Fish On

 After having been on Ocracoke for almost a month, we finally were able to do a little fishing.  Now unfortunately we still have not made it out to the Gulf Stream; but, we did at least get off the beach to look for some cobia and troll for Spanish mackerel.   Keith has done a bunch of work on "Lab Cab", the borrowed center console boat we plan to fish with this summer.  Dave Hawley was even kind enough to come over for two days to help with some of the boat projects.  It is ready and working and we have even got a few fish into the boat.  Our first fish came curtesy of Russ Reynolds.  Keith, Dr. Mike, and I fished just off the beach one day in Russ's boat and we caught several Spanish mackerel.  

Fish going into the fish box

Our catch for the day

Keith and Dr. Mike also took "Lab Cab" out one afternoon.  They hooked up with a citation Spanish mackerel.  The marina staff said they had not seen one that big in several years.

The citation Spanish mackerel (6 lbs)

With all this fish, we knew we had to get our brand new smoker going.  Last fall Keith purchased a smoker in anticipation of smoking fish this summer.  So we were excited to get her going.

Our cute , little electric smoker

I took the cleaned filets and brined them overnight.  The next morning I rinsed the filets and patted them dry with paper towels.  Then I put them in the refrigerator to dry for a bit before going in the smoker.

Fish rinsed of the brine and ready to go back into the refrigerator to dry for a few hours before smoking.

Filets brined and dried loaded into the smoker

We smoked the filets for 3 hours and they smelled WONDERFUL.  I made smoked fish dip with the filets.  It was an enormous hit.  I gave some to the marina staff, kept some for Dr. Mike and served some to Russ and Dave Hawley.

The guys enjoying a cocktail and smoked fish dip on the back of Southern Style

Hopefully this is just the beginning of a great boating/fishing summer.  The weather is still being a bit challenging, but I have high hopes things are about to turn for the better.  

What Does One Do When One Can Not Fish

 So the wind just does not want to let up out here on Ocracoke.  Keith and I even entered a small, 3 day fishing tournament for this past weekend.  Unfortunately, the first day of the tournament was cancelled due to the weather.  The final two days were also predicted to be pretty nautical.  Keith advised that we not fish, and I always believe the Captain.  All the other boats went out, and half were back by lunch.  The rest (some of the larger boats) stayed out all day but said they got a beating.  On the last day most of the boats did not fish as they did not want to go back out in what they experienced the day before.  What a bummer.  I've got to think the weather will improve soon.  

In the mean time,  I have had plenty of time to be walking the beach.  By beach I mean the beach here on Ocracoke, not Portsmouth.  It has even been too windy to get to Portsmouth.  That is OK.  Sanibel has ruined me when it comes to shelling.  I have been using my beach walks as much for exercise as for shelling.  Even so I have picked up several Scotch Bonnets.  Just yesterday I found 3 here in Ocracoke.

Heading out to the Beach in the Morning

Sunrise at the Beach

Yes there are Scotch Bonnets here on Ocracoke

In addition to the beach I have also been doing many new crafts.  I continue to quilt, but I also started making wire jewelry and paper beads for some fun.  I've had a really good time playing around with this.  It gives me something to occupy my time.

Some of my large paper beads drying on chopsticks after being glazed

Smaller beads I dry on toothpicks 

These are a few of the bobbles I made the other day

In addition to crafts and everyday errands, Keith has really been working on Dr. Mike's boat "Lab Cab".  We are very excited to use it for fishing once the weather cooperates.  We have also been socializing with our friends Russ and Michell Reynolds.  A group of us had dinner together at the Flying Melon just the other night.

Russ, Dr. Mike, and Keith showing off their cucumber gimlets at dinner

The weather forecast for this week is actually predicting a day or two with light wind (heart be still).  If this holds true, Keith and I are hoping to head to the Gulf Stream and see what we can "hook on to".    At a minimum maybe we can stay just off the beach and look for some cobia or Spanish mackerel.  Fingers crossed.

Settling Into Our Happy Place

We arrived in Ocracoke on Saturday, April 24th and are so happy to be back for the summer.  The weather, however, does not feel much like summer yet.  The Outer Banks spring is certainly hanging on and not wanting to let go.  The weather was been windy, windy, windy.  Sitting out here some 20-30 miles out in the Atlantic, you are subject to quite the breeze.  Many days have been blowing steady at 15-20mph and there are some days where we have had 25-35mph.  

View of one of my recent morning beach walks with the sand blowing along the beach.

Morning view out over the water on one of the calmer days.

The windy weather has at least given us some time to get a few things done.  We where able to get our first COVID vaccine shot.  Hurray.  Our second will be the beginning of June.  So good to be done with that.  I also started to organize my shells from Sanibel so I could start collecting Scotch Bonnets and such from here in Ocracoke.  I've already made one trip to Portsmouth Island with Keith in the dinghy and collected a dozed Scotch Bonnets since arriving here this spring.

Here is the majority of my Florida shells from this winter

I have started to make some beach jewelry with some of the smaller shells and hope to take some pictures to show in a future blog.  Right now I am just trying to get these organized.

I also bought a lamp at a consignment shop while in Charleston.  I wanted to make something with a bunch of Keith's cigar bands I have been saving.  The lamp seemed like a perfect piece on which to decoupage the bands.  I just covered over the previous picture that was on the lamp.  I did this on one particularly windy day.  It turned out kind of cool.

Our cigar band lamp

Closer view

Of course there is always some kind of seafood to eat even if you can't fish.  Our good friend Russ Reynolds, who lives on the island, brought by a bag of the oysters farmed here on Ocracoke.  We were so excited that we ate them before I even had the chance to take a picture of them.  

Here is the empty oyster bag and one of our new nifty oyster shucking, cut resistant gloves.              

(I love the gloves almost as much as the oysters)

Keith has also had a project while the weather is not yet good for fishing.  Boating friends of ours from Beaufort, NC (Dr. Mike and Debbie) have loaned us the use of their 26-foot Sailfish boat named "Lab Cab" for the summer.  Keith went over  to Beaufort and picked it up last Saturday (May 1st) and brought it to Ocracoke.  

Dr. Mike's Sailfish the "Lab Cab"

Keith has been working hard getting "Lab Cab" all spiffed up and ready for fishing.  We took it out for a quick spin the other day just so I could drive a bit so I could see how she handles since I captain most of the time while Keith is fishing.  Can't wait for the weather to improve so we can get some "blood on the deck" as they say.  Hopefully you will be seeing many more pictures related to the "Lab Cab" as the summer progresses.  Dr. Mike and Debbie actually brought their big boat "Just Saying" (a 57-foot Carver Voyager) to Ocracoke this week.  They are planning to stay about a month on the island, then make their way into the Chesapeake Bay for much of the summer.  They are docked right behind us.

"Reggie" one of three of Dr. Mike's Labrador retrievers on the upper aft deck of "Just Saying"
(Hence the name of his Sailfish "Lab Cab")

So fingers crossed that the winds calm down soon.  Until then we will continue to entertain ourselves.  I'll let you know what transpires.