Ensenada - Hotel Coral and Marina

Hi from Ensenada

Just a note from Hotel Coral, where I happen to be today. The place is deserted of gringos. Wow. Not bad!

I want to make this a destination for Ramblin'. Diesel is approx $2.19 per us dollar per us gal. today. This is a terrific place to come to. It would be my most exotic port destanation.

Nice rooms and nice docks here at Hotel Coral. Spent part of yesterday at the pool and hot tub and games (Dennis is very good at Foosball) and relaxing. Then into town for dinner and a few beers at Husson's. Pappa's and Beer was deserted. Most of the town is vacant of tourists.

I'm here as Crew to help William bring his new boat up once unloaded off the transport ship that is due in later today. I'm feeling Fat and happy and relaxed. May have been the big breakfast and lots of jokes and the fact that
I'm not at work that is making me like today so much. He he he.

Wish us smooth sailing for the run up to SD and MDR today and tomorrow.

Keith L.

Nice Saturday social cruise

Trish and I had a few folks onto the Ramblin' for a little social cruise about Santa Monica Bay yesterday. Nice day. Good weather. the water could have been more flat but All was OK for the boaters who were along for the ride, libations, snacks and camaraderie.

Next trip... Not soon enough

Odd thing happened today... while on a business errand I found myself on the road behind a trash truck. Normally one would hurry around a diesel to get better air. I found myself noting the similarity of the odor with the good times out on my boat. So I did not pass it. Luckily it was a short ride to my next turn. (and the truck was newer or in good repair) But I see I need to get out and use the boat soon.

Nice Weekend in the MDR Halibut Derby

It happens... Fishing for a Halibut and not getting one. Our team of Tim S., Gary D., Dennis B., and I worked it all weekend. We fished very hard. Very early and until late both days. We worked it from Santa Monica to Malibu and back and back and back again. No luck on the flatties. We saw a few little fish and one big toad of a sand bass but the halibut eluded our team.

We fished Star of Scotland and Big Rock and Sealion mostly. Everything from 140 feet down to 23 feet. Tossed sardines, plastics, mackerel (that we jigged up) and even a tomcod. We bounce balled and live bait drifted. We tossed jigs and lead heads. There is not much more we can do.

But just the same we had a lot of fun in the MDR Halibut Derby. 2 full days of hard fishing out on the SM Bay with good friends and we all were blessed with really nice weather and really calm seas.

Sun screen was the important item in the Tackle Box. Plenty of cold beer helped to keep our spirits up. Then add in the antics of jokes and movie quotations from Dennis and Tim to keep us in stitches.

So, in the end, one fish wish was granted. We had a very fun weekend.

And the Awards party went well. Thanks to all the many Volunteers who produced the event! You gave us an excuse to get the boat in top condition for the fishing and boating to come.

I liked that the 3 top finalists ( who each landed fantastic fish ) got to pick if they wanted to go to Alaska for big Halibut or Canada for Salmon or East Cape Mexico for Marlin etc. It looked like they really liked that option. And it went in that order! Great Vacations.

To learn more about the derby prizes see www.HalibutDerby.com

Next year the derby will need to send a memo to the fish to show up earlier in the year so we can have more catching. There was a good batch of catching. Just not by us. As Dennis was fond of reminding us on our boat... "That's why they call it Fishing!" See the photos on the MDRAnglers.com site for the fish caught.

Congrats to those lucky anglers. It was tough fishing for the rest of us. But
very fun.

Thanks again to my team for your fun company.

Keith
Ramblin'

April Fools - On Me! I got Hooked and Reeled in!

My brother got me!

From: Carl Lambert
Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 4:21 PM
To: 'David Fine'
Subject: RE: Flag...
I just called Bruce at the Tuna Club to inform him that I caught the first Tuna this morning out of San Diego.
…

Just believable enough... There has been a lot of talk about First Marlin and First Tuna boat flags of late. His boat is docked in San Diego. He was missing this weekend. I got Had. Carl suckered me hook, line and sinker. Dang I must be taking this fishing thing way to serious! LOL

And… At the Halibut Derby sign up I also got had by Bob Kissling when he told me that the club has stopped buying the first fish flags as they are too expensive.

Doooh! Cheers to both of you. And hoping you all have a laugh.

Sincerely,
Fish for brains, Keith <"><



PS – Looking forward to having a lot of fun in the Halibut Derby this weekend. Hope to see some of you out there on the bay this weekend. see MDRHaliutDerby

Fish Wish of the MV Ramblin’ is at least One Really Big Fish for team Ramblin'.