northshorewaterman

While the hospital today was fun, I do have a bit of an issue.  One of the ‘male’ nurses at the emergency room was a cyclist, and I’m all for it.  Recent events have led me to review my overall hatred of those who choose to pedal on the street.  However, of the 25 magazines in the waiting room, 23 of them were Adventure Cyclist.  The other two were also cycle related.  What, just because you like to ride your bike everyone else should read about it?  There were grieving family members there, how about a fishing mag?

Also, Striper is good and Gloucester harbor is growing dinosaurs.

So an itty, bitty little bee turned my lovely red-headed fair skinned wife into an angry Mongolian woman today.  I’m going with it.  I’ve always had a fantasy involving an angry Mongolian woman, goat milk and a dust storm.  If this yurts a rockin’, don’t come a knockin’.

hammer landing fish

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Today was the type of day that reminds me why, despite all the bullshit that goes along with it, I will always have a boat.  Sure they cost a fortune to dock and maintain, and all they are really good at is breaking.  But living on the north shore you’ve just got to have one.  And today was the best day of fishing I have had in quite some time: the bait came easy; the ocean was like piss on a platter; the area I wanted to fish was virtually deserted; the fish were co-operative and the fish were big.  We generally just fly-fish, and truth be told our  flats style skiff is not really equiped to bait fish.  But, after an utter skunking chasing tuna last Saturday I just had an itch to put some meat on the boat.  And that we did.  This fish was around 48″, and I guessed it to be around 40+ lbs.  Hammers biggest by about 28 lbs. (can’t let it go to his head).  With a couple of smaller 36″ fish on ice, I saw no reason to kill it.  Hammer agreed. He is indeed all growns up.

hammers release

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Sure Hammer caught the fish…but what about that camera work?  I’m like a svelte little felini.

Plenty of large stripers; whales; porpoise; other fishermen…no tuna.  I’d hate to even guess at the amount of ocean we covered yesterday, but saw not a one.  Looks like I should have taken a left instead of a right.  I did hear that someone might have killed one under the greasy pole?

I’ve been planning on going out to chase some tuna this weekend, so I put out some feelers to a couple of heavy hitters to find out what has been going on.  Granted, any information is taken with a grain of salt because like all great fishermen, those guys were full of shit.  Anyhoo,  I’ve got an idea of where I want to start, what I’ll use and two respectable back-up plans should things look sour.  Sounds like plenty of fish, but few large enough to sell.  Time to think outside the box.

Over the course of the week, I actually heard three different versions of a fish-tale.  One from the actual fisherman (and probably the furthest from the truth); one from some shop guys and the final version from a fella who is just getting into fishing.  There is nothing like a good tuna story to make people act a little queer.  It may be a good time to start some rumors for my own amusement.  Did anyone hear that a 300lb.-er swam into the structure supporting the greasy pole and couldn’t get out?  One of the walkers actually harpooned it with the flag on his way down.  Viva San Pedro!

Get your mind out of the gutter, pig.

setting

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Nice spare tire, dude.

So many of you have been dying to know: what does farmer/fisherman/Adonis Doug plant to keep his amazing shape? well here is the breakdown.

Bottom Garden:

Pumpkin; broccoli; eggplant; cucumber; red, yellow, green, hot peppers; summer and butternut squash; Yukon gold potatoes; copious amounts of tomatoes; zucchini; and one cherry tree to let all the sissy shit know who’s boss.

asparagus patch:

Asparaduuuuuh.

top garden:

Romaine lettuce; hippy crap lettuce; garlic; carrots; beets; basil; rosemary; sweet onion; various dahlias; And a cherry tree in between the asparagus patch and the upper garden…to let the sissy shit know who’s boss.

orchard:

Pear tree; peach tree; red delicious and macintosh apple trees; dwarf plum-tree; black raspberry; 4 high bush, 4 low bush blueberry (personally, I enjoy the low bush).

Now, I know what your thinking: this guy is a huge dork.

Well, that may be.  But I do appreciate the beauty of the position that I am in.  That is a position in which I don’t give a shit what you think.

Lather

Rinse

Repeat

So we’ve started to set our lobster gear for the 2010 season, about two months earlier than usual.  Its been a long time since we’ve fished lobster in June, it should be interesting to see how we’ll be received by the inshore fleet.   Another side effect of NOAA’s mis-guided fisheries regulations will be more guys fishing for lobster for more of the year.  One load down, only 1100 traps to go.  Put the phone down Mark, I’m only kidding.

Some folks preach that we should have love and compassion for all of Gods creatures.  Perhaps the red squirrel that has been waking me up all week running around on my deck is trying to express his love and compassion for me?  He should have thought twice, because when the Socom Carbine .177 cal air rifle starts barkin’ hell-fire, all squirrels shall Rue the day.  Rue the day.

Mister squirrel, you have been found guilty of trespassing by a jury of your peers and sentenced to death.  May the lord have mercy on your soul.  (Oh yeah, read that with a southern accent)

So, I am in the unfortunate position of having to be a basketball fan tonight.  I don’t like it.  First of all, there is way too much diving.  Second of all, there is way too much tough guy, gangster thug attitude from guys that were more than happy to flop around on the floor the previous play.  Third of all, every time someone drives the lane the whistles blow for a foul.  I mean these are big athletic guys; give them some mouth-pieces and let them get after it.  Then I would watch.  Someone wants to flop around on the floor, kick him in the stomach.  That would end the flopping.  Someone wants to stare you down after a big dunk, elbow him in the teeth.  Ultimately, I think that the NBA needs to instate a new rule where each team is required to have one hockey player on the floor at all times.

All that having been said, this video is funny:

I mean, what did this kid think was going to happen?  Pull your shit together kid.