beach-fisher: Venice Beach - June 17

Often I have songs going through my mind when fishing, my soundtrack so to speak. I’ll detail this trips below but I think I do it every log entry.

This one has nothing to do with anything other than the lyrics jiving with what I’m doing. I have nothing against Arabs, the lyrics Robert Smith penned are an ode to a book he read.

No prejudice or politics here, fuck that, I’m fishing and I can’t stand ignorance.

Anyway…

Standing on a beach
With a gun in my hand
Staring at the sea
Staring at the sand
Staring down the barrel
At the —- on the ground
To see his open mouth
But I hear no sound
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an ——
I can turn and walk away, or I can fire the gun
Staring at the sky, staring at the sun
Whichever I choose, it amounts to the same
Absolutely nothing
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an ——
I feel the steel butt jump
Smooth in my hand
Staring at the sea, staring at the sand
Staring at myself
Reflected in the eyes of
The dead man on the beach (the dead man on the beach)
I'm alive
I'm dead
I'm the stranger
Killing an —-

From social media

True dat.
And the song lyrics came to mind this morning.
Not the —- but everything else. I’m a music person, music swirling in my head all the time. But stand on on the beach with a rod in my hand, staring at the sea, staring at the sand I’m alive, I’m not dead, I’m a stranger, killing the heat.
Nice and cool.
I’m going to get out of bed now.
Bacon sizzling, popping, the aroma. There is Irish Cream in the old refrigerator, coffee is ready. Time to take my son to the LA record store he wants to visit. I need some bullets (flys) for my gun (6 wt) too.
Talk latter friend…

The beach house my wife got us is a short barefoot walk to a prime hunting zone of the Corbina Patrol. I am one whether they like it or not. I’ve been after Corbina as long as they have over in the Sea of Cortez. I read about them 30 years ago. I’m going to apply officially when I meet Al Quattrocchi, the guy that wrote the book when I see him.

——————————

Day 2

CTS Quartz TT (fast fiberglass 8’6” 6-wt)

From social media

Today was mucho different than yesterday. The surf slightly down, the wind less which made it almost glassy on the outside. The tide swing was similar yet a little farther into the day. Shorebirds were not around today.

I only saw one fish as I ventured down just past that jetty on the L. A big swirl, looked like a guitar fish. A bait fisherman was skunked, me, not even a hand shake.

I’m still elated from yesterday and most importantly, I am realistic.

I knew yesterday was too good.

I have three more days to catch a bean.

For Reals

Yup, no fish today. I think I saw one swirl that looked like a Guitar fish, that’s it. No shakes, nada.

That’s ok, I’m cool with that, not why I’m here…

I’m in the zone, literally a place far from home, in a dream, living my life. It’s quiet, I’m cool. No humm from an air conditioner, not stressed because I have to do something.

I don’t.

This is another reason I go fishing, I don’t have to do anything. It’s my time to spend how I please. On these trips, I’m with family, sometimes alone.

I want to talk about a rod I had built, the CTS Quartz TT fiberglass blank. I had it made by a builder. I could have made it but I already know how to do it and all my making time goes to sailplanewerks.

I had been reading about this company and its fast fiberglass model so I bought one and had it made.

I thought what I wanted in a beach rod, something shorter without compromising on length, aesthetically pleasing with colors of the environment it will be used in, and accurate with the ability to fight fish.

Not wanting to be, but I guess I’m superstitious. I have a favorite shirt, shorts, I knew the first day was going to be the best so I formuled up and it worked.

Today, I knew I was going to fish it and I opted for a new shirt, and the Quartz and nary fish.

That’s over now, I have three more days to do it.