Funny surf stories - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

RIJIMMY · 12-10-2007, 04:26 PM

one more...

Parker23 wanted me to post this story awhile back, 100% true.

The story of Lucky the eel
While on the Vineyard 2 years ago with my family, I bought a bunch of eels. I was carrying them in one of those soft-sided coolers. I thought I had used them all, but apparently, one was under the frozen water bottle I had in there to keep them cold. The cooler was in the back of our van for a few days, the temps were in the 80s outside. When it was time to go back home, I took out my gear and was cleaning it up before we got on the ferry. I opened the cooler and found the eel, dried up, but still alive. My kids were with me and they were excited to play with the eel, I filled up a bucket with water and he was swimming around. My daughter said we have to name him and I said lets call him Lucky since he survived for 3 days in a hot van. We were not catching a ferry until late in the afternoon. My kids talked about Lucky all day, he was their favorite part of the trip. I explained we have to let him go and we’ll stop on the way to the ferry. We crossed the bridge in VH and pulled over to a beach area. My daughter asked is she could let him go, I said yes and the whole family, son, daughter wife and I, walked down to the edge of the water with me carrying the bucket with Lucky in it. My daughter spilled out the remaining water and let Lucky slide out into a few inches of the bay. Lucky paused before swimming away, probably sensing freedom was near and then suddenly BAM!!! A seagull, apparently watching the whole thing from the bridge, dove into the water, a few feet from us, grabbed Lucky , flew back to the bridge and gulped Lucky down in one shot. My kids were horrified, my wife said, I think you gave him the wrong name

numbskull · 12-10-2007, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

one more...
My kids were horrified, my wife said, I think you gave him the wrong name

numbskull · 12-10-2007, 06:44 PM

"He went like one that hath been stunned, and is of sense forlorn,
a sadder but a wiser man he rose the following morn."
S Coleridge 1797 Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner

About 20 years ago, after reading too many "Fisherman" articles I decided to try and beach fish Cuttyhunk during a massive fall NE'er. Left Quissett just before dark in a 29' Dyer. Ran down the sound and came through Quicks with the tide against the wind (about 40knots...eventually got up to 60 that night). Hit the steepest shortest seas I've ever experienced and had to run almost 1/2 a mile before I could make the turn for Cutty. Got into the harbor, pitch black with 2-3 foot waves at the dock. Made fast with 4 lines all on the upwind side. Got off, with difficulty, and tried to fish the barges. No korkers, couldn't stand up on those wet bowling balls. Went back to a tossing boat with a plan to get up at 11pm and head to the south end of the island to fish eels at highwater.

Woke up with a start at MN, the dock was under water. Frantic about missing the tide, I set out for the south end. Couldn't find the footpath to the road, but I remembered that as kids we used to climb the tower hill and access the road from up there. That was only 20 years earlier and so what if it was raining horizontally and pitch black, no doubt that route would save time. Not. Got lost in the brush south of the hill. Lost my main flashlight, tried to save my reserve. Stumbling in the dark, I nearly tripped on a sleeping buck that erupted at my feet. Wondered about swarm after swarm of big black "butterflies" I kept walking through. Nearly shat when I realized they weren't butterflies.

Finally made the road, no clue how far down. Decided I had to fish, so I went down the rain soaked cliff.........really fast. Didn't break anything. Fished a while and realized I wanted to be further down. Tried to walk down the beach, but with no usable light and no visibility it was impossible. Back up the wet cliff, in waders, with a rod, bag, and eel bucket, hanging from small bushes the whole way.

Made it to the south end. The tide had blown out of there. Cast an eel.....bottom. Broke off, re rigged, cast again......bottom. Switched to a skin needle, caught a 5 lb fish, then bottom again. Tried to wade out, fell in...... hard......twice. At this point sanity returned, considered the consequence of breaking a leg in late October during a NE storm on the deserted end of Cutty. Gave up, trudged back to the boat. All for a single 5 lb fish.....and a lesson well learned.

redhead7 · 12-10-2007, 08:15 PM

keep them coming.............

please

baldwin · 12-10-2007, 08:31 PM

Lemme see, Pat. Bat and bunny on the fly rod, coyote balloons, you doing the old bump-and-grind on a boulder in huge surf at Cutty, dancing in full surf gear in a parking lot while young girls drive by with music blaring,...nah, no funny stories coming from me. I'm way too serious.

Vogt · 12-11-2007, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by baldwin

Lemme see, Pat. Bat and bunny on the fly rod, coyote balloons, you doing the old bump-and-grind on a boulder in huge surf at Cutty, dancing in full surf gear in a parking lot while young girls drive by with music blaring,...nah, no funny stories coming from me. I'm way too serious.

Moron_Saxatilis · 12-11-2007, 08:42 AM

I have a story just like the lucky the eel one. I nice family decided to release a 5lb+ lobster while I was fishing in Warwick. I ended up being the seagull though...

MikeToole · 12-10-2007, 08:53 PM

I'm out about 400 yards on the far end of a sandbar standing in water up to my waist. It's a flat calm morning and it was just starting to show the first signs of day light. When suddenly this head popped out of the water flying straight at me and bumped into me almost knocking me over. I'm back peddling away as fast as I can with the Jaws theme song in my head. It was a dam seal also racing.

piemma · 12-11-2007, 03:03 AM

This is a GREAT thread!!! Funny stuff!!!