make his trip;

He would fill those socks with new line, lures, rods and reels,

So the days after fishmas there would be line on the peel;

"I hooked a big one, another and another, oh brother,’

If she could only see me now, my dear sweet mother;"

The Captain in the wheelhouse was viewing the deck,

Filled to the gunnels with fish by the peck;

"What a day," he would say,

"Ain’t nothing like fishmas;"

To bring out the best,

Through the sprit of Christmas."

Aarg sez the Captain…Wishing everyone a very merry fishmas and a happy fishing new 2002 year.

If your pet is an American White Pelican, it does not dive for food, as the Brown Pelican does. It scoops up fish while swimming. So says Peterson Field Guide of Western Birds. Therefore, you might consider, "Scoop," or "Scooper," or Scoopie as a name. When I was growing up, we had a 16' sloop on the Chesapeake. It was heavy, wide and slow, but great for a beginning sailing experience. My father conducted a contest within the family -- whoever could name the boat -- he didn't like "Mermaid," could win ice cream or something, I don't remember. My older sister won the contest, naming the sloop, "Paddy's Hurricane." We were told that was sailor's lingo for a dead calm. The summers with "Paddy's Hurricane," were memorable, and far too short. I much enjoy your column -- I think I feel hooked to trying fishing, again, in my retirement. Maybe March or sooner. Arrrg, Mike O'Kane