Tidelines – October 11, 2012
One of the rites of the fall season for Fisherman’s Post is our annual Fish Post Day on the Vonda Kay with Capt. Dave Gardner. Last weekend, for the fourth year in a row, we booked the entire head boat “Vonda Kay” for a full day of grouper fishing. And last weekend, for the fourth year in a row, we caught fish and enjoyed about as much socializing as you can fit into a full day of successful bottom fishing.
Though it was our fourth year, it seemed to be a trip full of “firsts.”
This was the first year that the “Vonda Kay” left from Wrightsville Beach, a location about as convenient as can be for the Wilmington-based Fisherman’s Post crew. Instead of driving up to or home from Topsail Beach (and the south end of the island is still at least another 20 minute drive outside of Surf City), we got to sleep in a little later and get home a little sooner.
This was also the first year that we fished on our initially scheduled date. In all three previous years, the original date got blown out, pushing the trip into late October or, after a second weather day last year, even early November.
Then there were the fishing firsts. For the first time in our Vonda Kay history, we saw a lobster brought on board. And we also saw our first red grouper go heavier than 20 lbs., as well as our first rock hind (Dave has put lobster and rock hinds on the boat before but not on one of our trips).
The most memorable firsts, though, came from the colorful people that made up the guest list for this year’s event. This was the first year that Micah didn’t get seasick and throw up all day. It was the first year that some of our “over celebraters” decided it would be a good idea to conduct arm wrestling matches in the galley. I’m not sure they proved what they set out to prove, but the entertainment factor was high, especially when they cajoled a couple of the females to square up.
Finally, it was the first year where we had a big fish bet with another head boat. The “Queen Jean,” Gardner’s other head boat that now runs out of Topsail, also had a private party trip on that Friday. We decided to place a wager on whose boat would bring in the biggest fish, and our red was bigger than their gag. I didn’t come close to winning the big fish pool on our own boat (that honor went to Ashley Wade), but his fish got my pool money back via the head boat bet with Morton, the owner of the refrigeration company that had booked the “Queen Jean.”
The slow and steady Vonda Kay, Dave’s speech before leaving the dock, JK and his grill sandwiches, the mates’ competition with the captain to be the first to grab the gaff when someone hooks a (suspected) grouper, the complainers on the front of the boat, and all the other idiosyncrasies that the Fish Post crew and guests look forward to every year all served us well again, and we hope it happens again fall 2013.
For now, though, we focus on the CCA Inside & Out tournament and its efforts to serve as a fundraiser for Charlie Brown. The Fish Post crew will be there fishing with Capt. Rob Koraly, of Sandbar Safari Charters, and we hope you decide to join the event as well.
There’s a king mackerel division, but our plan is to focus on flounder, red drum, and trout. Our plan is to use a bunch of live shrimp to find some quality fish in the Swansboro area, and then head for some deeper water in the Morehead area to sit, relax, and wait for a doormat or a gator before the scales close.
As everyone knows, just getting out of town is a good time, but getting out of town for a weekend of fishing is an even better time. And I hope the captains’ party on Friday evening, an oyster roast, is such a good time that we’ll be arm wrestling by 8:00.
