The Christmas Lights have been dug out of the attic and placed in the trees in my front yard. I do one evergreen with red and green and one with blue. I hope the neighbors like it, I know my girlfriend Chris does when she comes to visit. The holiday lights cheer me at this colder time of the year.This year, I got my Christmas shopping done early ! I have wrapped all the presents, but a few stocking stuffers. My son Taylor, is here on Cape, is working, and along with his GF Kristin, will be coming for family dinners next week. My daughter Aimee and her husband Ben, with be coming with their new baby, (and my grandson) Nathan as well. The inherited house cat Daisy, purrs beside me on the couch, the wood stove is generating its pleasing, drowsy warmth throughout. All is good this evening in Eastham.
I decided to drive down to the almost emptied Chatham harbor at the Fish Pier for a look and to check the remaining boats. Pulling into the deserted and dark December parking lot, I noticed there wasn’t a breath of wind to ripple the waters surface. Leaving the warmth of my truck cab, I slowly walk the edges of the deserted docks. The moon rising over the dune to the east, completes the serenity I feel here tonight. In the crisp beautiful clear stillness, I watch the remaining commercial boats tugging to and fro at their mooring lines with the ebbing tide.
I hear a vaguely familiar splash at a distance, … and then again. Alarmed now, I wonder, did something fall in ? No, it wasn't that large. It sounded a lot like the slurp of a feeding fish. Perhaps a merganser or sea duck, or maybe a seal, but at night ?? Then I heard it again, definitely a slurp and a splash, and a bit closer this time. Perhaps it was a seal ? It seemed quite large. But when I heard it once again, and this time, I saw a huge boil at the outskirts of the dockside street lamp’s glow, and halfway into the channel.
“Holy cow” ! What the heck is that ? Is that a striped bass ?? .....“No way” ! - It was HUGE ! Then I saw it clearly as swam slowly into the current under the radiance of the dock lamps glow. It couldn’t be - it was at least 5 or 6 feet long !!! WHOA !- She had to be 80-100 pounds or more ! As the huge striper swam by, it rolled slowly over on one side and I swear I saw her wink at me as if to say......“AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT ” !
MERRY CHRISTMAS !! Capt. Bruce & “Marilyn S”
It is a slow time of year and having recovered from the hectic pace of my summer and fall tuna fishing seasons, I can now reflect upon my good fortune. I’m thankful that I get to fish all summer long with GREAT people in a beautiful marine environment.
I am privileged to share the excitement and fun of catching great fish on light tackle with friends and families that tell me at the end of the day that I have done a good job. Wow !!! I feel incredibly lucky and I am grateful. I appreciate the ability and good fortune to be located where I am on the Cape, and to be able to fish with you.
Without you, I would not feel the way that I do. Sure, I could go fishing by myself, but its different when you share it, and that is the feeling that I'm talking about.
THANK YOU ALL !
Happy Holidays & Best Wishes in the New Year,
Capt. Bruce & “Marilyn S”
PS: Remember to book and pay for future 2017 season fishing dates (holiday gifts?) now for your 15% discounted rate.
