GONE FISHING!
As a child, I learned to fish with my mother and her twin brother Joe. The short “jetties” on the northwest side of Amelia Island was a favorite spot. When the tide had receded enough, we would make our way out on the rocks. My mother went first, carrying some of the fishing gear. I followed close behind, holding on to the hem of her dress. Uncle Joe brought up the rear with the rest of our gear – which included rods and reels and a cane pole, a tackle box with bait, and a small wooden box.
Once the perfect spot on the jetty had been determined, Uncle Joe would turn the box upside down over one of the barnacle-encrusted rocks. There I sat, with my cane pole clutched in my hands, as I watched the red bob floating in the water on the end of the line. I don’t recall catching anything other than catfish or toadfish. I was not to touch either one. The toadfish has a large mouth and sharp teeth and the catfish has a very sharp dorsal fin. (Once, as my mother was taking a catfish off the hook, it flipped and pierced her leg. Being the brave woman that she was, she pulled it out and went on fishing, but it left an ugly scar.)
While I was catching the toadfish and catfish, my mother and Uncle Joe were catching whiting and croaker. Both are good to eat.
Sometime family members from out of town joined us. Aunt Nell liked to crab. She tied a chicken neck to a long, stout string about 10 – 15 feet long and attached it to a stick that served as a handle. She would wade out no farther than ankle deep, cast the chicken-neck-bated string out and slowly pull it back to shore. If she was lucky, the chicken neck was followed by a crab. She would stop pulling the string, let the crab grab hold of the chicken neck, then pull it in close enough for her to scoop the crab up with a net and drop it in a bucket .
When the tide turned, we would make our way back to shore and cook our catch. There were rare times when the fishing and crabbing did not produce anything. (Ever prepared, my mother always brought along hotdogs, just in case the fish weren’t biting. I don’t remember having to eat hotdogs). There were also side dishes and plenty of iced tea.
Such good memories!
If you can, help someone make good memories. Volunteer some time with your civic organizations or church or synagogue. People of all ages need friends and encouragement. And, while you’re helping them, you’ll be helping yourself. A win – win situation!
Until We Meet Again,
Mary Nolan Brown