My first canyon trip with Larry (the legend) Backman.

[MermaidHunter]

After numerous emails and responds to " looking for crew" I got my shot. Sent backman a random email asking to keep me in mind if he needs crew. And what do you know an hour later I get a phone call. Short notice but were waving at 2am. Sweeeeet here's my chance. Ive been reading all his epic reports and now I'm gonna get a chance to fish with him. In all of the excitement I forgot to think about the fact that I had only had 2 hours of sleep Friday night. I'll be fine I thought. So I get outta work at 7 pm Saturday,Go bag is packed, showered grocery store done. Now it's 10pm WTF do I do know. Can't sleep ill never wake up, I'll sleep on the boat I'll be fine. Kill two hours and set off for Falmouth at midnight. Get too the marina can't find the goddman boat. Walk around finally find it. Try to sleep for 15 minutes, didn't happen.
Finally get to meet backman, I think I said hello and shook his hand it's all a blur at this point. Got the safety briefing,life jackets life raft oh shit bag etc. Get all my stuff on the boat, wait for Jackson and were off. I think that's enough backstory.
The ride out was not pleasant. I'm sure Larry will elaborate if he posts this trip. Around 430 am I say f it and try to take a nap in the birth. The only problem was I kept waking up finding myself separated from thie boat by 6 inches my back will never be the same.
640 am and the the boat pulls back and I here Larry And Jackson talking about this has to be it. Look at this break. I wander up too the deck and Larry says were putting in here he scurries up the tower.
I will let Larry give the fishing report because frankly I can't write as well as he can. All I'm gonna say is that I had sushi for dinner and breakfast this am.
So here is what I learned from those trip.
1. I fish a lot bass tuna bottom fish mackeral etc. Canyon fishing is a whole new ball game. I would have been just as prepared if I had never fished a day in my life.

2.canyon fishing is a disease. I cant wait to do this again. Its kinda sick I found a way to spend even more money fishing. I thought after giant gear I had completed my tackle arsenal.

3.Larry knows his stuff. From my point of view he looks at fishing as an exact science. Very precise and calculating. And he has all the experience to sprinkle on top of the science.

4. Chicken mahi are more annoying while trolling than dogfish are when chunking for Bft

5. 4 pounds of deli meat,3 bags of chips yodels and cookies is a little too much food for 3 people.

Having gotten my first trip under my belt I am ready for more. Actually I cant wait for more. I learned a lot more than listed above just by being there and watching how the spreads were deployed and maintained. If I hadn't been so gad damn tired I probably would have learned more.

So thank you mr Larry backman for taking me out on my first adventure. Thank you Jackson for dealing with a half asleep crew mate. ( yes I would have been more comfortable on a 35 Duffy)
Even though the trip wouldn't be considered epic it was epic too me. Lots more water out there for me to explore.
So I want to thank mr Larry Backamn, mr Jackson something,and skipjack for such a wonderful trip. I saw more life than I could have ever imagined,had a great tine

[backman]

I'd too would be more comfortable on a 35 Duffy if i could find one that could run at 21 knots.

Note the crowds out there - we didn't see a boat all day and heard only 2 on the radio!

[MermaidHunter]

HOpe you don't mind the nickname. I thought it had a nice ring to it.