April 9th, 2013, Part one, Alexi's story

     April 9th 2013 was not as unlike April 9th 2012 as one might suspect.  By chance,  I was fishing the same spot.  The air temperature this year was around 80 degrees and it was oppressive in the full sun.  Last year the air was 55. This year I was fishing during the day, last year at night.  This year I caught a 30 inch fish around one in the afternoon, last year was a 36 inch fish around 8 p.m.  
     Now,  you may have noticed that I've intentionally tried to avoid the topic of Sandy in my writings on this blog.  If because of the storm we were forced to explore new spots we did, and that's the end of the story.  But, I have to say, it was really nice to be back at Snake Ditch.  Our access is still restricted.  We can't launch kayaks from IBSP, so we have to launch from LBI and paddle across the inlet. It's a royal  pain in the ass with the wind and the currents (although the seals are cool). Anyway, I didn't know how much I missed that fishing spot.  I feel like I know how to fish there better than anywhere else.  So I want to officially give Superstorm Sandy the finger.  Not for me, but for all off those people who have had to re-build their lives.
     Storms come and wash away parts of the beach all of the time. That's nothing new to the people living there.  It gets battered, you re-build.  The difference with Sandy is exponential.  The re-building is immense.  Enough said....

     (Back to fishing) When looking back at pictures from last year I noticed that the contents of the stomach of Steve's fish from last year in April and my fish from yesterday are identical.   Small baitfish.  I caught mine on a small bass assassin, which matches a small baitfish perfectly.   We were fanatical about fishing with eels last year, and that's what we did.  Part of me is glad to have caught the fish with a lure instead of live bait, but another part of me thinks that our success would still be greater with eels.   According to my records, the two methods are even.  One fish, one year later, same spot, same day,  different lure,..........





......And Now...for the truly great part of the story, If you stuff the fish with herbs and lemon, and make a crust of salt and egg whites, it will be delicious!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OVEN 425 DEGREES
12-18 Egg Whites
2-3 Boxes Kosher Salt
Fish
Herbs & Lemon & Garlic & Stuff (enough to fill the cavity)

Line a large pan with parchment paper.
Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold in salt, mix well. Lay down a 1"base of salt/ egg mixture on whatever pan you can find to fit your giant fish. Put the fish on the salty base. Stuff the fish with herbs & lemon! Garlic! Whatever! Don't pack it, just fill it nicely so that it is close to its pre-gutted shape.
Put the rest of the salt goop on the fish, pack it around.
Bake at 425 for 8 minutes a pound, salt crust should be golden brown.
Let the fish rest for a few minutes, and then crack the salt crust with one swift stroke of a mallet (or suitable food-hitting-thing.) Carefully lift off salt in large plates, eat fish.

Btw, now you have a bunch of egg yolks. Make Hollandaise,

P.S.  Steve has a different story to tell and I truly hope he does....