This is the fourth part a story titled, The Sponge Adventure. Captain Bob and his two mates, Dave and Amos fish the Gulf out of Key West in Bob’s sea-going Trawler, Sea Breeze. Dave is interested in the old methods of sponge fishing and has a small skipjack fishing boat he has just restored. The guys have just taken the Sea Breeze out of Key West trawling. There are just off the Continental shelf.
The Sponge Adventure
It was also a safe stopping place and had water from local wells. As time went on, it became the center of activity of old Key West for the sponge, turtle, fish, and shrimping industries.
David was moving the throttle forward. Where he was in the rear Bob could feel the surge of power. He loved that, it gave him a great feeling both inside and out. He finished coiling some rope, made sure all the lines were secure, and took a last look at the two boom lifting tackles. The booms were up vertical and snug against the mast. Bob went up front along the side rail and into one of the side doors to the wheel house.
“How’s it going, David?”
“Feels fine, Capt’n.”
“Just as soon as we get past the sub base…pour it to her!”
“Aye aye, Sir!” David answered.
As they cruised by the west side of Key West, they could see the Sub-Tender, U.S.S. Bushnell,* together with two subs tethered alongside. The subs looked like toys next to the huge mother ship. Then a couple of Navy two-motor patrol planes out of Boca Chica Naval Air Station flew by overhead gaining altitude. Boca Chica was just two Keys up from Key West and became very important and grew during the Second World War.
Amos hollered up from the galley, “How about some coffee and donuts guys?”
“Be right down, Amos. Thanks. I’ll be right back, David, then I’ll take a turn at the wheel, so you can go down and eat.”
Cap’n, I figure if you’re going out a ways and then trawl, I’ll make some sandwiches, and put them in the fridge. Then we can eat as we work.”
“You read my mind, Amos. Thanks for the coffee and donuts.”
“Well David, Amos read my mind, you probably heard. While you are in the galley with Amos, I’ll go out twenty miles. Then just this side of the Continental Shelf we’ll rig for fish, mid-trawl.* I want to try at the edge of the drop-off.”
“Then we’ll head due west for another 20 miles along the edge of the shelf. Possibly we’ll get some tuna or mackerel. If that doesn't work we’ll head north towards Tortugas. Tonight we’ll either anchor off the island there or dock.”
David took over the wheel from the captain. The seas were not heavy, just gentle swells. They were making about 8 knots (9 miles per hour). A few clouds floated lazily along.
“We’re getting close Capt’n,” David said bringing Bob out of his thoughts.
“Ok, David, I’ll take over. You and Amos get the net adjusted, and winch the otter boards* over the side.”
“Nets and boards out Capt’n,” David yelled.
Bob had both wheel house doors open. He could also see out the back window of the enclosure. He left the wheel momentarily and looked out. He then went back in and adjusted the engine for a boat speed of about 3 knots. (2.5-3 knots equaling about 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 miles per hour is a good speed for trawling. Not too fast but enough to keep the net open. They used flotation on the upper edge and weight on the lower edge of the net. This and the speed controlled the vertical opening.)
They cruised along due west with the swell hitting them from the left (south). Dave was at the transom (rear) watching the net. Amos was locking the winch which controlled the modified “T” boom superstructure. This had the cable and hook which lifted the catch in the net when it was pulled in. The towing booms or outriggers were horizontal out both sides pulling on the net.
“Amos, how about those sandwiches? I’ll take a Coke,” the Captain said.
“Sounds good,” David hollered.
As he ate his sandwich Bob looked about. He thought, we’re all alone out here except for that one sport fishing boat heading out way behind us. Probably going for marlin. Of course there are the gulls perched on the rigging of this ship. They are just waiting for us to pull the net up. They are looking for fish just as we are!
“It’s been a couple of hours. Let’s bring it up guys.” Captain Bob cut the engine way back and went out and to the rear to help.
Amos worked the winch. First the net was pulled up. Then he lifted both booms. This brought the net over the rear of the trawler. David hooked the net up, and then up went the boom superstructure. Now the net was over the rear, aft of the hold’s* hatch.
“Looks like we’ve got some mackerel. There is some by-catch* in there too.”
“Throw them over as fast as you can,” The captain said. “They may not die.”
They had about 20 mackerel, legal size. The rest were undersize mackerel and assorted non-commercial fish. They opened the hatch and threw the mackerel into empty boxes and shoveled some ice on top. The hatch was insulated, and so was the hold. The ice would keep five to seven days depending on just how hot the weather was. They also had a refrigeration unit that would freeze a small part of the hold. They would only use it if needed.
Bob went back to the wheel house, stopped, turned, and hollered, “Tell you what guys…Clean her up some, and I’m going to cruise for about half an hour. Then we’ll drop the nets for another half an hour and after that, we’ll turn North and head for the Tortugas.”
From the Author:
My second full-length book , Florida Keys’ Watercolor Kapers is composed of 336 pages. There are 12 stories running from 6 pages to as many as 72 pages. It is fully illustrated with 88 watercolors and sketches. The watercolors I made roaming around Key West after I finished my 750 mile hike from Georgia to Key West. (See book or Don Browne’s SouthWest Florida Online News records, A Walk Across Florida.) As you read these stories you will experience Key West, the Keys, and the Caribbean. These stories span the time of the early 1800’s to 1969. bkranich.wixsite.com/bobkranich
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