The Catch(es) of the Day

I've caught a couple of crabs before, but this is certainly the biggest one I ever caught. I didn't get a chance to measure it, but its span seemed to be about a foot wide. I returned this monster to the deep.

This is the second striped bass I caught this year. I caught him when it was practically dark. This one measured 18 inches. I eventually sent him on his way.

Now I Got That Feeling Once Again

In the afternoon (on Sunday), I headed up to Hudson Park. I went to City Island to pick up some bait at Jack's Bait and Tackle. I spent about 20 minutes looking for a parking place. I finally parked illegally and left my car's blinkers on, indicating to any police or traffic enforcement officers that I would return. I got two fresh bunker. They didn't have any herring.

The area in the parking lot where I usually fish was crowded with fishermen. So I went to a different side.

I started fishing around 5 PM. The tide was coming in. It was overcast and pleasant. There was no wind. I invoked St. Peter's intercession to help me catch a big fish.

I didn't have a single bite the first couple of hours. I checked and replaced the bait periodically. I put the bunker in ice water to preserve them.

At one point, I checked one of my poles. I hooked something but it wasn't fish. It turned out to be a black bag. There was a mussel attached to it.

A short time later, I hooked something else. I thought it was more garbage. But it turned out to be a large crab. It had a head as large as my fist. Its span was about a foot wide, give or take a couple of inches. It got tangled up in my line. I held my pole over the guard rail and cut the line to set it free.

For years, crabs have been stripping off my bait and deluding me into thinking I had a bite. Today, I evened the score by catching their king.

If you like to fish alone and in peace, Hudson Park is not the place to go. A number of people showed up by sundown. One of them blasted his car radio. Despite the distraction, they were very nice and quite curious about fishing.

Around 8 PM or so, I got a big bite. I scrambled to my pole. But whatever it was let go or managed to unhook itself.

As it gradually got dark, I noticed a lot of fish jumping in the water. I decided to try an experiment. I retrived one line and removed the sinker. I attached a bobber to keep the bait off the bottom. No fish went for it.

As my day was winding down, I had one last big bite. I reeled it in. I pulled it up into the parking lot. It was a striped bass. I quickly put it in the bucket. "Thank you, Lord!" I said loudly, drawing the amusement of a nearby couple. This one measured 18 inches. The locals were impressed. I removed the hook and threw it back.

I stowed my gear away and went home. I had a great day, to which I am thankful to God and St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen.

My late-in-the-evening success reinforced the idea that, next time, I should try fishing in Hudson Park from 8 PM to 11 PM.

Wade's Bait and Tackle (Valhalla)

This is Wade's Bait and Tackle new location in Valhalla. It is on 36 Broadway, not too far from the Kensico Dam.

UPDATE: Wade's Bait and Tackle is now located at 7 W. Stevens Avenue in Hawthorne, New York. The new phone number is (914)-747-0762.

No Navigator To Find My Way Home

This afternoon, I went up to Kensico. I haven't been there since last July. I left my home around 3 PM. The challenge was to find Wade's Bait and Tackle at its now not-so-new location in Valhalla. Wade's closes at 4 PM on Sundays.

I managed to find it easily, near the Kensico Dam, and got there at 3:50. I bought a dozen sawbellies. The lady at the shop gave me a receipt for the sawbellies and told me to keep it to show any DEP personnel. Apparently, there has been some health problem with some types of sawbellies.

Before going to my usual spot, I saw in my car, listening to the end of the Yankee game. I couldn't believe they got swept and are now 12 1/2 games behind the first place Boston Red Sox.

I got to the rock at 4:30. At first, I couldn't my little bait net. So I had to reach into the bucket and get the sawbelly by hand. I had two poles in the water.

The sun was shining bright. It was warm. There was little or no wind. The water was still. I lost about four or five sawbellies while casting. They just flew off the hook.

I later developed a problem with one my poles. When I tried to cast my line, it just dropped after about 10 feet like it got stuck or tangled. The line in the reel didn't seem tangled. I tried several times, but the same thing kept happening. I then put the pole aside. I just didn't feel like respooling the whole thing.

I stuck with live bait, and I never used Krocodiles or other lures. I just laid back on the rock, resting my head on my tackle box.

I had a couple of bites, but I didn't catch anything.

By 8:15 PM, I was winding down. I actually had one more bite. I held my fishing rod in anticipation, but nothing. I dumped the sawbellies that were left in the water.

It was disappointing that I didn't catch anything. Still, the experience relaxed me.

I Knew the Waiting Had Begun

After last week's success, I decided to try Hudson Park again. It was overcast, and the temperature was in the low 50s.

The bait shop didn't have any fresh bunker. I got two frozen bunker instead. The nice lady told me that they would thaw quicky if I put them in salt water while they were still in the bags. I also got a dozen worms.

I started fishing around 12:45, about 90 minutes or so before high tide. It started to drizzle. It was cold. I wished I brought my jacket. At times, the wind blew hard, knocking over my poles several times.

I tried the worms first but had no luck. At 1:15, I was able to switch to bunker.

When the rain got worse, I took refuge in the car.

I had three bites but nothing hooked. I recast the lines several times and changed the bait once, but I didn't catch anything.

I asked an old fisherman who was on the other side of the lot if he had any luck. He said no.

I guess it wasn't our day. Around 4 PM, I gave up.

The (Only) Catch of the Day

This was the only fish I managed to catch today. This striper measured 17 inches. I threw him back into the Long Island Sound.

(Thank you St. Peter.)

Low Tide/High Tide

I took this shot around 3:30 PM. You can see how low the tide was.

By 8 PM, it was almost high tide.

Coming Back to Life

Today, I went fishing for the first time in 2007. The weather, personal issues, work, and a family emergency (that was favorably resolved) delayed the start of my fishing season.

I went up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. Around 2 PM, I was napping, and I came close to canceling the trip. But I really needed to start fishing. I got a large coffee at the gas station to wake me up.

I picked up two bunker at Hudson Park Bait & Tackle. The gentleman told me they didn't have "fresh" bunker. I forget the exact term he used. I was grateful it wasn't frozen.

I started fishing around 3:15 PM, not too long after low tide. It was sunny and a little windy. A couple of times, the wind blew my fishing rods over.

I had no action the first couple of hours. I attributed it to low tide and the wind. As the tide came in, I start getting a couple of bites. The gentleman at the bait shop told me that "evening fishing" was excellent.

At one point, I prayed to St. Peter, the patron saint of fishermen, to allow me to catch at least one fish. He delivered. Perhaps around 5:30 PM, I finally had a big bite. It nearly pulled my rod in the water. As I was reeling it in, it was clear that it was a big fish. I managed to pull it up into the parking lot. I'm lucky my line didn't snap.

I caught a striped bass. It measured 17 inches. It's the largest one I've caught since 2004, when I caught a 22-inch one out of the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry. I threw it back.

I had a few more bites, but didn't catch anything else. I left at 8:15 PM.

For me, just catching one relatively big fish always makes a fishing trip a success.

Return of a Man Called Horse

I had hoped to start fishing again in late March. Although it's almost May, I still haven't been to the water.

Unfortunately, the weather hasn't been cooperating. I took vacation last week, and we got clobbered with a Nor'easter and some colder-than-usual weather.

I've also been a little tired and distracted by work and personal issues.

I hope my mood and fortunes improve by this weekend.

On the Turning Away

This is a vehicle bridge that leads to some waterfront area, on the Hudson River, in Dobbs Ferry. (The address of the property may be 145 Palisade Street.) I fished there for 14 years from 1992 to 2006. Now the area is closed, which means no more fishing.

Perhaps the owner, whoever he is, got tired of all the garbage people left in the area and carried out his threat to seal off access. Last year, however, I heard a rumor that the owner was looking to sell the property. It seems that this is what happened. There were other businesses and people who also used the area for years. I guess they got evicted.

Over the years, I have enjoyed some great fishing at the dock. I will certainly miss it. Maybe the situation is temporary, and fishermen will be welcome back there one day.

Then again, nothing lasts forever.

Why Can't I Meet Women Like This?

The visually stunning young lady with the beautiful smile is Miss Erin Ehlers, who graced the cover of the Long Island Metro edition of The Fisherman (November 30, 2006).

She is certainly every young, single fisherman's dream.

All That's To Come

As the weather gets noticeably colder, many fishermen have to decide when to put their gear away for the winter.

For me, the time is now.

I didn't get do everything I wanted, but it's a been a good fishing season. I enjoyed success fishing the Hudson River in Dobbs Ferry, Long Island Sound in New Rochelle, and the Kensico Reservoir.

Obviously, I won't be posting anything until late March or early April.

So I'll see you then.

All That Is Now

The three of you who regulary read my blog are probably wondering where I've been in the last five weeks. No, I haven't stowed away my fishing gear for the winter. I've been a little tired, distracted, and occupied with personal matters. Since I don't want to bore you, I won't go into details.

Yesterday (Saturday), I woke up early, and I headed up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I stopped into Hudson Park Bait & Tackle. Unfortunately, the shop owner had no fresh bunker. So I bought two frozen bunker. It would be a while before they thawed out, so I had breakfast at the International House of Pancakes in Mamaroneck.

I was expecting a cloudy day, but the sun was out. It was pleasant and mild.

I started fishing around 11 AM. A few seconds after putting my first line in the water, I got some action. Although it didn't hook, I became hopeful. I was thinking I might have as a great a day fishing as I had back in July when I caught five fish up here.

As it turned out, I didn't catch anything.

I had lots of bites but nothing got hooked. I kept losing the bait. It must have been the crabs. I thought they just went after worms.

For most of the day, I was using Eagle Claw hooks. I switched to Mustad hooks, but I still had no luck.

I was also annoyed by a couple of bees that took an interest in the bait and my fishing rods.

By 1 PM, I ran out of bait. So I went home.

A Weekend of Rest

No fishing this weekend. It was bright and sunny both days although less hot. I had some personal business to attend to, and I also needed some rest.

We'll see what next weekend brings.

"I Don't Know If It Was Divine Intervention or the Kinship of all Living Things, But I Tell You, Jerry, At That Moment, I Was a Marine Biologist"

A manatee, a large aquatic mammal, has been spotted several times in the Hudson River. It was seen off the coast of lower Manhattan and as far north as Westchester.

Manatees, which are classified as an endangered species, usually eat plants, so they pose no threats to swimmers, boaters, or fishermen.

Still, given the manatee's enormous size, I wonder if it's spooking the fish in the Hudson River.

Something Else I Never Thought I'd See While Fishing

At one point, I turned my head left and noticed a seaplane on the river. I never saw it land.

It headed to shore and disappeared from view.

Maybe a half an hour later, it came back out and took off. (My fishing line is clearly visible in both photos.)

Condition Grounded But Determined to Try

Today, I returned to Dobbs Ferry for the first time in over a month.

I picked up three fresh bunker at Jack's. I got to the dock around 1:30 or so. I was shocked to see how dirty the area has become. Beer boxes, plastic bottles, and other garbage were strewn nearly everywhere. A few months ago, the individual who owns the property nailed a metal sign to a tree warning visitors not to litter or access to the area would be closed. (Some dumbass wrote, "You're Bluffing," on the sign with a magic marker.) I don't think it's too much to ask to make an effort to keep the area clean. Also, garbage attracts rats and other animals that can disrupt the joy of fishing.

It was past low tide. It was a little hot but not unbearable. There were a few clouds in the sky, but the sun was shining bright. There was no wind, and the water was calm.

A few seconds after I put my first line in the water and set the rod down in place, I noticed it tipping back and forth, indicating that a fish was attacking the bait. I thought this was going to be a very good day for fishing.

It wasn't.

Early on, I had a lot of bites, but nothing got hooked. I kept losing the bait. I got my line caught several times. Unlike yesterday, I went through the bunker fast. I also noticed that the bunker gradually deteriorated in the heat. My last one got mushy, and it was difficult to attach to the hook. Next time, I should keep it in water to keep it fresh longer.

A short time after I started, a couple of other fishermen showed up. One of them caught about four small perch using bloodworms. (The other guy just sat down and watched his friend.) They left after about an hour.

The only exciting thing that happened was that a seaplane landed in the water downriver and went to shore. It later came back out and took off.

By 4 PM, the bites stopped. I was nearly out of bait.

I finished very early around 5 PM. I guess this just wasn't my day or my weekend. (Maybe I am deservedly punished for many recent sins.)

I packed up and drove home, reeking of bunker.

Unladen, Empty, and Turned to Stone

After a two week layoff, I went fishing today. I went up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle, where I caught five fish two weeks ago.

I picked up three fresh bunker at Jack's. I had some personal business to take care on City Island, so I went to Jack's top pick up bait. Unfortunately, they were out of frozen herring.

I started fishing around 5:20. The tide was coming in. The sun was out. Temperature-wise, it was quite pleasant. The heatwave passed. A slight breeze made it feel cooler.

I had three lines in the water, all with fresh bunker. I waited for a bite. And waited.

I didn't get a single bite all day. I passed the time perusing Toby Young's memoir, How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2002).

I was fishing in the same spot I was when I first tried Hudson Park one month ago and had only one bite. Two weeks ago, when I caught five fish, I was fishing no more than 30-40 feet away. Today, that spot was occupied when I got there.

I didn't notice anyone else catching anything.

What went wrong today but right two weeks ago? Was it the rain and clouds? Is there some sort of structure under the water where I cast my lines two weeks ago and where fish congregate? Was it cooler? Was it because I fished in the late morning? Did the fish happen to be very hungry?

I recast my lines several times. I changed the bait on each line once. I didn't even get through one bunker.

I gave up at 8:20 PM. I packed up and went back to City Island, where I had some dinner.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.

Middle of a Heatwave

No fishing this weekend.

Another heatwave is baking the New York area. I just didn't feel like fishing in the searing heat in the bright sunshine. Anyway, on both days, I had a few things to do.

The heatwave is expected to pass by the end of the week, so I will definitely go fishing next weekend.

Visitors

These swans stopped by to take a bath. (I guess the two white swans adopted the seven gray ones.)