Vodka and Ouzo - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

06-12-2012, 09:26 PM

I fished last Sunday. Expecting one thing only
to come up with another.

For example, Gabe was supposed to meet me
at 6am. With one-too-many drinks still inside him
from the night before, he's a no-show. But, I
see old kayaking buddies on the beach. Brian and Vitale.

Since Brian caught a nice YT a couple of days prior, he high
tails it without much chit chat. Leaving me with Vitale.

I met Vitale almost 10yrs ago. Back then, he was a tourist
bugging me at the launch. With his thick Russian accent,
he asked the typical questions. But, little did I know, with
a little push from me, he turns into a full-on kayak fishing foul,
just like the rest of us.

Thru the years, I ran into Vitale from time-to-time. I never really got
to know him. Until Sunday. Sunday's fishing was snotty due to SWesterly windy weather.
But that didn't deter the non-stop conversations between us.

What do expect when you put a Russian and Greek together hungry for fish?

Vitale is a Mechanical Engineering Professor at UCSD who mostly catches fish thru trail and error.
I'm a chemical engineer, who catches fish mainly thru error.

In the end, we realized what we have in common:

We see fish as Free Swimming Meals.
Our jobs, to engineer them back home to our tables.

Vitale's sport before fishing? Roman-Greko Wrestling.

When the Yellowtail are laughing at you fighting the wind, there might be a halibut down below. I somehow managed to fish a spot, in the wind, without a hobie. Imagine that?? (Adi, you like the belly shot?)

Then, comes the time to EAT.

Some garden vegies...

Some halibut fillets with cut strips of halibut skin...

And pressto-chango, Braised Halibut and Zucchini on top of gralic mashed potatoes/roasted red peppers, top off with fried halibut skins...

And, the Vodka and Ouzo?? Sorry, the bottles were emptied while the fish were still fishin'.

jorluivil · 06-12-2012, 09:39 PM

Once again.........you made me hungry.

lamb · 06-12-2012, 10:06 PM

Vitale... I love it when he says beauuuuuuutiful fish with that thick accent.

Cut thin strips of halibut skin, huh?
Every day, in every way, the one learns something new.

Seems like you had a good day out there master chef

Gaff shot is by the book

Halibut is all right size, I'm sure you can do better than that

Chief Gunner · 06-13-2012, 02:28 AM

Nice! Great Post!

mrJB · 06-13-2012, 06:27 AM

Yani, way to go!

BTW, you and Wayne must be related - you have the same smiles...

driftwood · 06-13-2012, 07:11 AM

Yani you're a fighter!

Your going through the most shocking and difficult time of your life right now.
This kind of thing would put most guys into deep depression. But how does Yani
deal with it? Yani does not complain he just goes fishing and posts a fish report
followed by a cooking report. What a great example!!!

06-12-2012, 09:26 PM	#1
yani Guest Posts: n/a	Vodka and Ouzo I fished last Sunday. Expecting one thing only to come up with another. For example, Gabe was supposed to meet me at 6am. With one-too-many drinks still inside him from the night before, he's a no-show. But, I see old kayaking buddies on the beach. Brian and Vitale. Since Brian caught a nice YT a couple of days prior, he high tails it without much chit chat. Leaving me with Vitale. I met Vitale almost 10yrs ago. Back then, he was a tourist bugging me at the launch. With his thick Russian accent, he asked the typical questions. But, little did I know, with a little push from me, he turns into a full-on kayak fishing foul, just like the rest of us. Thru the years, I ran into Vitale from time-to-time. I never really got to know him. Until Sunday. Sunday's fishing was snotty due to SWesterly windy weather. But that didn't deter the non-stop conversations between us. What do expect when you put a Russian and Greek together hungry for fish? Vitale is a Mechanical Engineering Professor at UCSD who mostly catches fish thru trail and error. I'm a chemical engineer, who catches fish mainly thru error. In the end, we realized what we have in common: We see fish as Free Swimming Meals. Our jobs, to engineer them back home to our tables. Vitale's sport before fishing? Roman-Greko Wrestling. When the Yellowtail are laughing at you fighting the wind, there might be a halibut down below. I somehow managed to fish a spot, in the wind, without a hobie. Imagine that?? (Adi, you like the belly shot?) Then, comes the time to EAT. Some garden vegies... Some halibut fillets with cut strips of halibut skin... And pressto-chango, Braised Halibut and Zucchini on top of gralic mashed potatoes/roasted red peppers, top off with fried halibut skins... And, the Vodka and Ouzo?? Sorry, the bottles were emptied while the fish were still fishin'.

06-12-2012, 09:39 PM	#2
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,856	Once again.........you made me hungry. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer

06-12-2012, 10:06 PM	#3
lamb Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 2,568	Vitale... I love it when he says beauuuuuuutiful fish with that thick accent. Cut thin strips of halibut skin, huh? Every day, in every way, the one learns something new. Seems like you had a good day out there master chef Gaff shot is by the book Halibut is all right size, I'm sure you can do better than that __________________ [------------------------ <)))< ....b-a-a-a-a

06-13-2012, 06:27 AM	#5
mrJB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: O.C. Posts: 352	Yani, way to go! BTW, you and Wayne must be related - you have the same smiles... __________________ "I Brake for Halibut"

06-13-2012, 02:28 AM	#4
Chief Gunner Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Lakeside Posts: 97	Nice! Great Post!

06-13-2012, 07:11 AM	#6
driftwood Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SAN DIEGO Posts: 1,086	Yani you're a fighter! Your going through the most shocking and difficult time of your life right now. This kind of thing would put most guys into deep depression. But how does Yani deal with it? Yani does not complain he just goes fishing and posts a fish report followed by a cooking report. What a great example!!!