Bamboo Rod Fishing
I had the pleasure recently to sit on the rock with a Bamboo Rod Fisherman. I was reminded of the quick action that goes along with this fishing technique. When adhering to the necessary steps this is what it looks like.
Lizard Day
Yesterday was World Lizard Day. It was founded in 2009 and August 14th is now the day of the lizard. In their honor took a walk in the back yard and captured a few pics. It was fun and I was delighted at how many were out and about. See pics below. We are fortunate to…
Bamboo rod fishing
Early in the morning before the sun came up dad liked fishing with a bamboo rod. Finding a spot around the rocks where a bait ball will likely to come to or pass near by was considered ideal. Standing back away from the edge is key so any fish that venture close by is not…
Hermit Crabs
Reef fish cannot resist a hermit crab bait. Finding and catching hermit crabs was a fun adventure all on its own. It provided me with a great excuse to walk and explore the bushes and rock formations where hermit crabs tend to live. Peering under rocks I used a stick to pull any crabs there towards…
Whelks
Definitely on my top ten favorite meals. Steamed whelks on top a heaping pile of seasoned rice doused with homemade hot vinegar sauce and a squeeze of lime. A whelk manages to find some of the most challenging crevices for one to reach with your hand. Sea urchins, stinging coral, sea centipedes, eels, lion fish…
Lady Luck and the Ocean Gar
There were fewer balls of bait than normal this time of year. It meant fewer fish overall. Dad as well as the other fisherman scoured the shoreline looking for bait, any bait. Every day this week he went out and came back with an empty tank of gas and little to no fish, My mother…
Grass Festival
If you’ve never fished for ballyhoo I highly recommend the adventure. The first time I went I was in awe of the technique of using Guinea grass to see the fish and to know when to throw the ballyhoo net. The wind was blowing with about 20-25 knots that morning. I found dad on the…
Blow the Conch Shell
As a child and even now I enjoy hearing the toot from a conch shell. Most recent I had a group of children and adults give a go at the conch shell blow. It was no surprise when only one or two of them successfully found the sweet spot and filled the air with a…
Cat Fishing
Like a barn cat we had an island cat. She was a good mother and over the years had many litters. Living outside she fended for herself and taught her little ones how to hunt lizards, birds, mice, iguanas and yes fish. Of course we fed her and the many kittens over the years but she…
Secret Spot
Everyone has a secret fishing spot. The only way I know how to keep the spot secret is to fish it at night without lights. Living on an island everyone has a reason to look out at the horizon, the view, the sunset, the moon and stars. Almost everyone has a boat and either fishes…
Hand Running
Unlike my father, mother was a chicken of the sea. She readily admitted it but she also confessed her love for fishing. Many conditions had to be met for mom to join us fishing. Day time fishing only. Good weather with minimal wind. The destination had to be close to land. She wanted someone available to assist as…
Long Hole Corral ~ The next day
Grabbing a couple jonney cakes and a cup of tea I raced down the path to Raphune bay. Kevin was gassing up while he waited for me. We pulled out of the bay and headed to Outer Brass to see if what we caught was still in the net. Pulling up to Long Hole everything…
Long Hole Corral
Long Hole Corral The little bit of remaining sunlight was quickly diminishing. Making the round Kevin and I put on our gear and rushed to make sure the net was secure at both arms. Kevin proclaimed he saw a shark and some large yellow tail but it was getting dark and will have to wait…
Hardnose
Hardnose Winter brings high winds and hardnose (blue runners). High shoal, on the North side of St. Thomas, is a known spot for night fishing. Testing the depths with a bottom line we found the perfect spot of sixteen fathoms. With dad at the engine and me on the bow we spun the boat to…
Photos and Art
Photos and Art When you have a moment take a peek. I added a few images to the blogs below. The website is still in development and will soon have more images.
Arm Girl (continued)
Arm Girl (Continued) “GO NOW” and I found my self in the water. In the exact place I saw the three sharks only 5 seconds ago! My brain raced and instead of freaking out because I was in the water with sharks, I faced the responsibilities of being the arm girl. Readily I climbed up…
Arm Girl
Arm Girl From a little girl to a grown woman I proudly claimed my position as the Arm Girl. This role evolved over time as we made adjustments to the process but the goal was the same. Get the arm of the seine on the rock and secure the float and foot line so the…
Nets and Holes
Nets and Holes Back in the day, if you wanted a seine, you had to make it yourself, hire someone to do it or buy it if you could find one for sale. If making it, it would be one knot at a time and require many spools of twine. It would take years to have…
The Scrub Haul
The Scrub Haul While heading to Hanslolik island to catch bait for night fishing we hugged the coast of Peterborg in hopes of spotting a bait ball that made its way ashore. We approached “The Goof” a cove named for the sound that rises up over the ocean roar when the seas are rough. With…
It’s all about fishing!
It’s all about fishing! Fishing, fishing, fishing. My father, Joe LaPlace, a master commercial fisherman of St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands readily encouraged us to join him on his daily fishing excursions. This remained true throughout our childhood and adult lives. The choice of fishing adventure was usually determined by wind and weather. Netting, floating,…
Connect with Us
Whether you have questions, feedback, or just want to chat about our stories, we’re here to listen. Let’s start a conversation—reach out today! Email us at contact.vifishing123@gmail.com.