The last day of fishing. 15/2/23

We headed for the rocks 🪨 one last time this morning. we don’t need the fish for tea tonight, so we agreed to only keep the big ones.

Bob, our mentor, instructor and encourager was also, once again the scaler and filleted for our little group of four. Alan and Rob looked after their own.

We had plenty of fun in the catching, with many Tommys, Mullet and smaller whiting thrown back and still keeping 4 whiting , 2 salmon , 1 Tommy and 3 or 4 Mullet. Alan and Rob got 3 salmon too. Tonight we will eat curry again, made with some of the salmon. I might double the rice to go with it compared to the other night.

We returned to camp for a late lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing and starting the preparations to leave. The kayaks came up from the beach.

I took the opportunity to write a little rhyme since I had been reading some bush verse. You are about to be subjected to it so be afraid….

FISHING EXPEDITION

The fisherman, dressed in his oldest clothes
strolls along the shore. 
A big white bucket and hopeful face
He’ll catch his dinner and more. 

He makes his way to his favourite rocks, 
Sets up all his gear. 
“Today will be the day” he thinks
“Those fish have much to fear”

The fish are going about their lives
The kids are off to school. 
The adults are doing their daily chores
Out along near “The Pool”

The line is cast and splash it lands. 
Quick as a flash they come. 
“Come on boys-you know your jobs
There’s plenty to be done.“

“Remove the food and put it away. 
Now place that seaweed on. 
If there’s time we will build a tangle too,
To confound him later on.“

A gentle tug is felt above. 
It’s time to wind it in. 
The bait is gone! And there’s weed on here
Instead of a flaming fin! 

And my line is all a tangled mess. 
“How on earth????” I ask. 
“To get that back in a useful state
Will be an hour’s task!”

Life goes on beneath the waves. 
The young ones splash and play.
The silver schools of twirling life
Swim on their happy way. 

The fisherman packs his gear away
And stows his tangled line. 
He trudges back along the beach. 
“I’ll get a beauty…. NEXT TIME!!

Sometimes it just seems like the fish have a better plan than the fishermen.

As we walked back along the beach today we could see a father emu and 4 smaller ones at the edge of the beach further along. Was he teaching them the difference between salt and fresh water? There must be another poem in that I think…

The beach is still looking beautiful and beckoning us on a warm day.

I must add that the rhyme was well received by fellow campers and the curry was awesome. Now we are heading off to bed for our last night camping out here for the moment.