Fall days in Stuart

Isn't much like fall at all. It's been 90+ here for the last week and there's no end in sight. We're not complaining because whatever the weather's doing is keeping the hurricanes from forming. That's a really, really good thing. 2 more weeks to go till the official end of hurricane season; which also means the beginning of tourist season. Already we are seeing lots of Canadian flags flying. The fall brings the migration of snowbirds.

Speaking of migrations... We stepped out the back door of the boat Saturday and were very surprised to see a swarm of bees had decided Istaboa was a good place to hang out.

They hung around on the deck for a while then decided the kayaks on the upper deck was a better site for their plans. My Pop was a hobbyist bee keeper for a while when I was a kid so I had seen this type of thing before. They are pretty much harmless at this stage unless threatened. So keeping with our, "friends of honest and harmless creatures attitude", we let them be. (no pun intended)

We are hoping they soon find a better place to do their thing or we must have them removed by a bee keeper. They are in short supply these days, for some reason, and we understand they are quite important partners in the local agriculture industry.
But, we don't think they'll enjoy going to sea. So, bees, be gone!

The days are hot but, in the end, we're rewarded with some beautiful fall sunsets.

Adios,

Istaboa

Update: The Stew Fish Repsipee

It was excellent.

Tings to do wit fish

Today I was on the internet looking for an authentic Bahamian Stew Fish recipe and I came across this on a message board. Truly authentic Bahamian narrative that led me to, what we hope will be, a great recipe.

I carn fin it man. I need it soon terreckly hear.
Da stew fish recipe can be found here:

http://bahamasissues.com/showpost.php?p=274582&postcount=2
Enjoy!

How come a matoor Bahamian woman needin dis "foreign" Bahamian's stew fish repsipee entyways? Tings dat make you go hmmmmmmmmm!

The repsipee:


Stewed Fish

2 lb Fish of your choice
2 Limes
Pinch Thyme
1 Sweet pepper (chopped)
2 tbsp Flour
½ tsp Salt
1 Onion (chopped)
1 rib Celery (chopped)
2 Hot peppers
2 lg Tomatoes (chopped)
1 tsp Sugar
Oil for frying fish

1. Wash and season fish with hot pepper, salt and limejuice. Fry fish in hot oil until nearly cooked.
2. Remove fish from pan. Fry onion, sweet pepper and celery for 5 mins. Add tomatoes cook 2 mins.
3. In a separate pot, brown the flour over a gentle heat, stirring continuously until dark brown but not burnt.
4. Add flour to tomatoes and mix well, add thyme, hot pepper, sugar and salt, stir together. Gradually add 4 C water, bring to the boil. Add fish, cover pot and simmer for 15 mins.
5. Serve with Johnny cake or sweet potato bread.


will let you know the outcome soon.


Adios,


Istaboa

Gone fishin' part 2

It was a beautiful morning, though the "red sky at morn" thing was in the back of my mind. The winds were light and the run out to sea was smooth as glass.

With the sun coming up on our bow and the moon going down on our stern we made way out the cut and started fishing for bait.

Waterspout as the sun rises.

Then out a few miles in the ocean we spotted a waterspout. It seemed to be heading away from us so, no big deal.

We had a tough time catching bait but finally did put a a few Cigar Minnows and Sardines in the bucket.

Turned out to be a very interesting day of fishing. We added it up and we had caught 11 different species of fish... including 2 different kinds of sharks. But we were after Black Sea Bass.

Rock Fish? ... very peculiar what ever it is.

Our first drop and we found them. We caught them by the dozens but returned most because of size. They are really a delicious fish. A few Vermilion Snapper, a few Black Sea Bass, and a nice Strawberry Grouper made for a nice catch, all before noon.

We love these little Bass and Snapper but they are a chore to clean.

But clean them you must. Pull up a bucket, grab a knife and a cold beer, and get to work. The fruits of our labor proved to be delicious and well worth the effort. We are still eating them... never freeze good fish. Eat till they're gone.

Another good day amongst many.

Adios,


Istaboa

R.I.P. Captain Ben Buchanan

With much sadness we post... We have lost a very good friend.
We will always remember Ben, on the dock, waving with a smile, and a twinkle in his eye as we returned from our many trips up the river. He was always as interested in the tales of our travels as we were his and Sadie's.
He and Sadie were probably our only friends that truly understood why we do, what we do.
Though a very fine and talented surgeon in his earlier years, I think he may have been proudest of his days at sea aboard his beloved boat, "Lady Sadie".
We will miss Ben very, very much.

Adios, my friend.

Istaboa