Actually the day was quite good! The ugly part was catching Bluefish. The bigger they are the uglier they get.
They were all over the place. These were good sized but we call them racers. They're long and lean as they haven't fattened up yet. Next month at this time they will wreck your tackle.
One of the disappointing things were a few of the spots had the big telltale marks on the FF of larger striped bass but it seemed to be no way to get to them. Only 1 small bass was caught and the tide was absolutely perfect.
While I was throwing the blues back I happened to think of the food kitchen. Was able to contact them by cell and the lady was quite excited. If you can get them here before lunchtime we'll serve them up as we don't really have a lot.
Less than an hour later I had 10 in the boat (allowed limit) and zipped back to the dock to get them filleted. Washed in saltwater and bagged, there was around 20lbs or so of fillets.
Its was a tough place to find but I made it there around 11:30. Man, this lady cook was happy and seasoned them up and they went right on the flattop! I had walked in thru the dining area and was surprised to see quite a few people there. Sadly there were also a bunch of children.
She said what little funding that was available from the state our Illustrious governor had cut and donations were down.
I asked about the people and she said homeless, people out of work, veterans, people that just had no money to feed their family's. Truly sad!!!
Its not a depressed area by any means and more upscale. She said a lot of them head this way for the summer because the tourism generates a lot of trash. She said some will spend all day retrieving returnable bottles to make a few bucks to survive.
I guess all of these places do good things but I think I like these little places that run on a shoestring budget and almost all volunteers. No big salaries here. Just trying to help people!
They were plating this stuff up with Mac N Cheese and Salad, she thanked me again and I even got a hug! She said there had been days when they could only give PB & J. Today I can give them seconds she said happily!
I left there both happy and sad and stopped for a slice of pizza on the way home. It came to mind that when most of us want something to eat we either hit the fridge or go to the store. Its really a luxury that we don't pay attention too. Others that are a lot closer than we may realize just don't have that option.
Sorry to be so long winded but this really made me think about how easy it can be for us to pay it forward. Just a little can make such a difference.
All have a great day, .. Lou
Nice going, Lou. There has to be lots of good karma headed your way.
Way to Go Lou.
It all comes back around Brother. ;)
Personally, I love catching Blues. Sharks love them. ;D
Never caught a bluefish.
But a very moving story :'(
Lou, never apologize for such a story that makes us appreciative and pay forward...good on you.
Good lookin' out Lou!
Thanks all but I didn't do anything special here. I had read some months ago where one of the party boats had donated fish to the food bank. So simple and such a great gesture.
It just saddened me that I didn't realize how much of this goes on. Its bad enough when adults have no food for themselves but when the kids suffer it puts things in another perspective!
Joe, I agree and also hate bluefish and usually try to shake them off. They are a pain to unhook and make a serious mess in the boat. This is one time that they actually did some good!
I guess it also made me realize how lucky most of us are. I've always said our health, our family, a roof over our heads and a full refrigerator is all we need. I think I finally got it all right!
I'd have to do hundred's of things to become the person my Dad was and I'm not even sure at my best I could even begin to accomplish them, but the wife loves me so I don't think I could ask for a heck of a lot more!
Best to all, .. Lou
PS I still have a good grip on the rod handle and can reel with the best of them. Not so much so on the big Bluefin Tuna though. ;D >:(
In San Diego, it is widely known, I think, that fish processors will take all the fish you would like to donate to food banks and such. The processors will also give you a tax receipt for the donations.
I don't know of any place here that would take fish donations, but this would be a nice thing to do if we can get a bunch of people on a party boat to fish and all of the fish caught goes to a local food bank, soup kitchen, or the like.
Lou, very nice gesture of you. There is always someone in need and I'm glad the kids got some good protein.
Bryan
Quote from: mike1010 on August 25, 2016, 04:13:20 PM
Nice going, Lou. There has to be lots of good karma headed your way.
Xs 2 Lou... I for one enjoy catching blues. They are a fighting machine. Look at the fun cranking in 10 fish and having the satisfaction of feeding some people less fortunate than us. Thanks for doing that. BTW I noticed in a couple of your posts that you release most of the stripers you catch and only take one for the table. Maybe you should take a couple for the other table also. Dominick
Good on you Lou! I asked a fish and game officer about donating meat here and he told me it's not allowed?
Maybe I asked the wrong person?
Good on you, Lou! I actually do that here. Keep in mind bag limit in CA. is 2. I have a couple families here in town that I "gift" with them for the same reason.
David. That Warden is wrong. There is no law in the CA regs. or the supplement that says you can't give away your catch. You just can't sell them.
Ralph
Unfortunately we are only allowed to take 1 striped bass. So catch and release is a needed necessity! We all need to contribute to conservation. I probably wasn't great at it years ago as we were uneducated and though these magnificent creatures would be around forever. At least we became smarter.
The other day when I threw one back and I've seen thousands of these beauties I thought to myself .... what an absolutely handsome fish! I never get tired of seeing them.
The sad fact is commercial holdings are still measured in metric tons I believe. The commercial harvest of striped bass is staggering. Its all about the lobbyist and the money!
In some states, not all, if its a game fish the laws are different and I don't know what applies where as far as recreational fisherman go. To me its one of the greatest hobbies available to us and hopefully it will continue as such forever!
best regards, .. Lou
Just finished a lobster roll with the $3.99 ea lobster tail form Stu Leonard's and washed it down with an Angry Orchard hard cider. Its all good now! ;)
Joe, I do like fried bologna and egg on a hard roll! ;D
QuoteI don't know of any place here that would take fish donations, but this would be a nice thing to do if we can get a bunch of people on a party boat to fish and all of the fish caught goes to a local food bank, soup kitchen, or the like.
I've done that before. Bob Ingalls on the Queen of Hearts in HMB used to do an annual charter with UA called "Feed The Hungry". All of the fish caught that day would be donated to the local soup kitchen. It was a really cool event. You might try asking Sheri at HMB Sportfishing if she can give you any info.
Sounds like a good day to me, several good bends put in the rods.
Big karma to ya for the donation.