[Mr. Sandman]

Sorry I don't stop by much anymore... But thanks for thinking of me! Still here on MV...empty nesting stage of life. Fishing when ever I can. Took the wife surf casting for sharks the other night on chappy, (local club event. not something I do regularly) she got a nice brown shark, it was a hoot watching her battle it. They actually fight more like a gamefish then a shark, it made a 200 yard screaming run right off the bat and a couple of other shorter runs.
Lots of offshore invites so I go just about every week. Sold my mirage pilothouse a couple years ago. Believe it or not I have decided not to buy another sport fishing boat ( I fish plenty without my own boat), Instead, if my health holds out, we plan to eventually get a long range live aboard trawler style vessel ( ala Nordhavn, fleming, selene ...) and go up and down the east coast with the seasons. I will have a few rod holders installed and be trolling the edge from the Bahamas to the vineyard on the way up that is for sure. I also want my wife to see the ICW and play golf along the way south.
Recently I sold a large amount of my fishing gear, locally and on ebay, It was time to lighten the load and focus on the more modern lighter gear. It was weird getting rid of it but it felt good. Gave a lot away too, mainly to fishing kids and others I know will use it. I hate to see stuff just sit in the storage attic for years unused. at one point I think I had something like 126 rods and countless reels. I am down to 15 or so now. That said I just ordered some new stuff but I will not let it get out of hand.
Don't do much bass fishing anymore...a few times in the spring and a few in the fall. I still enjoy it but I cherry pick the nights and only visit the hard core places maybe a couple times a season. The last few years the offshore bug has had my interest. Generally chasing tuna with lighter stand up gear (terez/talica/stella set ups) It is a lot of fun. The last trip I got real close to a sperm whale ( well, he got close to me). You always see whales but I have never seen a sperm whale before that close. I was looking a moby's cousin. I had to look it up just to make sure of what I was seeing. awesome creature.
Every now and again I see an SB sticker on the beach. (usually during the derby).
Hope all of you are doing well. Real sorry to here of fly rods passing. Aging sucks. and it hurts to see friends become ill or die. Like most others, I have my own health issues now at 60 but I hope to get thru them. The good new is I lost 40 lbs this last winter and I am at the weight I was when I got married. I will try and check in from time to time.
Miss the old s-b.com days.
Well, that is it for now....