Log Date: November 10, 2004

Location: New Symrna Beach, Florida

We are now in New Symrna Beach, Fl and are enjoying warm weather - are finally out of turtlenecks and sweatshirts.  The trip from Newport, RI to here was uneventful (a good thing...).  We visited with friends along the way.  Got our collective butts carted around to make our shopping purchases as well as loaner cars from other cruisers that know how difficult it is to truck a mile or more from the store with a cart being pulled behind. (That is if you remember to take the cart otherwise try carrying a 12 pack of soda, juice, beer and groceries for a week on your shoulder for a mile plus... Yes, we sometimes look like bag ladies.) 

From Norfolk, VA we traveled down the ICW (Intercoastal Waterway - AKA "the ditch") until Beaufort, NC.  This is an interesting ride. With its narrow and shallow waterways, we ran aground or touched bottom only a couple of times. From Beaufort we went offshore to St. Mary's inlet in Florida. This eliminated a lot of time, miles and hassles from traveling "the ditch". 

Offshore we caught a Tuna.  Now don't think about a 250 lb sucker - ours was about 20 lbs - we were proud and hauled it in.  I put the fishing line out on my watch and had ZERO bits.  Susan takes over and about 1 hour later I hear... "Laura - get out here!  We caught a fish - holy shit we caught a fish! QUICK!" I am asleep - pull on some clothes - we are in the middle of nowhere - I don't know why I thought clothes were important but all the same I put on shorts and went to see what was up.  Susan is reeling the "fish" in.  "What is it? Get the fish book out...I think it's a tuna. It is too small for tuna - could it be this...that...this... what about a Mackerel?" We had no idea.

Quick - get the VODKA.  Give the fish a drink - its still flopping - give it more - still moving - pour the GD vodka down its throat - finally it stops flopping and has a smile on its face.  Now what? I am not going to touch it - you touch it - get the knife - get a towel - oh shit - what now.  Get the fish book - how do you filet?  The book "Fishing for Dummies" doesn't tell ya what to do when you catch something - maybe they aren't too hopeful for dummies - shit - just cut here and here (like I know -YA).

We ended up with a couple of filet's (sorta filet's) - cooked them up (YUMMY) and we now consider ourselves fisher-people.

Enjoying Life Onboard.

Laura and Susan

SV Mystic Traveler