Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Joe and Mina take limit of big ones

Our dear neighbors, Joe and Mina, spent their careers in and about San Francisco. They often fished the ocean in big party boats. They have since retired to Minnesota, but they still love the challenge of big fish and the big water. Last week they chartered a Lake Michigan boat captained by a grizzled veteran who promised they'd catch their limits. They did. Yesterday they returned to Shakopee with about 100 pounds of beautiful salmon, fresh and ready to eat.

Mina gave Stan a slab last night and he's already into it, grilling his first chunk for about 10 minutes, skin-on, salt, pepper and a bit of lemon. MMM. More tonight.

The 80-something Captain Ozzie was very strict, Mina said, meticulous, experienced and remarkably spry. No jolly soul, he redefines the term "tight ship." But Joe and Mina got into the spirit, rose at 3 a.m., took their orders, kept their tips up and caught their limits. Thrilled, they vow to return to cantankerous Ozzie's vessel next year.

Other boats caught a mere one or two salmon. Joe and Mina got spectacular results that will be shared with the neighbors on the tarmac this August.