Come on, It's Time to Go

My next fishing trip was on July 27, 2014 in Hudson Park. I didn't catch anything, and I recall not staying long.

And If There Is No Room Upon the Hill

   Another day, another belated post.

   Nearly a week ago, on June 6--the anniversary of the D-Day invasion--I returned to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I got up there in the mid-morning to take advantage of the solunar calendar's recommendation for the day. I had wanted to try Alpine again, but, with the usual traffic on the Cross Bronx Expressway, I didn't think I would arrive on time.

   The day was another disappointment. In about two hours of fishing, I had only one bite. I made another early exit by noon or so. After I packed up, I went over to this nice black lady who was fishing not too far from me. She said she had no luck either.

    I guess the fish were on vacation.

Unladen, Empty, and Turned to Stone

   Yesterday (May 13), I drove up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. In-Fisherman's solunar calendar reported good fishing between 1 and 3 PM. Unfortunately, I struck out.

   I just took two dozen bloodworms with me. I had two lines in the water by 1:10 or so. I didn't get a single bite.

   It was also colder than normal and quite windy. A couple of times, I took refuge in my car. (I left my jacket at home.)

  I just stayed for 90 minutes and went back home. I had some things to take care of.

Coming Back to Life

Today (April 30), I made my second visit to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I just took one dozen bloodworms and intended to stay for about two hours. When I planned my trip, I not only took note of high tide but also made use of In-Fisherman's online solunar calendar. It reported a "Major Moon Period"--when the moon would be overhead or underfoot--between 3:26 PM and 5:26 PM. Many fishermen have long believed that various phases of the moon affect the feeding patterns of fish.

By 3:15 PM, I had two lines in the water. After the traumatic and once-in-a-lifetime incident I experienced last week, which resulted in my oldest and favorite fishing rod go missing, I was a little overly cautious. I was on the lookout for birds and was extra careful to make sure my poles wouldn't fall into the water below. The sun was shining brightly, and there was a slight wind. It felt much colder than the reported 65 degrees.

I had no action in the first hour. I eventually got one hit, but I didn't hook anything. Whatever it was, it just nibbled at the bait. The bite gave me hope that I might catch something here for the first time in years. As I waited, I passed the time listening to my iPod and smoking my pipe. I went through my "Country" playlist. Marty Robbins' classic cover of the old Western ballad, "The Streets of Laredo," is a personal favorite. I listen to the song quite frequently, perhaps because I tend to identify with the dying, repentant cowboy in the song who comes to the harsh realization that he alone is responsible for his own tragic plight and sad exit. No doubt, "The Streets of Laredo," is a sad song, but it also conveys hope through personal redemption and the cowboy's struggle to maintain his dignity in his final minutes by seeking companionship with a passerby, some cool water to quench his thirst, and a request for a solemn funeral after he "goes to his Maker."

In the second hour, I reeled in one line to check the bait. I immediately noticed that the line was heavy. Since I was able to reel it in--without a fight--I obviously didn't get it caught on an underwater rock. Did I catch some garbage? When I pulled up the line, I saw that I caught a flounder--my very first. I was thrilled. It measured about 14 inches. A fellow fisherman nearby me congratulated me. Since it was really sunny, I wasn't able to get a clear picture. I cut it loose and returned it to the water.

I gave up around 5:30. We'll see what the month of May brings.

The Unexpected Resurrection of a Man Called Horse

   After over two years of silence, I have finally returned.

   Like Tommy John, Tony Conigliario, Tom Filer, Rick Burleson, Dennis Leonard, Charlie Lea, Joba Chamberlain, and Chien-Ming Wang, I face the challenge of getting back into the game after a substantial amount of time on the shelf. To shake off the rust, I started simple. I went fishing one week ago, Wednesday, April 10. Ironically, it was the same place where I last fished: Hudson Park in New Rochelle.

   I bought one dozen bloodworms and two fresh bunker. By the early afternoon, I had two lines in the water. The conditions were less than optimal. There was a breeze, and the sun was out. However, the tide was high. Looking across to Five Islands Park, I notice the metal, floating dock where I fished a number of times was gone. Apparently, Hurricane Sandy took it away.

   I hoped to begin my comeback by catching something for the first time since 2010. Unfortunately, I struck out. I didn't have a single bite in the two hours I spent there. There were several people fishing in the area, and I didn't see anyone catch anything.

   Nevertheless, it was great to be back.

   

The Unexpected Early Return of a Man Called Horse

I have returned.

Yes, it's no doubt much earlier than the three of you and myself expected.

I went fishing on Friday, February 18. It seemed like a perfect day to go fishing. The forecast called for warm temperatures, in the mid-60s or so. An online solunar table I consulted reported that a full moon would be out on February, with the moon underfoot for a two-hour period starting at 12:28 PM. If you recall, many fishermen rely on solunar tables on when to fish. Apparently, the fishing is best when there is a full moon overhead or underfoot. During these times, fish go on a feeding frenzy.

Along with the weather and the phase of the moon, high tide in New Rochelle was around 11 AM. The day seemed to be too perfect to let pass me by. I even planned ahead.

The day before, I called Jack's Bait and Tackle, and they were out of both bloodworms and fresh bunker. I then checked with City Island Bait and Tackle. They had bloodworms and frozen bunker. I took a drive on City Island and bought my bait in advance. I stored it in a basement refrigerator. The bunker would be thawed out the next day. I made a checklist of stuff I should take. I don't I believe I ever tried fishing in mid-February.

I decided to pick Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I didn't want to go too far or walk a distance from my car, especially when I just wanted to shake off the rust from the winter and last season's disappointments. Despite the warmer than usual weather, there was still some snow on the ground. In Hudson Park, there was a gigantic mountain of shoveled snow in the parking lot. Since late December, the New York City has gotten clobbered with a number of heavy snowstorms and blizzards. (Thank God I was smart enough to buy a snowblower several years ago to spare my joints and high blood pressure.)

I got there around 11:30 or so. On this day, I brought a couple of slices of bread (the kind you slip into a toaster) to try as bait. I read that many fish will go for the bread especially when they're hungry.

Before noon, I had three lines in the water, one with bloodworms, one with a piece of thawed-out bunker, and one with a bread pellet I made.

Unfortunately, I didn't catch anything. In fact, I didn't have one single bite. There were other fisherman who came and went, and they didn't seem to have any luck either. So it's not just me.

I passed the time catching up with my reading of articles I ripped out of the Wall Street Journal. I listened to my iPod touch. I smoked a Butera Capo Grande cigar.

The bread bait didn't work as well. It just crumbled when it hit the water. I realize I should let it dry hours in advance so it won't fall apart. I threw the remaining bread in the garbage, which then attracted several Omen-like black crows.

By 3 PM, the tide was going down. The wind picked up considerably. The full moon's underfoot phase had passed. So I packed up and went home.

Maybe it was too early for this area despite the favorable conditions. Maybe I should have tried another part of the park or even somewhere else. Who knows?

If the weather is relatively warm in March, I will fish.

The 2011 season has begun.

But It Was Only Fantasy

My losing streak continues. On Friday afternoon, I returned to Hudson Park. I wanted to try something. Many fishermen often rely on solunar calendars, which chart the phases of the moon. The In-Fisherman's solunar calendar (linked above) reported that the best day to fish was on Friday, when a new moon appeared. There's no astrology or voodoo involved, but the fish seem to be more active when there's a new or a full moon based on how it affects the Earth.

In my case, it didn't work out. I didn't even get a single bite. No one else I saw fishing caught anything either. So I guess it's not just me.

I picked up one dozen bloodworms from Jack's. They were out of fresh bunker. I decided to use all three lines to maximize coverage and increase my chances of catching something.

But nothing.

Unheeded Warnings, I Thought I Thought of Everything

Yesterday (Monday, May 3), the skies looked cloudy. I figured I would go fishing since I live for those type of overcast days.

I headed up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I went to Hudson Park Bait and Tackle to pick up bloodworms. The nice lady at the store told me they were out of bloodworms and fresh bunker. I was forced to settle for sandworms instead.

As I drove into the lot, I noticed the clouds getting darker and more ominous. A strong wind was moving the water. It started raining, and then the heavens opened up. I stayed in my car and didn't get wet. I figured I wait 15 minutes or so.

I got there a little after high tide around 4 PM. It eventually stopped raining, so I started fishing. As I set up, another fisherman, who also waited for the downpour to end, got out of his van. We exchanged nods.

I just used two lines. As the weather got better, the lot gradually filled up with more fishermen. I also saw a few fishermen across the water in Five Islands Park. They weren't fishing on the dock, where I usually fish, but on the nearby rocks. In fact, the nice lady told those rocks were the places to fish for stripers.

I had exactly two bites. Unfortunately, I didn't hook anything. I added fresh sandworms to the lines several times as the day went on. I reeled in the lines a little to attract the attention of any stripers or flounder who might be hungry.

In the evening, the sun even came out, and the water became perfectly still. I enjoyed it as I smoked another Butera Capo Grande cigar.

I wondered how things would have turned out if I took the long way and went to Jack's on City Island and picked up bloodworms and fresh bunker. I don't think it would have made much of a difference since I didn't see anyone else catch anything.

I gave up around 7 PM.

Running Over the Same Old Ground

Today, I made my return to Hudson Park in New Rochelle for the first time in over a year. If you recall, the last time I was here I lost a large striper.

I picked up two dozen bloodworms and one fresh bunker from Jack's. I got to Hudson Park around 4:30 at high tide. It was sunny and warm, but with no wind. I chose Hudson Park because of its convenience. I was feeling a little under the weather with a couple of pains, and I didn't feel like carrying my fishing gear over a distance.

I began the day by respooling two of my poles with 17-pound test. By 5 PM, I had my lines in the water, two with bloodworms and one with a piece of fresh bunker.

I didn't get a single bite all day. I said my prayer. I changed bait. I reeled in the lines a little to draw attention to the bait. I recast the lines. Nothing worked.

What's funny is that there were fish jumping out of the water. One fisherman, using a bunker sinker (a sinker with several hooks), caught a few bunker.

I passed the time by reading the Wall Street Journal and listening to my iPod. In the evening, I smoked a very good cigar.

I gave up around 7:10.

I hope to try Riverdale on Sunday and maybe a new location during the week.

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.

I'll See You on the Dark Side of the Moon

On Monday, July 2, I decided to finally experiment with a little night fishing. I got three fresh bunker and three frozen herring from Jack’s, and I went back to Hudson Park.

I started fishing at 7 PM when the sun was still out. I didn’t check the tide charts, and I got there at low tide. Sections of the marina were practically dry, and you could see the mud.

I had a few bites but no luck at first. I was thinking that the crabs were toying with me again.

It eventually got dark. I wasn’t really worried about safety. The New Rochelle Police Department’s Harbor Unit is stationed right near the parking lot, and the police often make their rounds. There were also other fishermen and the usual park visitors.

Last time I fished here, I noticed a lot of fish jumping out of the water like they were in a frenzy as the sun was going down. I didn’t see that this time. Maybe it was the tide.

I looked for the moon in the night sky, but it wasn’t there. The moon, a full one, finally creeped over the horizon.

I often reeled in my lines to check the bait. Often, the hooks were clean. Other times, the bait was partially eaten. Since I had plenty of bait, I often replaced it on the hooks. (The ice in the bucket preserved the bunker and the herring for hours.)

As the night dragged on, I got frustrated. I asked God to let me catch just one fish.

God answered my prayer. At one point, I decided to check one line. As I was reeling it in, I realized I had hooked something. I didn’t feel like a fish. Maybe it was a crab, an eel, or garbage. When I pulled it out, I saw that I did a catch a fish. It was probably the ugliest one I ever caught. It had these black eyes and large fins that seemed like wings. It took me a few days to learn that I caught a sea robin. I threw him back.

I had more bites but no more luck. One fisherman got lucky and caught a 22-inch striped bass, which he returned to the water.

Around 11:30 PM, I decided to call it a night.

I’ll definitely try night fishing in Hudson Park again soon, but at high tide.

Fisherman's Note: I wrote this perhaps a few days later when my recollections were still fresh. I saved it on my laptop, but I never posted it until now.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

There's No Sensation to Compare With This

Yesterday, I went up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle. I fished there for the first time less than three weeks ago and didn't catch anything.

I bought two fresh bunker and a dozen sandworms from Hudson Park Bait and Tackle. I asked the nice lady there for some advice. She said that fishing worms off the bottom would attract crabs.

I started fishing around High Noon. It was cool and very overcast. The forecast called for rain. The tide was going out. At first, I used only two rods because there were some people fishing near me. I used bunker on one line and a sandworm on the other.

In my first hour, I didn't get any bites. It soon began to rain really hard. I retreated into the car and waited for the downpour to pass. (The same thing happened last time as well.) Eventually it stopped, and I got out. The rain came back a short time later, so I went back into the car.

I seriously thought about cutting the day short and going home. But I decided to stay. It stopped raining, and I could finally fish.

At one point, in frustration and despair, I asked God to let me catch at least one fish.

He answered.

Around 2 PM or so, the fish started biting. The first thing I caught was a striped bass with a piece of bunker. It was about a foot long. I didn't get a chance to measure it. I impressed a couple of kids fishing near me with lures. I threw it back.

I kept losing the worms. I would check the line, and the bait was gone completely. It must have been the crabs just like the lady said. So I switched to bunker. The people next to me eventually left, so I got to use my third rod.

I caught four more fish. They were each about a foot long. I don't know exactly what they were. They were green with a yellow band around their eyes. I didn't get a chance to photograph them. They might have been perch, but they were longer than the ones I've usually caught in the Hudson River and the Potomac.

All five fish put up a fight. When I was reeling them in, I thought they were much larger. At one point, I lost a fish when the hook broke off the line.

I fished in the parking lot. There's about a 10-foot drop to the water. I had to pull all five fish up into the air to get them out of the water. I'm concerned that if I hook something really big, the line could snap.

I used 17-pound test. A few weeks ago, I wondered whether it was too heavy. I guess not.

Around 3:30 or so, I called it a day. I just ran out of bait.

I made a couple of mistakes. I couldn't measure my catch because I left the tape measure in my car. I also should have photographed the four mystery fish. But I was in a rush to get the hooks out of the fish's mouths and get them back into the water quickly.

It was a great afternoon for which I am thankful to God. I'll definitely try Hudson Park more often now that I know there are lots of fish waiting to be caught.

Steps Taken Forward

Yesterday afternoon (Monday), I went up to Hudson Park in New Rochelle to fish the waters of Long Island Sound. (Yankee great Lou Gehrig lived in New Rochelle at 9 Meadow Lane.)

In researching Hudson Park on the Internet, I learned that all non-residents have to purchase a fishing permit. After parking my car, I went to an office in the nearby marina. I got there just in time. They were about close early for the Fourth of July holiday. The permit costs $25.00, and the gentleman told me there's "no expiration date."

I got my bait at Hudson Park Bait & Tackle, on 94 Hudson Park Road. It's easy to spot. I bought two fresh bunker and a dozen nightcrawlers. (There's also a bar right next to it.)

I had to spend $3 to buy a parking permit.

I drove into park and looked for a place to fish. I parked my car in lot right by the water. I saw some other people fishing there.

This was my first time fishing in Hudson Park. It's a nice area. What's ironic is that I've been driving past Hudson Park for nearly 16 years. For some strange reason, it never occured to me to take a right and explore it. I can see that I've been missing out.

I got started. Since there's no current, I used one-ounce sinkers rather than two-ounce. Judging from a red buoy I saw, the water was 10-feet deep. I saw lots of boats coming and going.

I tried worms and bunker. I fished two lines off the bottom and one at the top with that double-bobber I used Sunday but with no sinker.

A gentleman fishing about 20 feet away from me caught a big flounder using some bunker.

I wasn't so lucky. I didn't catch anything. I did have one small bite, but whatever it was didn't get hooked.

At one point, it started raining. It got really bad, so I retreated into my car. The radio said it was a passing storm. It stopped after 20 minutes, and I got back out. By the time I left, the sun came back out.

I should have explored area more thoroughly before fishing to see if I could find a better spot.

Hudson Park has its advantages. I can fish from the parking lot and be near my car. (I left my tackle box in the trunk and would go back there to get what I needed.) There are plenty trash baskets around, so you can get rid of garbage easily. Ice cream trucks make frequent visits. It's also a quicker commute for me than Dobbs Ferry. There's also a bait and tackle shop nearby, so I don't have to make the long detour to Jack's on City Island.

I talked to a guy fishing near me. He told me that once he spent an entire day here fishing and didn't catch anything.

Next time, I ask the man in the bait shop for some advice. Fishermen may brag about the size of the fish they catch and the ones that got away, but they are always humble enough to ask for advice.

I left at 7:30.

But in the words of General Douglas MacArthur, "I shall return."