Cod fishing - for real - planned for next week!

Crossing one of those bucket list to-do things off the list - I have wanted to go cod fishing for a number of years now (done January to April, usually in cold, nasty weather, in the ocean ) for some years now - am finally going next Saturday with my new friend, who booked the trip this morning... the boat leaves the dock at 3AM and does not return until 3PM... sounds like absolute heaven to me being on a fishing boat in a cranky, cold ocean fishing for large fish with a friend who shares the same love of being outdoors!

He asked what I am wearing - I have to contemplate that thought for a bit further as I overheat easily if "overdressed" - in my office I have been "accused" of dressing like it was summer but 67 is the lowest I can get the heat down to in the office and I usually have a fan running...

I have enjoyed swimming in the ocean in January without a wet/dry suit on for protection... and have not needed a coat all but three days this winter.... What a dilemma!

 

Below decks is a bad place to be - that will induce seasickness quickly.

Lake Erie can be a nasty place - I have raced on Lake Ontario and the shifty winds and the drift made for wild racing. The captain of the boat I was racing on was extreme - he liked burying the rail and squeezing every ounce of speed out of this boat. We won a lot.

My date wants to do this as much as I do... he's got his captain's license.

I grew up on the water sailing and boating and like it a bit extreme... one storm I was in I was watching lightning hit the water on a ferry from Hyannis to Nantucket, six months pregnant and holding my 2 year old son and saying, "Cool!" Not everyone faired as well - the crew was passing out buckets for those who were ill from the rough ride.

Was part of a delivery team bringing a 65" sailing yacht back from Edgartown, MA in the remnants of the first Hurricane Irene (I think that was 2005)... that was a breezy racing weekend and was out on the tender all weekend - they had to cancel racing one day as it was sustained at 30 knots - I have sailed (racing on a charter) in 30 knots under a really reefed main in a pelting rain storm... I say bring it on!

 

The smile comes standard and is always packed.

Can't do thermals - nothing like feeling like one has been stuffed into a sausage casing... even with the silk versions... Luckily Mother Nature has granted me that wonderful (not!) phenomena of "personal summer..." which is why a dive in the ocean in January was easily done twice and why I think I was steaming when I came out of the water... the plus was no "power surges" for three or four days! Gotta admit, it's a lot cheaper and healthier than meds to try to fix things....

I did upstate, rural, NYS winters in a t-shirt, hoodie, hat, gloves and jeans to 12F and was comfortable as long as I was working.

I'm thinking I will have a sail bag for layers as needed and will go with the upstate NY garb with foulies over them and my deck shoes. Staying dry is the key to comfort on the ocean in my experience... and once wet, the wind will do a lot of folks in. That and coffee and I am golden.

 

And now the fun part to be scheduled... since the boat leaves the dock at 3AM... the logistics of getting there!

Stay tuned!