Puffer-Fish Man

The Bogue Inlet Fishing Pier, is on a 21 mile barrier island , located in the town of Emerald Isle.  This barrier island is often referred to here as "the island" or the "Southern Outer Banks".   I walk the many beaches of the island almost daily. On our third day in North Carolina, we decided to check out the Pier.

 http://www.newvisionbuilders.com/wherearewe.html

There were both fishermen, and women, lining both sides of the pier, of all ages, races and socio-economic levels. But all were strangely "in-tune" with each other, conversing, telling fish tales, etc.  Must be a spirituality to fishing, that binds and ties.

Quit a few "Skeet" on the line, like the one below. Yes, I thought it was a sting ray also. But a fisherman resembling the Gortons Fisherman, haha, educated me. "This here is a SKEET", he said as he held the creatures tail with a pair of pliers. "I don't eat em".

We had a wonderful conversation with an old, toothless, black fisherman, who urged us to check out his newly caught puffer fish. I obliged reluctantly. Pufferfish man poetically informed us, that greedy fishing, is not good fishing. He said "I takes what I needs and no more". He said he always thanks God and the Sea for his "gifts" (dinner for the night), because God and the Sea..dont "owe" us. What a concept. We all want more and more, always expecting to have what we want, instead of being thankful for what is given unto our needs. We could all learn a lot from this man. I think I will most definitely dedicate a chapter in my book to PufferFish Man. He was a very wise soul.

the Puffer