People are put together differently in terms of mental and emotional needs, just as much as we are put together differently in terms of physical attributes. Some of us, myself included, are more worried about cabin fever than about the big scary fever (COVID-19) we are all collectively fearing.
While pondering the possibilities for getting out and yet maintaining the social distancing that seems to be the solution to slow the spread of the virus, two big options come readily to mind. One is fishing and the other is hunting.
Sadly, most hunting seasons are closed at this time of year, with the exception of jackrabbits. They are fun to hunt but aren’t the best of table fare. It is a strong-flavored meat that many folks boil for about a half-hour before doing anything else with it, just to make it taste more mild.
Having written that, I will say, I’ve had many a jackrabbit dinner and some weren’t half bad, thanks to the old rule that with enough teriyaki sauce, most anything is good.
Fishing, on the other hand, is a great option to cure cabin fever while obtaining safe healthy food, maintaining social distancing parameters and getting outdoors.
Fishing businesses are on a state list I found of businesses which may remain open. It came under the category of food cultivation. So, there is support available for fishing pursuits.
I went fishing and it felt awesome. Truly awesome! I was on a friend’s boat and so just a few people were together. We made a quick run out to the 4-Mile Reef area, this side of the row of four oil rigs off Santa Barbara. In about four hours, we had our limits of fish.
Among the limits were some very nice reds (red snapper or vermilion rockfish) and rosy rockfish, a smattering of olive rockfish and a whole bunch of ocean whitefish up to 3 pounds.
“The population of ocean white fish is healthier now than I have ever seen it. We have huge schools of them both along the mainland coast and in the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary,” said Capt. Tiffany Vague at Hook, Line & Sinker fishing center, where she builds custom Vague Rods for fishing enthusiasts.
While we filleted our fish, enjoying a nice day at sea and looking shoreward, where so many people were tucked away in their homes, we talked about how healthy and safe this was. We were working with the freshest meat possible, and no one was handling the fish other than us.
We brought home enough fresh meat for two dinners for two families.
The fishing trip was a good cure for cabin fever, and it felt good to provide for the family. I think I’ll do it again very soon.
— Capt. David Bacon operates WaveWalker Charters and is president of SOFTIN Inc., a nonprofit organization providing seafaring opportunities for those in need. Visit softininc.blogspot.com to learn more about the organization and how you can help. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
