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Home My WebLink AboutMay 29, 2003 - A youthful fishing foray The Suffolk Times • May 29, 2003 � � 6 t t !�i � s1�`t ,� $��dt�C�'� �.. . t � � � � '�� k�`�i2��`➢' � � �'/ Y-� .c � t ?a . .� . 3 . � `�' t r 3 � � �� R;y SS y �r9 � .� � �� .z 7�� yt. �`��s ��p �, �'' '` �+ ��v� . §�`�,'�` '.�x �� ',`. ^� �� .. � �� `��y, �.•��, a�� `�� '� bi: ..:.,q o . . J` `�:�> �, '�� . . . ,�'t_ ,.�� . a.. ��` �� ' � � , � _ ��'��'�il�, � � .�� ::�.. �h� . � � � �y,:: � ` � ,, i �y' ,�w� .,;.: w,: oo,� � �=�,.�_ y g g , y grandson Paul and his friends Cra grandUt6(evin, These oun teena ers m have just been introduced to one of the East End's most popular pastimes: fishing. What better way to entertain the youth of today? Broiled bluefish was on the menu that night. I�r's,��w,a�:s a �us��iME when the h��at g��cs in each spring. Fii�st,heloi�c �hargc all winter and now is being that happens,thci�c arc lots of things �alled into action.Cushions,a bimini that havc to he dc�ne."17�c motor is ihat keeps the glaring sun off of us,all chccked uut,new s�ai�k plugs put in, these things and more have to be thc hotte�m painted with antifouling found and pu[ in their proper place. paint and grease anci gas mixture We've downsi�ed our boat to a small reaciy to 1'ill up."lhen things slowly Boston Whaler.�It's a s[urdy boat and goes right along with our little 2S- emei-ge that havc horsepower outboard.The first ones to F�C(�$ hecn storcd in g�t to use the boat [his year were my thc garage,such son and my grandson with two of his �N as lifc jackc[s,an friends.Before heading out they got all NATU RE �nchor,an auto- the poles and necessary gear ready by Paul n�`�t« hilge and,of course,the most important Stoutenbu h Pump, the bat- thing:their snacks.With all that gath- ___ __ � tety that has ered together they hcaded for the boat. heen on ti-ickle Now therc's a ro'ect.lhree ener y- lenge.When we reached the to�a panoramic view of the waters of the Peconic bays lay before us. One time we were there and a storm came up.The water turned from its sparkling blue to gunmetal below to catch the first gray. Dark,ominous clouds minnow or shrimp or changed our world into spearing that crossed one of wind and gloomy clouds.We under his view. atched a real,live episode of storm Kingfishers nest,by thc eather as it played out in front of u, way,in banks along the pr�med teena nd then passed on to the east. hay.Perhaps you've the sa ��rs and an adult all had �e next day was Barbara's and my noticed holes in the banks. m�'��ea �f"fish for supper.» ay for the boat.We waited until late It can be only one of two Have y�u ever tried fishin three teena g With 'fternoon and then headed for the things,a kingfisher build- slim �ers in a small boat— oc:k,where our a er was tie up.Pm ing his nest thrce feet back or bank y hands, tangied lines,w � each splashin et clothes, happy to report that the osprey plat- swallows.Swallows usually nest in fun.I don'1 knc�we other gUy jus[for f�� that I spoke of s�me weeks ago is groups and y�;t there is one,a rough- hut he hOW mY so� �iid it, ��oking good.We thought it was touch W�nged swallow,that builds its ncst ��.And thc best p�,-t wa�, and go for a while but now the female is more or less by itself. each of the boys caught bluefish,tho e g ow in her nest and the male is fightin ti ers whose 'aws kee sittin 1 We had brought along a pole just in g � � p sna bi-inging her tidbits to fe;ed on as wcll as case we saw some fish breaking and we p�ng aµ'aY until the last breath is g ne g o thc nest now and then. from their sleek,silver _ addin t did try it behind our boat as we went When they finall y green bodies. �ri�� they decide to nest,little can �ut into the bay.It was here we saw at evening the y got home that chase them away and that's why wc the water's edge that least terns were y cleaned all th�fish and ��ften find them nesting near beaches resting,"Ihcy must know some[hing is broiled them and promptly ate them, and busy thoroughfares even though ��ing to be breaking water soon.A lit- �he blues are feeding on schooled the area gets busier as summcr gcts g were little peeps,least bunkers (a herrin t tle farther alon the ba , g YPe of fish) out in �loser.When we arrived at the dock, sandpipers,tiny birds about thc size of y And if Yo� want to see nature �'�= ��uld see a snowy cgret stalking a sparrow that are heading north to in the raw,witness when these two killies way up in the hcad of the creck almost the Arctic area to build their collide,bluefish and bunker,in a feed- ing frenz . and barn swallows dipping and gliding nests and rear their young with the Y That's when bits and pieces over the marsh.Zheir life has not bcen abundanc;e of insects that swarm each flY dnd ihe terns and gulls come in to �asy,what with the cold spring that spring in the wet tundra area. pick up the pieces.W}�at an exciting 1'here were also four ruddy turn- day those kids had. meant few insects were around. It did- — n't take us long to ge[ into the boat stones.What they were looking for at 'I�hey even went across the bay and and head out into the bay but first the water's edge I bclicvc; to be one of climbed the big old sandbanks that we'd have to take a long run at low nature's great providers.The horse- rise 80 to 90 feet in the air.They stand speed to the mouth of the creek.We shoe crabs come up at this time of the out as a landmark in the Peconics.Y could see the marsh grass starting to Year to lay their eggs.Some of the remember one time when we were turn green on slender four-or five- eg�s get washed out and these are the young we sailed to those mammoth inch shoots."These latcr will grow to ones these migrating shore birds were sandbanks,anchored the boats and three to four feet in height and we'll feasting on. It seemed as if nature has went ashore to test our young legs call that the tall grass that grows at the Provided these fast-food stops along against those shifting sands. For edge of the creek—thatch grass,one the way. every step up you would go back of thc prime factors in making our The wind had come up and with it a half a ste , but that was the chal- waters produetive with their rowth chill,so we stayed in the lee of the land g and putted along at a slow speed enjoy- and decay that creates the nutrients ing the late afternoon sun.We were sur- for our fish and shellfish. prised to see how many big houses are O:ur noise chased away a kingfisher popping up along the waterway.Many sitting on the telephone wire ncar [he of these are the result of refurbishing water.His sharp eyes werc focused old houses whcre they've trashed the Have you ever house and built anew. tried fishing with three �teenagers in a small boat?