February 7, 2015

By even the most conservative standards, a "large" day!  Our landlord / host, Pat, hooked the boat up to his pickup this morning and we headed off to the launch ramp.  Co-incidently, this was just across the river from our not-so-memorable dining venue last night.  Anyhow, we got the boat in, it fired up right away, and Pat left for home.  I warmed up the engine and off I went.  Unfortunately, I had neglected to take into account two important factors:  first, being a river, there is a current (duh) and second, being hooked into the Gulf, there is a tide.  Long story short, I put the poor vessel aground within 30 yards of the landing.

This got the attention of the local FWC officer (our equivalent of a conservation officer, except here they carry a 40 cal. Glock).  He asked me if I needed help.  Well, this is like asking a guy to stop and ask for directions.  Told him this was my first time on the river, but I'd be fine.  I backed off the shoal and the engine quit.  Fired it up again, inched forward but the current pushed me back on the shoal.  The FWC fellow suggested I raise the engine some.  I thanked him, and said I was just about to do that.  Got it off the shoal and FWC asked if I'd care for a courtesy inspection.

Well now.  That's kinda like asking a guy when he's stopped beating his wife.  Yes or no, I was going to get inspected.  So, figuring a good offence is always better said "Sure!  Thanks!", and pulled back in to the dock.  Halfway there, managed to foul the prop on a piece of indoor-outdoor carpeting, no doubt placed there in the course of the last hurricane.  Shut down the motor and coasted up to the dock with whatever modicum of dignity I had left.

The officer, Scott, was a most decent fellow.  After pointing out that he could bust me for no ownership, no bill of sale, no horn and out of date flares, he shook my hand, shook his head, and let me go.  Great people....

After a couple of wrong turns I made it back up the river and pulled in to our dock..  Just as Pat was heading out in his pontoon boat to come look for me.

Later in the afternoon Pat and I headed down the river and out into the Gulf a few miles.  The scenery was spectacular; lots of birds, including eagles, osprey and plenty of fish in the water.

Arrived back around 2:30 pm, totally drained by the experience.  However, I now feel reasonably well prepared to mosey on out by myself for some serious fishing.

For dinner tonight, we enjoyed some just-caught mangrove snapper (from the local fish market; not my fishing rod, lol) which we fried up with some potatoes and veg.  Awesome!

Like I said, a very LARGE day!