The Sponge Adventure, (Part 6, Excerpt 37)
This is 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. The three guys have just experienced a huge waterspout which as a real storm. They have just come out of it and are making sure all and everything is ok.
The Sponge Adventure
Then, as quick as it started, the wind slowed, and the waves eased off into huge swells. The rain was still coming down, but now Bob could see past the bow. It was getting faintly light.
Bob opened the interior door to the lower deck. “You guys still there?”
“Yep, Boss, what was that?” Amos asked.
Bob could see both Amos and David getting up off the floor.
“Don’t know, but I have a guess. Look away off to the southeast. I think we had just the outside touch of a giant waterspout.”
“You think just a part of it?” David asked. “I wouldn’t want to see all of it! Thank the Lord, we’re all in one piece!”
Just then the radio cracked out, “Warning! Warning! Huge water spout spotted 50 miles south of Tortugas in the Florida Straights. Moving east. All boats keep a watch out and steer clear!”
“Thanks a lot!” Amos said, “They’re a little late!”
“How does the gear look, guys?”
“Ok, Capt’n. There’s a lot of loose lines, but we made it,” Amos answered, “It was good we stowed the nets this evening after they dried.”
“Well guys, check everything, and give me a report. Then rest up. I’m going an hour or two toward the Tortugas. I’ll get you up and we’ll have breakfast. If nothing is broke, we’ll try for some more shrimp on our way back home.”
Morning...
“Amos, thanks for that breakfast. We’ll rig up one 55 foot net. I just don’t like pulling two. This is about where we hit ‘em last week. So let’s do it! The depth finder says about 1,200 feet to the bottom, so let’s half that. If we hit ‘em we’ll unload and then double back toward Tougas.”
Bob pushed the throttle forward as he felt the drag of the net and the Pelagic (mid-water) trawl doors. Captain Bob tried to stay off the ocean floor to minimize the damage to the environment.
Hours later,
“Well, it worked again. We hit them, unloaded and doubled back, unloaded and then got a third load on the way home. Thanks guys. We’ll get in about four and go straight to Steadmans and unload. Check the cooler and hang on, we’re heading in!”
Leaving Steadman's…
“Well men, over a thousand pounds of Royal Red shrimp, some tuna and a nice haul of Calico scallops. What do you think, not a bad catch! Some money for each of us, and some for the backers. Tell you what, let’s come back tomorrow, check out the boat, do a good cleaning, some maintenance, and then take a break. We’ll come back next Monday.”
“Sounds good, Capt’n,” they both agreed.
After a full day of maintenance, things were all put back in place in the lower quarters, nets cleaned and mended, and rope and cables repaired. The storm had taken some toll.
Everyone they talked to were surprised and interested in their storm adventure, families, dock workers, and the captains. It seemed they were the only ones out in it.
Next morning…
“Well guys, here’s your checks. We did real good, so there’s some extra in them.” (Captain Bob always added a bonus if the catch total was more than expected. It kept his men happy and dedicated. He knew that good, enthusiastic, and talented workers were hard to find. He had two of them and he aimed to keep them!)
“Captain, I’m going to launch the skipjack tomorrow. Can you help?”
“Sure can. How about a shake-down cruise?”
“How did you guess? I’ve got provisions loaded for three days, and the sponge gear is stowed,” David said proudly.
“Ok it’s a deal, how about you Amos?” Captain Bob asked.
“I’d like to David, but the wife’s got plans. But count me in on another trip. You heading up Big Pine Key way?”
“Yes, the area I was telling you about, the old sponge fishing area. See you tomorrow, Capt’n.”
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