Fishing Memories Page 5
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Wildwood that contain fond fishing memories. I am number 2 of 7 boys.
Dad liked to fish and he wanted all his boys to know what it was. His
mother and father had a summer home in North Wildwood. Every year when
school let out we would take 2 or 3 weeks for vacation at Grandmom's log
house at the shore. We all had our own fishing pole, and as a new
brother came along a new pole was purchased. He always took us out at
least once in a row boat we rented from Ed's Canal Pavilion (Lanza's) at
18th and Delaware. This was where the youngest would be 'taught' how to
fish. I'm sure I was taught the same way. We would go out along the
Intercoastal waterway to a hot spot Mr. Lanza would direct Dad and we
would start to drift. It always seemed like the youngest would catch
the first fish. Dad would start the 'lesson' by showing us how to tie
your rig, bait the hook and get the sinker to the bottom. Then he would
always check with my newest brother to make sure his line was on the
bottom. He would say " Are you sure your line is down on the bottom?"
"Here hold my pole and give me yours, I'll check it for you." Dad would
fiddle with it for a few minutes and then instruct, " lift my pole up I
think you caught a fish on my pole, you stinker. Start reeling him in."
Sure as the water was wet, he had hooked a flounder on his line and gave
the rod to my little brother to reel in.
As you grew older and we went out each year we started putting a
$1.00 pool on the first fish caught on those trips. It then became
important to catch the first fish. Dad always managed to get the
youngest some vacation money, $7.00 was what the pool topped out at.
Dad would take us to fish at Moore's bulkhead or to the old Two Mile Inn
down in the crest, but that once a year trip in that rowboat from
Lanza's still was best.
Pop is fishing with St. Peter now, but I still go fishing with all
my brothers when I can. Sometimes I lose a dollar but it is really
special when you win all $6.