We decided to go get some oysters for another backyard oyster roast yesterday. Weather was to be pretty in the morning …turing nasty as the day went on…and today they were spot on. Left the dock around 9 for a ride out on glass waters with a cool wind in our faces. Smell of salt and marsh on the cool air was great…looking back to see daddy with that crazy little grin on his face smiling back at me priceless! Im telling you…that man would be something to watch if he ever got his hands on the throttle of a air boat! Passed a few boats working the oyster rakes on the way out…but didnt envy them too much as i knew the efforts we were about to make would leave us with a great reward!
heres a few pics…
little short video of daddy working the tongs. Took me a while to get the “feel for it” as he says. you drop them down…closed…then open and push and work them inward/ together slowly…never lifting them until the handles close together…if they dont close you will loose your “catch”…and if you arent careful you will break the “heads off”…and thats a exspensive loss for sure! You shake and rinse before you pull into boat…and then pick the good ones out and dump the rest.
Handles on this pair are a little over nine foot.You try to feel for shell on the bottom…but not a hard bottom. as you work them down you will gradually feel the bottom soften beneath the shell and oysters…hopefully…thats when you work them…but man…sometimes they feel more like they are working you. Daddy had to remind me to “slow down”… “youre not a back hoe” …a time or two…as there is a certain art to this…really. Once you get the feel for it…its not bad.
I will have to say…I just looked back at these and smiled…love the pic of daddy bending over to pull the oysters…and now look forward to finding little oyster fish treasures :)…and then all of a sudden tears starting rolling down my face out of nowhere. Sometimes I’m just overwhelmed with happiness…then with sadness of ever facing the possibility of life without my daddy in it. There is nothing in life that could take his place in my eyes and heart. Guess that’s why I treasure my times with him so much.
Nice pictures Penny! I’m only sorry that someone has taught you to take and post videos. I don’t know who did that and they should be punished for it! Poor Roo, won’t have any peace while you practice you new art! You were just getting good, with the still pictures and now videos:roll_eyes: I, do have one question about the oyster fish. What do you recon they do? Go in the oyster while they are larva and eat the oyster from the inside out? If the oyster is closed do they ever get out when they are grown and there isn’t any more for them to eat? Must be a ***** for them to mate:wink:
Haha…my g9 has a video app but I always forget to use it. Was resetting dial…saw it and said.hmmmmm. Ok. No more pics…no videos…no torturing you guys by dressing up Roo.
Don’t know…there’s some pretty awesome pics on there…but that’s ok…it still gives me a chance to share pics :).
Easy…yeah… One of the The oyster fish ones and the one of the oyster in my hand was blurry…camera kept fogging up on me too… And I’m far from perfect when it comes to pics
Two bushels of real singles like that are a lot more oysters than clusters. We even shook them down to pack them. Those little fish are cool…lower jaw protruded a little more and can flap down at a weird angle…cool little creatures. No wonder they hidden shells…bet they taste good to bigger fish too! I make sure any double shells we get are good and theres no fish hiding in them. that would make me sad to roast one…hmmmm…wonder of they Tate like chicken lol
Thanks for the compliment too.
A pic of my Dad and I one day after he got bored. I have a lil carp trick that involves coca cola and oatmeal. This wore my father out on light tackle.
Father,Son Moments! Hummmmmm. Nice shots ans beautiful stories of enjoying dad these days when in some cases some never understand a day or moment like this. Great report and like others say it’s not always about the fishing. Now i’m hungry for some fried oysters.
“Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of true education”
That is soooo true FatRat. I’m taking Dad out today. Wish us luck. He is loosing a bout with cancer. This is the 3rd round and now he is scared. Can’t sit still, and wants to go go go. Anybody willing to do an off shore charter soon, I’m interested. He has never done that. Please PM me, or call at 843-801- nine seven 85.
Our rout today is harbor by the grillage. Wish us luck.
That is soooo true FatRat. I’m taking Dad out today. Wish us luck. He is loosing a bout with cancer. This is the 3rd round and now he is scared. Can’t sit still, and wants to go go go. Anybody willing to do an off shore charter soon, I’m interested. He has never done that. Please PM me, or call at 843-801- nine seven 85.
Our rout today is harbor by the grillage. Wish us luck.
Brian and Christina White
That is so sad. I hope that you can get your dad out on the big water, That’s one thing my daddy and I haven’t been able to share either. Crabbing,oystering,shrimping, and inshore both fresh and saltwater …but never offshore either…and I too hope to share this with him one day. Cancer is a horrible disease . I will keep your daddy in my prayers…and hope that something can be done. Cherish every moment just as I do.
Passed a few boats working the oyster rakes on the way out…but didnt envy them too much as i knew the efforts we were about to make would leave us with a great reward!
I, do have one question about the oyster fish. What do you recon they do? Go in the oyster while they are larva and eat the oyster from the inside out? If the oyster is closed do they ever get out when they are grown and there isn’t any more for them to eat? Must be a ***** for them to mate:wink:
