Sleep

"I shall return."--General Douglas MacArthur (March 11, 1942)


It's that time of year. With winter fast approaching, it's too cold to fish, and local bait stores won't be carrying any fresh bunker or bloodworms until the spring. It's time for me to give up fishing and head into hibernation.

I'm glad I was able to salvage a little something from my annus horribilis and catch a few fish.

I am grateful for my religious faith. Among many things, it gives me hope: the belief (perhaps an assurance) in the possibility that no matter how bad things get or how bleak they appear to be, they can get better, obviously with prayer and effort, sooner or later. (Notice I didn't write will. I consider myself a realist and believe very strongly in Original Sin.) Indeed, hope is one of the things that has kept me going for the last several decades and keeps me going.

Anyway, Merry Christmas and see you next spring.

The Catch(es) of the Day

A striped bass:

A carp:

A perch:

Thank you, St. Peter.

I Knew the Moment Had Arrived

Today, I followed through on a pledge I recently made to try the Hudson River in Riverdale before shutting down for the winter. I picked up some bait at Jack's. Unlike the last few times, I made a choice that greatly affected the outcome of today's trip. In addition to clams, I also got a box of bloodworms.

I got to Riverdale around noon. I fished here only once before back in May with no luck. There were a lot of cars in the Metro-North parking lot, but I managed to find a spot. It cost me $3.25 to park for the day. (On weekends, parking is free.)

There were no people on the promenade. With the exception of a few commuters taking the train, the area was practically deserted. I used three poles (more on this later). I believe I started out using clams on two lines, and a blood worm on the third.

The weather was around 60 degrees. It was very overcast and foggy. It previously rained, and the area was still wet. The tide was going out.

Not too long ago, I prayed a novena to St. Peter, the patron saint of fisherman, asking to catch at least one fish before I closed down for the winter. Today and three fishing trips later, my prayer was answered.

Deciding to buy some bloodworms turned out to be the smartest thing I've done in a long time. I caught three fish--each a different species--and all with bloodworms. I did have a couple of bites with clams, but I seemed to have nonstop action with bloodworms.

The first fish I caught was a striped bass. It measured nine inches. I was so elated that I finally caught something this season and after so much personal disappointment. I thanked St. Peter for his intervention, and I threw it back.

The second fish came a short time time later. Judging by its barbels, the "whisker" near the mouth, I thought it was a catfish. But it wasn't. Instead, the fish belonged to the carp family. Although it was a foot long, it didn't weigh much. I threw it back.

My third fish was a perch. It was only seven inches. I also returned him to the river.

I came close to catching two other fish. One was either a carp or a catfish. But my line got tangled with another one of my lines, and it managed to get unhooked. The strength of the current created a problem, causing my lines to overlap. The next time I try this spot, I'll just bring two poles. I lost the second fish when my line snapped.

I ran out of bloodworms and had to rely on clams. The fish then seemed to lose interest. In the last few weeks, I no doubt overestimated the appeal of clams and underestimated the appeal of bloodworms. In recent years, I have shied away from bloodworms since they seemed to attract only perch and crabs, which successfully stripped them from the hook.

My success with bloodworms has tempted me to try them at least once at Five Islands Park in New Rochelle before closing down for the winter. Maybe the fish there would find the bloodworms more appetizing than clams.

Today, I also learned an important lesson: Never fish with only one type of bait.

Today's success (and the joy that came with it) was exactly what I needed. I haven't felt this good in a long time. I hope and pray that I can build on it and mark the beginning of a major turnaround in my professional, personal, and fishing life.

Can You See Your Days Blighted By Darkness?

Today, I returned to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. I was eager to try the area for the third straight time since conditions seemed perfect. It was a beautiful overcast day. The temperature was mild. There was no wind, and the water was still.

Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything.

I bought some clam bait at Jack's. I started fishing at 12:30, about an hour before high tide. I did manage one bite. Since the park closes at dusk, I stopped fishing at 4:45 PM.

Another fisherman, who was using a lure and fished in different spots, came over to talk to me. He said he didn't have any luck either. I guess there's no point coming back here until spring.

I would like to try the Hudson River in Riverdale a couple of times before shutting down for the winter.

And Everything Under the Sun

Today, I made my second trip to Five Islands Park in New Rochelle. Jack's didn't have any fresh bunker. Instead, I bought two cups of unfrozen clams.

I got to the dock around 10:45 AM, about 90 minutes or so before hide tide. It was a bright, sunny day with a slight breeze. The temperature was perfect. I used three poles.

Like last time, I didn't catch anything. But unlike last time, I did have a few bites.

I tried my usual tricks: reeling in the lines to draw attention to the bait, checking the bait and recasting the lines, and replacing the bait. I guess the fish weren't really hungry or already in hibernation.

I stayed until 5:15 or so. I passed the time listening to my pocket radio and smoking a cigar.

Still, it was a nice day, and the experience was quite pleasant.

I'm glad I went.

Me and My Shadow Fishing on a Friday Afternoon

Lost in Thought and Lost in Time

After nearly three months of silence, I have returned. I wish I had more to report, but I don't. I've been getting my rest and slowly climbing out of the abyss. (But I still have a long way to go.)

Two days ago, I washed my fishing poles for the time in years. I also respooled them. Today, I decided to try Five Islands Park in New Rochelle for the first time. I purchased a parking sticker last August for 2008 from the City of New Rochelle Department of Parks and Recreation at City Hall. Five Islands Park is right across the sound from Hudson Park, where I fished several times and lost a big one back in April.

I explored the park yesterday and found a floating dock that stretches out over the water. A metal footbridge connects the dock to the land (one of the five islands). A great advantage is that since it's a floating dock, it rises and falls with the tide.

I missed high tide, which was about 8:45 AM. I took a drive to Jack's to pick up some bait. Whenever I went fishing this late in the past, the bait shops usually didn't have any fresh bunker. I got to Jack's at 11:15 or so. Big John, the owner of Jack's, told me they were expecting a shipment by noon. Since I preferred to use fresh bunker, I decided to wait. I just read the Wall Street Journal in my car. When the bait was finally delivered, I bought two fresh bunker.

I got to the dock and started fishing at 12:45. The tide was going out. The sun was out. It was cool and pleasant. There was a slight breeze. When I explored the area yesterday, the wind was blowing really hard. Today, I just brought two poles with me instead of my customary three.

I didn't get a single bite. I recast the lines several times. I replaced the bait perhaps twice. Nothing was biting. I saw some fishermen over in the parking lot at Hudson Park. They gave up and left around 1 PM.

I passed the time walking on the dock and listening to my radio. Around 2:30 or so, the wind started to pick up. I gave up at 3 PM.

Despite not catching anything, the experience was pleasant. I'm glad I went and got a chance to shake off some of the rust.

I really would like to catch one fish before shutting down for the winter. If the weather doesn't get too cold, I'm sure I'll come back a few times over the next few weeks, especially at high tide. In 1996 or 1997, I went fishing on a chilly November day at Mamaroneck Harbor and caught a decent-sized striper. So there's still hope that I might catch something this late into the fishing season.

And the Worms Ate Into His Brain

The jury brought in a guilty verdict
And the judge he sentenced me to death
Midnight in a prison storeroom
With leather straps across my chest
Sheriff, when the man pulls that switch, sir
And snaps my poor head back
You make sure my pretty baby is sittin' right there on my lap

They declared me unfit to live
Said into that great void my soul'd be hurled
They wanted to know why I did what I did
Well, sir, I guess there's just a meanness in this world
--Bruce Springsteen, "Nebraska"

It's official. I've hit rock bottom.

My gradual, downward spiral began about 12 months ago: 1) My girlfriend dumps me via email; 2) My health takes a nosedive; and 3) My writing career goes on life support. Last week, I lost my day job. (For months, I often listened to Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska" on my iPod during my morning commute, a reflection of the nihilistic despair I've been feeling.)

Last Wednesday, the management (which didn't give me a real chance to heal) just took me out back like an old mule and put a slug in the back of my head. I would have preferred to go out like this:



I plan on spending the time off healing my broken-down body, getting some real rest, going to a few Yankee games, doing some writing, and catching a few fish.

Disabled List

No doubt the three of you who follow my fishing adventures on a regular basis must be wondering where I've been in the month of June.

Obviously, this fishing season is not what I had hoped for. Indeed, I still haven't caught a single fish. I've been occupied with work and a number of medical issues. Yes, I am one ailing fisherman. Through the pain and everything that comes with it (i.e. fatigue, depression, and a fear of what else could go wrong in my increasingly chaotic life), a glimmer of hope has emerged. Yesterday, I started a new treatment for a chronic illness that has dogged me for 10 years now. I thought it was under control, but I began to suffer a serious relapse last year. Along with the treatment, I'm trying to take better care of myself. So keep praying.

I do have some time off in July, and if I'm up to it, I may do some fishing.

Now Matter How He Tried, He Could Not Break Free

On Sunday, I made my return to the Hudson River after two years. Instead of Dobbs Ferry, I went to Riverdale, here in the Bronx. I went to the Riverdale Riverfront Promendade, accessible through the Riverdale Metro-North train station. I scouted the area a few weeks ago, and it seemed like a nice place to fish. The promenade is just a small strip of land, with three viewing areas with park benches and one platform with a small concrete wall.

I picked up two fresh bunker and three frozen herring at Jack's. I got there around 12:45, about one hour before high tide. Since it was the weekend, there was free parking in the Metro North lot and plenty of spaces.

It was sunny and warm. There was little wind, and the river was calm. I didn't intend to stay for an extended period since this was my first time fishing in this spot, and I wanted to try it out.

Using only two rods today, I didn't have a single bite. I reeled in the lines to draw attention to the bait. I recast the lines a couple of times. I changed the bait once. No luck.

There were people fishing in the next area. They were quite noisy. I heard them a catch a couple of fish, including a striped bass. I believe I heard them say they were using blood worms and nightcrawlers. So there are fish in this area.

I packed in at 3 PM. I drove home and listened to the rest of the Yankee game.

When I got to White Plains Road, I looked for my glasses on the passenger seat and couldn't find them. I then realized that I probably left them on the bench where had I put them.

So I drove back to retrive them. Luckily, they were still there.

Today, I came close to not going fishing. I'm glad I went, despite not catching anything.

Although I'm off tommorrow for Memorial Day, I won't be going fishing. I have a few things to take care of.

We'll see what the next weekend brings. (I still haven't caught my first fish of the season.)

Is It True You Beat Your Fists on the Floor?

Eight days ago (Wednesday, April 23), I returned to Hudson Park in New Rochelle in search of striped bass and flounder. I was on vacation. That was a fishing trip I will no doubt remember for the rest of my life.

I started fishing around 11:30 or so, about two hours before high tide. I had three lines in the water, using fresh bunker and herring for bait. For the first couple of hours, I didn't even have a single bite. To draw attention to the bait, I reeled in the lines a little and soon recast them. A few times, I even replaced the bait.

I don't remember the exact the time, but I finally got a hit. When I started to reel the line in, I realized I had something sizable. I caught a glimpse of the fish as it neared the surface of the water, firmly hooked. It looked like it was at least 20 inches. As it got closer to the shore, I realized it was a striped bass.

My effort attracted the attention of the older gentleman fishing next to me. He came over to watch. Another man who was sitting in his car also took notice. As I have written before, it's about 10 feet from the parking lot, where I fish, down to the water. I managed to get the fish right below me at the water's edge. It looked like it might have been perhaps two feet long, maybe an inch or two longer. If you recall, the biggest fish I ever caught was a 22-inch striped bass in the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry four years ago.

As you can guess, when I tried to pull it up, the line snapped. The striper disappeared below the water. I was disappointed, but not emotionally wrecked. My mistake was not pulling it up on some nearby rocks, which slide into the water. If I managed to get the fish up on the rocks, which are smooth, I might have been able to pull it up, measure it properly, and photograph it.

The older gentleman, who had no luck fishing, consoled me. At least my effort provided some thrill to an otherwise disappointing fishing experience. I told him, "I'll remember this for the rest of my life." (Of course, should I ever catch something as big, I doubt the experience of last Wednesday will be as significant as it now is.)

I stayed until 3:30. I didn't have another bite. I was also a little tired.

However, I did profit a little by acquiring more knowledge about the area. The gentleman told me I could also fish across the water at Five Islands Park, which was a small, metallic fishing dock. The city of New Rochelle owns the park, and I already have my fishing license and New Rochelle fishing permit. It's something to try next time.

Get You on Your Feet Again

Yesterday, I went up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I checked the tide charts, and high tide would be in the early evening. I went to Jack's. They didn't have any fresh bunker, only frozen. I bought two frozen bunker and three frozen herring. It actually worked out. I got to Jack's relatively early, maybe 3 PM. I drove back home to pick up my folding chair, which I had left behind. I also got something to eat.

I got to Hudson Park a little past 4 PM. By 4:15, I started fishing. The weather was overcast. It was also extremely windy and colder than normal. The wind knocked over my chair and fishing poles several times. I didn't see anyone else fishing.

As it turned out, I didn't have a single bite. I spent my time walking back and forth, listening to my iPod, and even cleaning the inside of my car.

The highlight of the day was being asked numerous times by passing motorists and some kids across the water if I had any luck. It seems that many people find fishermen interesting.

I reeled in the lines to draw attention to the bait several times. I recast the lines a couple of times. I also replaced the bait on all three rods. Yet the fish (and the crabs that often trick me into thinking I have a bite) stayed away. Was it the wind, the cold, or both?

I had planned to stay past 8 PM. Instead, I threw out the remaining bait at 6:30 and packed up. I wanted to go home, so I could watch the Yankee game.

Although I didn't catch anything, I'm glad I went. It was important for me to start fishing this year and get back into the habit.

We'll see what the next weekend and the next week (when I will be on vacation) will bring.

Return (Once Again) of a Man Called Horse

I have returned.

I renewed my fishing license last Saturday. I hope to start fishing this weekend. I was actually ready to do some fishing last Sunday, but it was too cold.

In case you're wondering, I'm doing a little better, but I still have a way to go before I pronounce myself physically, mentally, and emotionally healthy. (I have no doubt that some fishing and catching a few fish will help with the healing process.) Anyway, thank you for your prayers.

In the off-season, I did a little exploring. I discovered Huguenot Lake in New Rochelle. I also learned of a spot in Riverdale (in the western Bronx), the Riverdale Riverfront Promenade & Fishing Access Site, where you can fish the Hudson River.

I hope to have a good season.