In February 1986, we were living in Haleyville, AL. I took a trip to Myrtle Beach, SC that month to have some maintenance work done at our condo there. A friend, Nancy Stovall, went with me. One day while we were having new carpet installed in the condo, we decided to go deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean. This was a new experience for me. We went on a 1/2 day trip and since it was off-season and not many tourists wanting to to fishing, the boat captain took us a long way out into the ocean and we were gone almost all day. I can remember how hungry we were since we didn't take any lunch so the captain shared his food and drinks with us. Everybody was having a good time. Nancy and I were the only two females on the voyage. Most of the others were serious fisherman and tried to tell us what we were doing wrong.I was amazed at how easy it was to catch fish on the huge fishing poles containing several large hooks. Once I caught 3 fish at one time! I almost fell overboard once when something so big and strong almost pulled my pole out of my hand. I had help reeling it in and it was a big white sand shark! One of the fishermen wanted it to eat and to take the teeth to his grandson. I gladly gave it to him. I caught mostly black sea bass and when the red basket was almost full, I stopped fishing. I wasn't sure what I was going to do with all those fish. Nancy caught about the same amount. When we got off the boat, we saw people cleaning their fish at a table near the landing and we offered to pay them to clean our fish, and they did. We bought a styrofoam cooler and filled it with ice and packed our fish on ice and brought them back to Alabama the next day. Jim was very surprised when I showed him the fish I had caught. They were very good to eat, except for the many bones.
My dad taught me how to clean fish when I was growing up and I could have cleaned them myself but it was cold and getting dark when we got back to shore. I was happy to pay someone to do it for me. We got back to the condo, after stopping in Calabash, NC to eat seafood for dinner, and all the condo work was finished and it was ready for another rental season.
We left early the next day to come back to Haleyville. I was happy to have someone with me to help drive on the long trip home.
NOTE: Don't you just love those fashionable glasses I'm wearing!!
