07-29/Can't Catch a Cold

Last night, I enjoyed the company of former co-workers as we went on a sunset cruise with cocktails. Oh, and there just happened to be fishing poles and a chain smoking deckhand that I nicknamed "Mickey."

I had never really believed in fishing in Jamaica Bay, but apparently there are a couple of fishing boats that troll the lovely waters that surround JFK airport. I had fished in this area many times, but never caught anything, and believed that fishing here was just a myth. So, to back that up, I contributed a few dollars to "captain mike's" gas fund, as he aimlessly drove us around the bay, looking at some of the beautiful sights that the Bay has to offer.

In hindsight, I believe that the money would have been more useful to use for gas or food, but the company was good. Plus, I feel good about Keith Hernandez sending me some nice coin from "Cash for Gold."

Captain Mike, showing off his "ode to Hard Knocks Fishermen" tattoo, featuring an anchor with a snake around it, paced around the top deck, shirtless and smoking, confused as to why no one was even getting a nibble. Thankfully, I was nibbling on pieces of a ham/cheese, italian, and liverwurst heros. Nothing is tastier than eating a liverwurst hero with residue of blood worms on your hands.

Cap'n Mike did his best though, following that fish finder to schools of fish that must not have cared at all about a 10 ton fishing boat with a 200 hp engine hovering above them. As we pulled up, I overheard a cocky Fluke saying to his friend,

"Hey bro, I bet that in 5 seconds there's going to be a ton of worms falling from the sky. We should definitely eat them."

Thankfully Mickey reminded us through a cigarette dangling in his mouth that, "When the captain stops the boat you should throw those lines in right away."

Unfortunately, Captain Mike and his Etch-a-sketch fish finder worked to no avail, and we made our last circle around the Marine Park Bridge. Also partying around us was a ghost party ship, that was testing out its disco ball and blue string lights across the top. Good for them.

Mickey's parting words with us as we left the boat not tipping him,
"Fucking guys...."

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