Boating; Easter Bait & Peeps
by boatguy Ed
“It's a very confused times for Spring Break and
Easter vacations. Some of the vacations overlap so the little ones will be on
the beach the same time as the College kids,” said 'Punxsutawney Phil' who had
promised his grandson that I would catch him live bait for their Easter fishing
trip.
“We need a back-up plan besides the Easter egg
hunt and the Easter 'bait' thing. You all know we don't throw a cast net as good
as we used to so the chances are slim unless conditions are perfect,” said
'Run-aground Ralph.'
“We can pull a fast one on them like we did a few
years ago,” said 'Erie Earl', “buy a couple dozen bait fish and leave 'em in the
forward live well just in case.”
“That might have worked on Johnny three years ago
when he was six but these kids are growing up fast. Maybe we can hire a guide to
come with us at 6 in the morning,” said 'Punxsutawney Phil'.
“Hogwash,” I interjected, “I throw as good a net
today as I did ten years ago.” Several members pointed out the fact that
although I can still get a nice round pattern with the net, I have to grunt
louder while throwing it. The additional noise reduces the catch because the
bait are forewarned.
“I'd bring my son along,” said 'Boston Bob' (He
moved down from New York City), “but he won't get out of bed that early and he
doesn't know how to cast net.”
“Teach him in an hour,” said 'Native Bob' who
claims Florida ancestors all the way back to the Calusa Indians. “The Calusas
invented the net and my grand-daddy invented the modern cast net.”
“I suppose one of your relatives was the one who
shot Ponce De Leon with the arrow that
killed him,” asked 'Boston Bob', the skeptic.
Native
Bob shook his head, “Naw, if it was my kin, Ponce would have died on the spot
instead of making it all the way back to Cuba before expiring.” The Bobs love to
spar. Native or Cracker Bob does a good down home imitation even though he is
graduate of Florida University, Go Gators.
“Practice, good weather and a lot of luck is what
you really need,” said Commodore Jim. “And by the way I wish all of that to you
but I won't be going with you.”
“Smart move,” said Mrs. 'Run-aground Ralph', “I'm
going to start boiling eggs this afternoon. I need volunteers to help me color
them. A few dozen should be enough because the kids won't eat them.” We all
agreed they make great 'Diviled Eggs!'
“Who changed the calendar? This week is a mess.
Coming and going and going and coming. We had to shuffle three families through
Disney Parks just to keep everything straight,” said 'Erie Earl'.
“I'm taking Phil and Johnny on a early morning
excursion. My boat holds eight if everyone stays put. I'll be throwing my cast
net as long as I can. You are all welcome to try a hand and maybe Johnny is old
enough to try,” I said confidently.
“I'm going to buy some Peeps for my family,” said
Cleveland Jack. “Just in case there's no bait.” We all thought that was a fairly
lame idea until he raised his smart phone up close to his lips and said, “Live
Peeps in Southwest Florida”!
“LIVE, are you crazy,” shouted Mrs. Boston Bob.
Jack nodded. “What's the matter with you? They make a mess and they grow up to
be Chickens or worst, Roosters!”
“I had some when I was a kid! We loved them....
but they were mostly males and after while we had to take them out to a farmer,”
said 'Punxsutawney Phil.
“My Grandson, Gary can't come down and we can't go
up. The misses is still working. I'm so busy with back-flow testing and repair
that I can't get away. I figure he needs a special gift, something really new
like the Resurrection of Easter,” said Jack. “Maybe FedEx to the rescue.”
“I think it's a darn good idea,” said Commodore
Jim, “but I won't be participating! I can't wait to see the hidden Easter Eggs
and the peeps around on your front lawns.”
“Says here,” Jack held up his smart phone, ”that
you can rent peeps from some organic farmers in order to find out if you and the
baby chicks are compatible!” Jack passed the phone around with his reading
glasses so we could read the screen. Half of us didn't know how to re-invigorate
the screen when it timed out so it came back to Jack after only half of us saw
the answer for 'rental peeps'.
Phil started chuckling. “That is a fantastic idea
sending Gary one?” Jack nodded but without his usual 'can do confidence' because
he didn't know if he had enough time. “I'm in with you. It's the best back up
plan I've ever heard of for the 'Easter Bait' promise.”
“I'm not going to have them running around in my
house,” said ALL the women present, in perfect unison. “The little ones might
like them but the real little ones will be throwing them at each other and
Johnny won't accept them as replacements. He's nine and wants to fish,” said
Mrs' Phil.
“We're still going fishing. The weather will be
perfect one day and in the mean time the peeps will keep them occupied,” I said.
Great plan, Jack!
Send questions and comments to boatguiEd@aol.com. Boatguy Ed is a
semi-retired marine manufacturer, www.supershipbottom.com. This column is
meant for educational purposes only. Any resemblance to real persons, living or
dead, is purely coincidental. Void where prohibited. Some assembly required. Do
not read while operating a motor vehicle or heavy
equipment.
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