I spent this past weekend fishing off my pier, though my definition of fishing at this time of year is mostly like this: set up the rods with bait, cast them out, leave the pier and watch comfortably from a distance on the deck.

Since the action hasn’t heated up in my shallow-water cove yet, there is no need to wait endlessly on the pier itself.  Just watch the rods from afar, checking every so often for dramatic movement.

My only catch was the skate pictured above and another skate about 1/3 his size.  I did have a Cownose Ray take my line way out and ultimately snap off the line for the hook, which is better than usual.  Usually they take all my gear (line, hooks, bottom rig, weight) as they use their powerful body against me.

I came thisclose to filleting the skate and sauteing him for dinner, but I was staying at my neighbor’s house as my new house get’s built and didn’t want to create a mess in their kitchen nor introduce a strong fish odor in their  home.

Instead of paying $25+ for skate as I have done before in a fine restaurant I can just take one off the pier and prepare it myself.  It’s only a matter of time.

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Every year we enjoy watching the Osprey return to our little cove and raise a family. Last year was not successful as I had heard from the neighbors that the usual roost had been attacked by a “black bird” and the offspring were killed.  We’re hoping for better results this year and here is this year’s couple, captured mid-April, 2009



The 2004 babies, soon after emerging from the eggs

The 2004 babies months later

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The image to the right of native Chesapeake Oysters on the half shell may be one that will be one of history sometime in my lifetime. I’ll be able to say, “I remember when the Chesapeake Bay had it’s own oysters…”.

For the record, I prefer oysters on the half-shell on crackers with heavy dollops of cocktail sauce, horseradish and a dash of Tabasco. If I have lemons available, I’ll squirt a bit of the juice over top.

We’re likely headed for a future with a Bay full of Crassostrea ariakensis or “Asian Oysters” and the memory of our own native Crassostrea virginica will be a distant one.

Oh, we’ll probably continue the restoration of our own species along with the new introductions for “appearances”, clinging on to the romantic notion of saving our own, but the plight is over and we’ve damaged their ecosystem beyond a point where they can survive. We may restore the Bay some time in the future to a level of health that could sustain Chesapeake oysters, but it will be way too late.

What is left today of our Oysters is being rapidly pushed off a cliff. I’ve very recently spoken to a long-time Chesapeake Oysterman and he tells me an unbelievable story of how the watermen are driven to a plight reminiscent of the Wild Wild West. Continue Reading »

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This video was taken during my annual Rockfishing trip that I organize for my work friends during the Summer of 2008. We left the Western Shore of the Chesapeake from Chesapeake Beach at 6:00 a.m. on the Miss Linda with about 12 fellow fishermen.

Unfortunately we missed the timing of Trophy Season when the Rock are at their biggest. We were rained out twice, pushing the date further into the Summer. We had a great trip, however, and quickly maxed out by 10:30, returning back to the docks in time for lunch.

I captured this video on a tour of the Poplar Island restoration on the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland.

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