June 22, 2006 - A great day on the bayThe Suffolk Times • June 22, 2006.9A
A great day on the bay
RTNE 11, 2006 — Fishing trip, beauti-
ful day, very windy. We just left Orient,
the last marina on the north shore,
where our party boat took a crew of
probably 30 people on a day's fishing.
(This article was taped while on board
that party boat.)
We parallel Orient Beach State
Park, where they're trying to stop
the erosion along the south side of
the road leading into the park. It's a
tremendous job.
FOrUS Each year it gets
washed out in a
ON different spot.
From our boat
NATURE we can see signs
of each attempt
by Paul to stop nature's
Stoutenburgh fury,
TWo barn swal-
lows are working
in the lee of the shore. This has been a
bad year for all swallows; with the cold
and rain there were few of the flying
insects swallows depend on for food.
There's a tremendous north wind
blowing. The captain tells us we'll be
doing our fishing in the upper bay,
where it won't be so rough. Our boat
is just about the only wooden party
boat I see around. Fiberglass has taken
over, but this wooden boat is still a
great boat and well kept up.
It's clear and cool as we plow along.
I just moved from the windy side of
the boat to the lee side and it's much
nicer here out of the wind. I see it
hasn't taken the would -be fishermen
long to get their poles out and ready
to go; they're anxious to get their lines
overboard. After all, this is mainly a
fishing trip, with pleasure taking sec-
ond place.
Off in the distance I see Gardiners
Island. If you look really close to the
north you can find "The Ruins," a fort
that was built but never used and to-
day lies in ruins Off to the west in the
lee of the park are two swans. I can't
tell if they're our mute swans or not.
Adult mute swans have an orange -ish
bill. I think these have all black bills.
Maybe we have something here. My
son Peter goes to get his glasses. These
I brought along aren't very good.
Some years ago Bug Light burned to
the ground — or I should say to the
water's edge. Then, through the ef-
fort of many, it was rebuilt, and today
stands as a welcome symbol to all
mariners, big and small.
e
i
r
As we move along, gulls are taking
advantage of the lee side of the boat,
gliding along just above the water.
The wind must be blowing 30 knots or
more. Some gulls follow the boat, hop-
ing someone will throw them a tidbit.
The fun of feeding the gulls in back of
the boat has started. People, especially
the kids, are throwing bits of food
in the air and the gulls fly up almost
to "the hand that feeds them." It's
beautiful the way these big birds can
maneuver in the wind. One never tires
of watching them following the boat.
Alongside the boat, with their wings
out, they seem to float just above the
waves.
As we move westward, we leave
the state park behind and face the
wind that's charging right up the bay.
There's a sailboat without any sails up
heading out east. I see terns here. They
fly about 10 feet above the water until
they see something, and then drop into
the water. These terns probably come
from the sand island opposite the Port
of Egypt, where they nest. There will
be hungry mouths awaiting the return
of the parents.
We pass close to Bug Light. We're
working our way up toward Greenport
to get out of the heavy weather. We're
leaving a world of white caps. We
try two or three spots, all in the bay,
because of the wind. A while later,
we've caught a few fish. I caught one
"keeper" fluke. Quite a few small ones
have been brought aboard but, be-
cause they were undersize, they had to
be thrown back. I also got a couple of
sea robins, those odd - looking fish that
look like they come from the days of
dinosaurs and such.
In all it's been a quiet trip up bay.
The few sailboats that are out are all
reefed down. Don't need much sail,
what with the wind that's blowing.
Those boats are headed for something
wicked with that wind.
We were just going to move when
two people brought fish aboard, so
we're going back to try there again.
,.AUk Titres phd. try Pafl SladanlWrgi
Left: One of the best fisher 'men' aboard our recent
fishing trip was Victoria Plechnik, who proudly
shows off one of the bluefish she caught. She
caught more fish than anyone else. What a joy to
have her aboard. Above: The sea robin is consid-
ered a trash fish and Is tossed overboard. Some
say they are good eating, but who wants to clean
them? They remind one of something prehistoric.
No luck, so now we're heading toward
Greenport. The engine stops and all
lines go over the side once again.
We're drifting in the lee of Greenport.
There have been some nice bluefish
brought in — two or three pounds. The
young girl caught one of them. How
excited she was!
Right now we're drifting near the
path of the Shelter Island ferry. No
luck here. The boat moves farther up
bay, about a quarter of a mile west of
Greenport. Interesting to see every-
body watching everybody else's pole.
As one gets a fish on, all eyes watch to
see what conies in.
After more fishing, then lunch, and
more fishing along the way, we find
our fishing trip is just about over. I
caught a "keeper" fluke, two under-
sized fluke, sea robins and two skates.
It doesn't sound like much, but it's
been a great day on the water. All the
party boats stayed in the bays and
didn't go out into the rough water.
We're heading home now with the
wind behind us; home being the Ori-
ent marina.
We're again paralleling Orient
Beach State Park, that wonderful strip
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Mon. - Fd noon - 10 p m. owned and
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(631) 208 -9880 coos D smnX
of land that is technically known as a
maritime forest, a very rare piece of
land that should be kept in perpetuity
in its natural state. If I look closely, I
can see the remains of the old fish fac-
tory. Here bunkers were processed into
fishmeal, fish oil and fertilizer. All went
well until a hurricane wiped it out.
The two or three kids on board are
having a great time; the young girl
named Victoria caught most of the
fish. There were seven bluefish caught.
I would have preferred one of those to
a fluke; broiled, there's nothing better.
For bait we use a piece of squid on a
three -foot leader attached to a heavy
sinker. Then, on the hook, besides the
squid, we attach a spearing or, as some
call them, silversides, to make it a tasty
morsel. Sorry to say, there just aren't
that many fish up -bay. Yet, I would say
it probably evened out; just about ev-
erybody caught at least one fish.
As we move toward home, I watch
the mate fillet the fluke. They do it
with such ease. I also see the roe. Then
it's the turn of the bluefish. It all looks
so easy. Everyone is windblown and a
bit sunburned, and all are tired after a
great day on the water.
IOU - I am a beautful Russian Blue mix I think A is fun
to be stroked and pettedl I get along well with the other cats
here at the shelter, but I would love my own home!
MILLIE IS JUST ONE OF OVER 30 CATS ANO KITTENS HERE
- PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL THE SHELTER TO INOOIRE
(CAILIL 7(65-1811
The Suffolk Times • June 22, 2006
eat day
on the bay
JUNE 11, 2000 — risnmg Lnp, MdUi
ful day, very windy. We just left Orient,
the last marina on the north shore,
where our party boat took a crew of
probably 30 people on a day's fishing.
(This article was taped while on board
that party boat.)
We parallel Orient Beach State
Park, where they're trying to stop
the erosion along the south side of
the road leading into the park. It's a
Suffolk Times photos by Paul Stamnburgh
Left: One of the best fisher `men' aboard our recent
fishing trip was Victoria Piechnik, who proudly
shows off one of the bluefish she caught. She
caught more fish than anyone else. What a Joy to
have her aboard. Above: The sea robin Is consid-
ered a trash fish and is tossed overboard. Some
say they are good eating, but who wants to clean
them? They remind one of something prehistoric.
Focus
Each year it gets
washed out in a
ON
different spot.
From our boat
NATURE
we can see signs
of each attempt
by Paul
to stop nature's
Stoutenburgh
fuy.
Two barn swal
lows are working
in the lee of the. shore. This has been a
bad year for all swallows; with the cold
and rain there were few of the flying
insects swallows depend on for food.
There's a tremendous north wind
blowing. The captain tells us well be
doing our fishing in the upper bay,
where it won't be so rough. Our boat
is just about the only wooden party
boat I see around. Fiberglass has taken
over, but this wooden boat is still a
great boat and well kept up.
It's clear and cool as we plow along.
I just moved from the windy side of
the boat to the lee side and it's much
nicer here out of the wind. I see it
hasn't taken the would -be fishermen
long to get their poles out and ready
to go; they're anxious to get their lines
overboard. After all, this is mainly a
fishing trip, with pleasure taking sec-
ond place.
Off in the distance I see Gardiners
Island. If you look really close to the
north you can find "The Ruins," a fort
that was built but never used and to-
day lies in ruins. Off to the west in the
lee of the park are two swans. I can't
tell if they're our mute swans or not.
Adult mute swans have an orange -ish
bill. I think these have all black bills.
Maybe we have something here. My
son Peter goes to get his glasses. These
I brought along aren't very good.
As we move along, gulls are taking
advantage of the lee side of the boat,
gliding along just above the water.
The wind must be blowing 30 knots or
more. Some gulls follow the boat, hop-
ing someone will throw them a tidbit.
The fun of feeding the gulls in back of
the boat has started. People, especially
the kids, are throwing bits of food
in the air and the gulls fly up almost
to "the hand that feeds them." It's
beautiful the way these big birds can
maneuver in the wind. One never tires
of watching them following the boat.
Alongside the boat, with their wings
out, they seem to float just above the
As we move westward, we leave
the state park behind and face the
wind that's charging right up the bay.
There's a sailboat without any sails up
heading out east. I see terns here. They
fly about 10 feet above the water until
they see something, and then drop into
the water. These terns probably come
from the sand island opposite the Port
of Egypt, where they nest. There will
be hungry mouths awaiting the return
of the varents. —
We pass close to Bug Light. We're
working our way up toward Greenpor
to get out of the heavy weather. We're
leaving a world of white caps. We
try two or three spots, all in the bay,
because of the wind. A while later,
we've caught a few fish. I caught one
"keeper" fluke. Quite a few small ones
have been brought aboard but, be-
cause they were undersize, they had to
be thrown back. I also got a couple of
sea robins, those odd - looking fish that
look like they come from the days of
dinosaurs and such.
In all it's been a quiet trip up bay.
The few sailboats that are out are all
reefed down. Don't need much sail,
what with the wind that's blowing.
Those boats are headed for something
wicked with that wind.
We were just going to move when
two people brought fish aboard, so
we're going back to try there again.
ivo luck, so now we're heading toward
Greenport. The engine stops and all
lines go over the side once again.
We're drifting in the lee of Greenport.
There have been some nice bluefish
brought in — two or three pounds. Tli
young girl caught one of them. How
excited she was!
Right now we're drifting near the
path of the Shelter Island ferry. No
luck here. The boat moves farther up
bay, about a quarter of a mile west of
Greenport. Interesting to see every-
body watching everybody else's pole.
As one gets a fish on, all eyes watch to
see what comes in.
After more fishing, then lunch, and
more fishing along the way, we find
cur fishing trip is just about over. I
'aught a "keeper" fluke, two under -
dzed fluke, sea robins and two skates.
It doesn't sound like much, but it's
)een a great day on the water. All the
)arty boats stayed in the bays and
lidn't go out into the rough water.
We're heading home now with the
vind behind us; home being the Ori-
mt marina.
We're again paralleling Orient
3each State Park, that wonderful stria
Wo", I I; I W�
Some years ago Bug Light burned to-
the ground — or I should say to the
water's edge. Then, through the ef-
fort of many, it was rebuilt, and today
stands as a welcome symbol to all
mariners, big and small.
1 -1U uiaL 10 X10-1- auy Known as a
maritime forest, a very rare piece of
land that should be kept in perpetuity
in its natural state. If I look closely, I
can see the remains of the old fish fac-
tory. Here bunkers were processed intc
fishmeal, fish oil and fertilizer. All went
well until a hurricane wiped it out.
The two or three kids on board are
having a great time; the young girl
named Victoria caught most of the
fish. There were seven bluefish caught.
I would have preferred one of those to
a fluke; broiled, there's nothing better.
For bait we use a piece of squid on a
three -foot leader attached to a heavy
sinker. Then, on the hook, besides the
squid, we attach a spearing or, as some
call them, silversides, to make it a tasty
morsel. Sorry to say, there just aren't
that many fish up -bay. Yet, I would say
it probably evened out; just about ev-
erybody caught at least one fish.
As we move toward home, I watch
the mate fillet the fluke. They do it
with such ease. I also see the roe. Then
it's the turn of the bluefish. It all looks
so easy. Everyone is windblown and a
bit sunburned, and all are tired after a
on