Harker's Island pilgrimage 2009

[SeaBiscuit]

Must be a good season for clams in Heaven. In late September just as the first Nor'Easter of the year chilled coastal Carolina Ed Jenkins of Snead's Ferry, NC was summoned to assist with the harvest.



Ed started taking his four sons to Cape lookout in the 60's. Whenever he had a break from teaching in or running public North Carolina schools, he'd show his boys how to camp, fish, oyster, clam and appreciate the water around the diamond patterned lighthouse. Simple family times amongst free roaming wild ponies, clear green waters and ever shifting shoals of sand.

When Ed retired the Cape Lookout tradition was reborn. Having adopted an adult Greek son largely illiterate in the ways of this coast, it was teaching time all over. And teaching he did. Cold corona in hand he'd point out where to dig for clams, or how to properly make a Frogmore stew.



Ed passed on in his Snead's Ferry home. Two generations of family and friends, having been properly trained, continue on with the tradition of the Cape.

The old waterman is now where he belongs



Weather could not have been much more challenging for this year's Island time. North with slight shifts east and west all week, 15 knots minimum. Progressively cloudier and cooler, ending up with daylight highs in the lo 50's.

Late afternoon on Sunday, Oct 11 the Slip and Biscuit boats rounded the jetty buoy looking near shore kings.
The new Slip Slidin looked good slow trolling.



The ole Biscuit boat being not as pretty received "aesthetic enhancement" from Jim's finer body parts



Plenty of fat, hungry 20 lb fall kings, seemed to hunt between the obstructions west of the buoy and the barge wreck. Having boated enough to make the populace of a small village glow in the dark, our attention shifted to our more customary pursuit of bottom fish.

The flounders around the Cape were plentiful, but small, but a steady flow of large spanish and little tunnies near the point gave us plenty of opportunities to stretch the line on the trout tackle.





When possible and against our better judgement the boats crept a few miles offshore in the West side, looking for a bottom bite. Never ventured further than 12-15 miles from the Cape and that was too far at times. Fall gags and big schools of hungry ajs were on every rock we looked.

The jacks were punishing, as usual.





The gags were stubborn but delicious, as usual.





By midweek the weather was so bad that we could no longer go. Wednesday and Thursday the winds grew to 25+ and the rain was heavy and sideways.
After consuming most of the chicken wings and all of the Miller Lite downeast, everyone was ready to give the fish one parting shot on Friday. Cold, windy and showers again, but just doable enough if you did not mind a beating.

The Slip boat fished (and caught) in the familiar rocks of earlier in the week and the Biscuit veered west looking a little deeper. By the time that Squid and I parked on a tiny 2 foot ledge in 80 feet, the conditions were nearing too rough to fish a skiff. We dropped a dozen or so baits and got bit instantly every time. Taking two nice fish each from that spot we made our way back to the Cape at 10 knots, when we could run!





Most of us fish a lot and catch plenty in our home waters. Our crew certainly had a lot bigger trips at the Cape in years past. As we get older we are starting to learn to take what the sea gives and be grateful for it.

Being able to keep Ed's tradition of family and good friends renewing their love for one another at this wonderful piece of water, sure beats any catch.



Life is good,
SeaBiscuit

[Ponce]

Nice write up, and you are right as we age we don't take as much for granted in any aspect of our lives.

[reelreturn]

appears to have been a successful week at the cape, good friends, food and beverage. Not to mention the catching of some nice fish in between. Thanks for the report

[Squid]

Thanks Nick and Nick for the invite to come hang out and fish with y'all again this year! It's always a great time down east, especially with new (and old) friends swapping stories over Miller Lites. Challenging weather was a great way to put this year's trip but none the less, y'all had great catches on boat boats all week. Glad we were able to get out for a bit on Friday and find a wide open bite gag and snapper bite. The battle between rain and wind was sure worth it! The fish have definitely got something coming to them after so many windy days this fall! (We were going to give it a try yesterday but thought better of it after seeing the wind in the am.....Miss Squid is anxious to try out her new Talica 12II!)

Thanks again as I sip on one of the last remaining Miller Lites from that trip!

By the way, here's an "after" shot of the snapper I am holding in your picture.

[clt_capt]

Ahhh - The Bounty of the Cape!!! Great report - the weather has been challenging, but you certainly made the most of it.

[WAHOONBOX]

AND YET ANOTHER COOL READ FROM MY PERSONAL ATHENIAN

[Squidnation]

look forward to this read every year

[Rio]

You guys always seem to have fun and catch a variety of fish!

Confined to a hotel room in NYC this weeknd, your story and pictures enlighten me. I fished in North Carolina a couple years ago and I am now hooked for life with ocean fishing!

Rio~

[weekender]

you just know the bottom dwellers were gonna face he music while this crew was around, pretty fish

[gottaflylee]

Been looking forward to this report since last year. Great job everyone, there is something special about the Island and the East side, I be there soon...