We survived another Will Petty "Cast for a Cause" fishing tournament. They had a great time and the weather was fine. At the weighin yesterday there were at least thirty boats here. They were lined on both sides of the entrance road and on both sides of the parking area from 701 to 604. They had a really good catch. Nearly every ice chest was loaded with hugh reds and really big trout. Of course, they used croaker. Only seven fish could be weighed, two reds and five trout. The winning team had over 31 pounds. The guides used big electric fillet knives and wasted so much good meat. Several years ago I took a bucket to the cleaning stand and asked them to throw the rib meat into it for me. I ended up with over ten pounds of trout after I took out the bones. At least the guides made the seagulls happy.
When the tent erection crew showed up Friday morning, I knew what would happen. They drove the long steel pins into the ground with reckless abandon. Before John turned the water off I saw two and probably three water lines that had been pierced. In recent years the HOA paid for the repair. I'm not sure what will happen this year. It always seemed wrong for owners who have nothing to do with the tournament to have to pay for damages.
The winds finally got into the summer pattern on Wednesday, finally. They were light in the morning and just a sea breeze in the afternoon. The water is very clear and a lot of small trout are being caught under the lights at night. Ron repaired four of the lights that have been out on the north pier. The owner of the house directly across from 501 has installed a green light in the channel. It is well within casting distance from our side. Personally, I have never had much luck with green lights. Richy had several put in years ago and I caught exactly one keeper during the two years they were in place.