[Leprechaun]

Ya know, nothing annoys me more than setting up a fishing trip, checking the weather forecast like 5 times a day for a week prior, lining up some of your favorite crew dudes, prepping the boat, picking up the bait, reading all the reports that you can find, speaking with your local sharpies (that will still talk to you!) in order to get the latest local poop.

In short, doing all the things a good captain has to do to increase the odds of having a great trip the next day - - - and then having to call it off due to some crummy issue. In this case a freakin' tooth that cracked in half during dinner.

OOOOH DO I HATE THAT!!!

So frustrating with the local fluking being as good as it is and the season's end drawing near.

Now I get to sit around tomorrow, waiting for my dentist to see me.

Its been like that alot this season for us on the Lep. In fact, thinking back, last Fall was no better. A really bad inflammed shoulder bursitis coupled with a bit of arthritis in there prevented me from going bass casting just as that fishing peaked late last October. Missed some really smokin' trips, or so I was told by my buddies.

That made me feel MUCH better. Couldn't raise my right arm more than half way - hard casting was just out of the question. And yet another Fall season goes by without me getting my crack at my "first" 50.

So its been one personal health issue after another these last 10 months or so, but at least it hasn't been something really ridiculous, like a broken boat or burned car truck transmission that needs immediate attention.

So anyone care to share their worst reason ever for having to call off a much anticipated fishing trip? Come on, make me feel a little better about losing a near perfect chance to go fishing tomorrow . . .

best, Lep

This post edited by Leprechaun 11:24 PM 08/20/2008

 

[Azaiter]

Peter I will never have that excused I lost must of all my teeth in a car
accident long time ago...lol....Fredd

 

[quiknet]

Tell me about it Pete.

I had 3 days off this week but my wifes back went out so spending the day fishing went out the window. I got so desperate that I took my daughter snapper fishing for an hour so at wantagh park.

Nothing like august cabin fever...

 

[bigfished]

Being in the narcotics unit for the past 3 years, I've missed more planned trips than I've actually gone on....whether it's my scheduled day off or not!!!! It's gotten to the point where it's a 50 - 50 shot ( keeping my fingers crossed the night before) that I'll actually get out. Work just really interferes with my fishin'!!!

You'll get em' next trip out................ED

 

[Captneilf]

Did you really break a tooth???

Hi Pete,

Folks yesterday morning I called Pete to confirm our fluke trip for today. All was on schedule! That is until a half hour later when the home phone rings. My bride answers the phone and says it is the dentist office confirming my app't for 9AM this morning. UGH!!! Of course the app't was made 3 months ago. Then I had to call Pete to give him my bad news and I felt terrible about calling him less than 24 hours before our trip. I planned my whole week around this trip.

So today I spent 2 hours and 15 minutes in the dentist chair!!! UGH!!!

So Pete are you covering for me or were you also in the dentist chair today?

Neil

 

[pipedream]

I also have a broken tooth on one side.I'll chew on the other side till this years Dec. break in the Tog season.Last trip I cancelled was when my father-in-law passed away suddenly 4 yrs ago labor day weekend.If the boats running and nobody died I'm goin fishin.

 

[strip]

A buddy of mine who guides fly and light tackle on the north shore here a little east of where I normally do my hunting was going to take me out on his boat this morning....my mother-in-law passed away last night.

 

[bloodnguts]

NOTE TO SELF......don't do dinner with neil or pete....lol!

 

[Leprechaun]

Making Lemonade out of Lemons

So I felt terrible last night calling off what would have been a smokin' trip, with two excellent flukers that I don't get to fish but once or twice a season with - CN and Tommy/Realteasers. But I had to get with the Dentist to see what the word is. Post and Crown ($1000) or implant ($3000). Jeesh, how the heck is a man of modest means supposed to update his boat's electronics with these absurdly ridiculous "Life Expenses?"

Naturally, my dentist is on vacation - gone until 9/2. So his Gal Friday refers me to an oral surgeon for an immediate consult. Lucky for me, I happen to know and have used the doctor she recommeded and they took me right in. Nice people. Shot a quick X-Ray, took a look and pronounced the tooth savable - assuming my Dentist concurs of course, it'll mean that maybe I will get my new LCD fishfinder this Winter afterall. Hurts real good when I go near the damaged tooth with a toothbrush, but I'll live.

So elated by the good news, I glance at my watch outside the doctor's office and see that its only 1 P.M. Hmmmm, still some good fishin' time left to the day.

Made a call or three and couldn't line up crew; the heck with it, headed out solo. But no bait for me - an experiment today - will going out with just GULP! and some bucktails be a boom or a bust?

Time to find out.

Ran to some live bottom NE of the HR and put in the first rod with a B/S Rig, TRT white teaser w/Gulp over an 8oz sinker. Turned around to get my CN Impact ocean jigger ready and I'm hearing something strange coming from behind me. The drag is doing a slow unwind - and a nice 23" fish ends up in the box. Good start.

And so it went. Despite the fast drift (1.3-1.9mph) I was able to use the 3oz Spro on the B/S with a bare hooked 4" GULP! swimmng mullet on it, by throwing it up ahead of the boat and working it back.

And absolutely HAMMERED the fish right thru the afternoon outgoing tide. I was all alone too, making it even sweeter - a big crowd on the hard bottom S of me, but by me? Nobody.

Put at least 50 fish on the deck - two more in the box to 24" - and had a TERRIFIC time. Couldn't ask for more cooperative fish. So many 19.5 to 20.49" fish, just redockulous. That GULP! came thru with flying colors today, great stuff.

I Kept reaching for the net, "This one's a keeper for sure," because the little Impact takes a pretty big bend with a 20" jig-caught fish on it. But nope - only three NY keepers for the afternoon. But with flukies this size, more than enough fillet for my small family to have a nice little fish fry manyana.

So there it is. From utter frustration to a very respectible day. I just wish I could have shared it with my two friends, CN and TRT.

My loss, for sure.

best, Lep

This post edited by Leprechaun 10:50 PM 08/21/2008

 

[Leprechaun]

Anthony, I'm sorry to read of your loss.

My condolences.

best, Pete

 

[Hutch]

Nice way to salvage the day Lep! 50 fluke, I tell ya I miss ocean fluking, I used to go out in south Jersey but its been years now. Fluking has been kinda tough in the Sound this year.

Back to your topic, a couple of years ago we had three kids under the age of three, including infant twins. And just prior to that of course an expecting wife with a one year old in the house as well. So back then there were many trips cancelled - I'd be up at 3:30AM, tip toeing out the door, and one of them would wake up, then the next one, etc. By the time I could escape it would be too late for me to go or I'd already called my buddies to go without me.

But without that I wouldn't have my new little fishing buddies now! My 4yr old boy got up last Saturday morning and said he wanted to go fishing, wanted to catch a striped bass (as we were freshwater fishing on the St. Lawrence at the time I told him this would be tough - how about a perch?) So all the cancelled trips were worth is - and much more rewarding than a cracked tooth.

 

[Captneilf]

Missed trips

Hi Hutch,

When my children were growing up I think I was able to go fishing 5 times in 15 years! It was well worth doing what I was supposed to be doing. I have 4 grown children that are great people with great families and 10 great grandchildren. A couple weeks ago I took 14 of them on the Celtric Quest evening trip. We had the whole port side of the boat and had a blast. Every year I try to get as many of them as possible together for a pb trip. So, I gets better and better!!!

Capt Neil

 

[ihavegills]

Play on words- Great grandchildren

I know the kids must be great, and grandchildren at that, but if you think we believe they are your great-grandchildren you must take lessons from the botox beauty's in Hollywood. LOL

I hear you! I'm a father first can count the times out this year on 2 hands. I love when the kids are begging to go fishing though.

My wife is great, but a long time ago, and only a handful of times before kids, "the LOOK" could keep me from going. You know, the look shortly after "Honey, I'm going to take a few casts". You tend to get that look when it's the 6th night that week and you returned 6-8hrs later before the use of cell phones. HeHe.

I remember when we were dating we were going for flounder on Mother's day with my parents and before we left the house the phone rang. Her Aunt had passed in her 40's from cancer leaving behind 6 and 9yr old daughters. She missed the trip and headed home. Couldn't do anything so Me and my parents went fishing and celebrated life with my mother and a great day of flounder (back when 15-20 fish was slow).

This post edited by ihavegills 01:05 PM 08/22/2008

 

[reelfisher]

Anthony my condolences on your loss

Pete sometimes those least ditch efforts to get out agianst all odds pay off big. I'm glad you made a good day of it

 

[Captneilf]

You got me!

Ihavegills,

Ha, ha! I just went back and reread what I wrote. Did I screw that one up or what? Yes, The greadchildren are great!

Man, I can screw up a free lunch.

Neil

 

[nates]

How about doing every thing Lep said, including checking to be sure the Mamaroneck ramp will be open. For this trip I found out the ramp would be closed because of the antique car show that Sat. BUT after towing 90mi. on Sun. the ramp was closed when I got there. It rained Sat. & the show was postponed to Sun. & I did'nt know of any other access. O-well.

 

[LooneyTunes]

You think you got it bad?

At least you can still get out and fish. I am at the mercy of who will have me on their boat

Towards the end of last season I brought my 2 year old boat back to the dealership to service a hydrolock condition. Stupid arse mechanic said that it wasn't hydrolock. So he replaced a perfectly functioning alternator.

Well, guess what? My next and last trip out the engine ingested copious amounts of water and the result was catastrophic failure.

The dealer dicked me off till March. Then told me to go lump myself. I told them that it is blatantly obvious that the problem was misdiagnosed and the resulting damage is their fault. A grossly incompetant mechanic in their employ screwed up. Basically, ended with get the boat out of hear and sue me.

Well, I just happen to be in the legal profession and advised the dealer that it is not a wise decision. I was explicit and warned them that I don't pay lawyer fees and can very easily take this into a court room. The dealer said don't threaten me just do it.

So I filed a law suit around April. They gave the claim to their insurance company. I had to get some estimates during peak engine repair season which literally took till mid July. I am still waiting as of last Friday when I issued the altamatum of getting me a settlement no later than this Friday 8/29.

If they don't settle we go to court and I have won't even be able to salvage the fall classic.

On a plus note, at least I will be ready with a brand spanking new engine for spring 2009.

Anybody else want to complain.

LooneyTunes
Dave

 

[SORTIE]

teeth

I've been putting off three issues in my mouth...

1. back in January I had a second wisdom tooth pulled, lower right jaw. needs to have an implant and a new crown. in the meantime there's nothing underneath the top right rear wisdom tooth, so I try to avoid grinding on that side

2. a eyetooth bridge needs to be removed and re-set, the cement has come off it entirely under one side, so I try to avoid biting into anything like an apple

3. cavity lower left needs to be re-filled, so I try not to chew on that side either

what am I waiting for? daughter's orthodontia bills to stop coming

of course I'm headed to a foreign country tomorrow, what do you want to bet that MFing bridge comes off during the trip...I'll be looking like one of the mountain men in Deliverance