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<div dir="ltr">\ufeffHi Tribe,
<div dir="ltr"> \ufeffI had a most amazing day on the high seas with our mighty Gotham crew, on the first but hopefully not the last Gotham fishing trip last Saturday.</div>
<div dir="ltr">Ok, it was actually more like the calm bay, not the high seas but hey, let\u2019s not let the truth stand in the way of good story and a good fishing story it was! </div>
<div dir="ltr">Here\u2019s the tale from my perspective.</div>
<div dir="ltr"> For me it started at the crack of dawn.</div>
<div dir="ltr"> I drove to Center Moriches from my South Shore starting location of Hewlett. I took the scenic route on the Loop Parkway, through Point Lookout on the Eastern End of the Long Beach Barrier Island. I passed the beautiful beaches and over the
drawbridge that crosses Reynolds Channel. One would hardly believe this gorgeous tranquility is only 40 miles from New York City. </div>
<div dir="ltr"> All one sees in this particular area of the Island on Nassau County is the beautiful bay. as It stretches as far as the eye can see, with a view of idyllic scenic marshy islands and wild surrounding grasslands and sea birds. </div>
<div dir="ltr"> It seems that you are somewhere in a sleepy area on the island of Cape Cod. </div>
<div dir="ltr">As I passed early morning desolate Jones Beach and reached the Meadowbrook Parkway, I thought about this being my first fishing day of the 2022 season. Even though the weather was overcast, it didn\u2019t deter me from landing a big fish. I was so
happy and a rush of memories came over me. I grew up on the South Shore of the island and fishing was a ritual. My dad was an old salt of the sea and we always had boats. I would go fishing almost every weekend with him except when I was away at sleep away
camp. I was used to getting up early to catch the tide and follow the birds with my Dad seeking Fluke and Flounder, or trolling for Stripe Bass,, Blue Fish or Weakfish. I learned every kind of bait and that fish bite an hour or so before the tide change,
as the movement of water brings in food .</div>
<div dir="ltr"> We\u2019d count more on the tide to catch fish than the weather report. Fish didn\u2019t care about rain and neither did we as long as there were no small craft warnings. </div>
<div dir="ltr">We would stay out all day, knowing the time by the suns position. The days on the water were pure freedom. </div>
<div dir="ltr">I was hoping for a similar experience on this trip.</div>
<div dir="ltr"> After driving on the Meadowbrook Parkway, I finally reached Sunrise highway which was my 1/2 way point East but the smooth road was pelting pebbles at my car. Apparently road work was done but the road wasn\u2019t cleaned properly. This resulted
in my calm tranquil trip interrupted by a flat tire. I was now stuck out on the highway at 6:30 in the morning. I called roadside assistance but was told I need to tow off the highway first and then it would take them 60-90 minutes to arrive. I would never
make the boat at 7:00 to be there for the 7:30 cast off. Fortunately a policeman did stop to help get me off the highway following me to a little strip mall with a bagel store. At least I was safe off the highway thinking I could get coffee. </div>
<div dir="ltr">I called Rosie\u2019s Fishing Charter to let them know that I wouldn\u2019t make the boat in time and that they shouldn\u2019t wait for me to arrive. </div>
<div dir="ltr">However Ray Walcott wouldn\u2019t have any of that. He called me, asked for my location and in true Gotham fashion of always willing to lend a hand, lhightailed out with his brother-in-law law for a 30 minute drive there and 30 minutes back just
to rescue me so I could still make the fishing trip!! I was elated!!! </div>
<div dir="ltr">I knew from that moment on, the day would be special. Our Gotham Fishing Group was understanding I offered my apology for the late arrival and a bagel and cream cheese offering for the delay.</div>
<div dir="ltr">We had a great group of people there. It was nice to finally share a casual day of socializing and bonding with Gotham members, those I knew already, those met for the first time and those I just knew from a zoom meeting. </div>
<div dir="ltr"> The rest of the day was pure fun and r&r. We had lots of fish action. Although many of the fluke had to be released from not meeting the 18.5\u201d size requirement, we did have a thrilling moments netting many keepers as well as two big horseshoe
crabs, and a poor Tern was released unharmed.</div>
<div dir="ltr">The big highlight of the day however was that Steven Somma caught a doormat ( the fisherman\u2019s term for a really big Fluke ). What a natural angler!</div>
<div dir="ltr">Steve said he had never been fishing before! What luck!! I don\u2019t know if he really understood his feat! </div>
<div dir="ltr">A person can go fishing their entire life and never catch a Fluke this big!! Now that was thrilling!! What a fish it was too , weighing in at over 8.65lbs!!! Wow!!! </div>
<div dir="ltr">Let\u2019s just say Steve had an \u201cOld Man In The Sea\u201d moment that Hemingway would have been proud of. The only difference,</div>
<div dir="ltr">Is he can prove the whole fish below and Steve actually got the chance to devour it!!</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Now that\u2019s a good fishing story!!!!</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Can\u2019t wait to get on board for the next Gotham Fishing Trip.</div>
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<div dir="ltr">\U0001f44d\U0001f44d\U0001f44d\U0001f44d\U0001f44d</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Susan Schoenberg</div>
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<div dir="ltr">Sent from my iPhone</div>
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