Archive for the ‘Stories’ Category
SNOW Way!
Late in the winter when Southern California was hit by a spell of bad weather, the fine people here at URT decided to head for higher elevation and avoid the fresh bacteria soaked beach shores from the flowing storm drains. We loaded up the “URTstream” trailer and strapped down a few paddleboards and all-in-ones and headed due East to Cuyamaka Lake. Expecting a lush green sun beaten landscape we were assaulted with the last thing on our mind, SNOW. A few momentary glances at each other and some omniscient nods and the boards were off the back of the truck and the trunks were on. We didn’t create the situation, but we were gong to take advantage of it.
Blanketed by fog, the lake was ours. The calmness and the chill of the water behind a white backdrop created an unforgettable experience, numbing actually. It wasn’t till we dipped our feet and hands in boiling hot coffee that we snapped back into reality.
All photos by Matt Lingo AKA “Madillac Lingolade” www.mattlingo.com
Bare Hand Bluefin Tuna Grab
The following story is submitted by PJ a beach lifeguard in Coronado:
If you’ve been down in Southern California at all for the 2010 winter, you’ve probably bared witness to some pretty stormy days. My job forces me to be on the beach for at least 8 hours a day, so I’ve sat front seat to the 60 mph winds and 12 foot storm swells. Yes, when I’m not looking at a computer or working on a project in the garage, I’m usually watching the beach as an ocean lifeguard. We had a total of 5 boats wash up on the Coronado and North Island beaches and racked up some pretty intense rescues thanks to the weather. Those of us on the rescues had an appropriate level of fun doing our job and marveled at the destruction the ocean could lay down. But as always, the Ocean gives and takes, and a rumor started going around that the Tijuana tuna pens became casualties of the ocean’s wrath, which meant that some very massive and delicious ahi bluefin tuna were now roaming free in our waters. Days passed slowly as I kept my eyes peeled on the ocean looking for bait balls on the water. I thought it very unlikely I would see anything of interest. Nonetheless three days after the storm I spotted something moving through the surf that was neither a dolphin nor a seal. My lifeguard co-worker pulled the truck over and I dashed out into waist deep water. I grabbed the large fish at the base of the tail avoiding the spiny fins and tossed it over my shoulder. Luckily the fish continued to swim closer to shore so I pursued it and gave it another heave hoe into shallower water. The poor little guy didn’t know where he was. So I managed to carry the 40 pounder to the back of my lifeguard truck and give him a ride to my kitchen. There were more ahi steaks then I knew what to do with, and gave a lot of it away to friends and family. We all got rather full on a week’s worth of bluefin. The Ocean always provides.
I thought it unusual that such a prized fish could be caught so easily with my bare hands. After all, the fish was still very much alive when I brought it to shore, and impressively danced around in the back of the truck. I learned from one of the saltier fisherman of Coronado that after years of swimming in circles in tuna pens they get disoriented and continue to swim in circles once they get out. The most comfortable thing for them to do is go with the current, which lucky for me guided them straight into shore. My story is one of only dozens of such instances that took place along the south coast of San Diego during mid-February. One lucky fisherman off the Imperial Beach pier reeled in 5 such fish, and with an estimated value of $2,000 a fish, probably retired. I wish the tuna fisheries luck in keeping such beautiful fish alive and well.”
