Pulling into the deserted December parking lot at the Fish Pier, I noticed there wasn’t a breath of wind to ripple the waters surface this evening. Even though the Marilyn S is safely out of the water, I still head down to the Pier to check things, mostly from habit.In the clear stillness, I watched the remaining commercial boats gently tugging to and fro at their mooring lines with the ebbing tide. I then heard a vaguely familiar splash at a distance, once, then again. It sounded like a feeding fish, like a bass, but too large. Then again I heard a slurp and a splash, closer this time. Was it a seal ? It seemed quite large. Then I heard it again, and this time, saw the boil at the outskirts of the dockside streetlamps glow. Watching intently, I saw the fish swimming slowly into the lit waters of the dock lamps glow. Wow ! She had to be 60 ! - no 75 pounds AT LEAST ! Holy cow ! - is that a striper ?? No way - It couldn't be - it was 5 feet long !!!
As the huge striper swam by, it rolled slowly over on one side and I swear she winked at me as if to say :
“ AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT ” !
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Captain Bruce & "Marilyn S"
