When I got to the pier last night I said it was either going to be a banner night or a total bust.  I was really figuring on the bust due to the high winds.  I thought the winds were going to drive them deep and I would be going home early for some rest.  Boy was I wrong.  They started almost as soon as it got dark and there was only one or two short periods where they gave us a break.

I brought my 18 yr old son Brad and his 16 yr old friend Nate (rookie) to swing the nets.  I seem to have pretty seriously hurt myself swinging the nets this season.  I have either tore or badly strained something in my right shoulder.  I told my wife that I would let the boys do all of the dipping on Thursday night in the boat.  Wrong!  They would get tired or want a break and I just couldn't bear to let the shrimp go by without an attempt on them, so I dipped throught the pain, (bad idea).    Last night again I planned to let the boys do all of the dipping.  Unfortunately I brought three nets and three lights and I was dipping again (still a bad idea).    Then the boys wanted to leave around 11:00pm and I let them as they had their own truck to drive home.  I still couldn't stand to let those big shrimp go unmolested, so I dipped for about 2 more hours.  (Did I mention that this was a bad idea?)  I did bring the frame net this time and it paid off big time.  I thought I had a limit, but had forgot to bring my bucket and was dumping into my cooler and estimating.  I checked them at home by dumping them into my bucket and I had a solid 4 gallons.  I told my wife I had to sacrifice myself for the sake of the shrimp. 

Needless to say I think I am going to have to take a break for a while and let myself heal.  I'll just have to relegate myself to the frame net the next time I go.  I think I can bring my son's friend Nate again as he is now totally hooked.  He said he can't wait to go again.



These are from my Thursday night trip with my neighbor on his boat.


Left to Right (My son's friend "Cheeto", my neighbor's son Jeffery, my son Brad)


I know you like that t-shirt on my son, Lee.  He goes to bootcamp mid-June.