Morning Knotheads, from the Rogue's notes.

Headed home with limit met in record time! Somewhere on the Atlantic, 6/23/2018.

Well hey, hey, hey, I'll be screwed
Blued, and tatooed
Looks like I got me one of them
Fish on!       -Primus

   Planned trip with my fishin' partner, DP. Entire day planned around catchin' our limit of Black Sea Bass, alias, the Knothead. Fifteen per person, 12.5" minimum length. Early, fogged-in morning start (6:30 am...damn-it). Put out from the Ocean City Fishing Center. Three hour tour to the wreck site we'd be fishing. Approximately 35 miles out. Lil' bit of  rough trip out. Probably six to ten foot seas. Fog started burnin' off about halfway out. At the 20 mile mark we stopped to add block to an artificial reef "in progress." Captain Monty Hawkins of our charter, the Morning Star, is a huge supporter of the Ocean City Reef Foundation.

Mornin' instruction before launch. Below...trip out.

To this point he had dropped over 21,200 blocks and pavers, and sunk barges, wrecks, decommissioned military vehicles, and ships to add to the coastal habitats and preserve our oceans resources for generations to come. (Yeah I know, blah, blah, blah, plug). Upon reaching our highly classified "spot" we dropped lines. Baits included squid and clams. I'm tellin' ya, fish on almost every time you reeled in. Drop in, two fish. Drop in, another. Drop in, two more. For approximately two hours the whole boat was goin' like this. Gave a decent fight too, until about five feet from the surface and the pressure difference would cause their air bladder to push forward out of the mouth.

Reel 'em in. Fill the box.
Do it again. Pure Stoke.

The captain and mates Daniel and Taylor were amazed at how quickly each rod maxed out, even providing the extra fish for the crew. Smaller swell and bright sun provided the three hour smooth track back to harbor. Just enough time for the mates to clean all fish (26 head x 15 each). DP and I were stoked. Stoked with our catch. Stoked with the charter. Definitely gotta do this again.

Return trip. OCMD's view from the Inlet, 6/23/2018.

Safe harbour.

   Very same evening the Wife and I bagged 'em and put 'em on ice...'cept for four fillets. Paired these up with Key Brewing's Undertow. A Gose brewed with sea kelp and blackberries. Poured a hazy, copper-gold with a finger-thick, white head. Aromas of sea water and tropical fruit. Salty, acidic tart, citrus taste typical of a gose/sour with a refreshing, lightly bitter, dry finish. Outta Dundalk, MD, a real nice summer offering at 4.4% ABV. Sea kelp! I mean what better match-up? Rated a B+.

"Summer is so close you can smell

it. And it smells like bonfires, 

fishin', and cold ones." 

-E.Dibbles Jr.

Respect.