Coon and Dumplins

On another of their adventures, they were invited to eat aboard a launch with an older fisherman.  They had been fishing fairly close to where he was anchored and could smell whatever he had been cooking most all day and it smelled so good! 

They were delighted when he invited them to eat supper with him.  Their bowls were served and they began to eat.  Chuck commented on how good it tasted and asked, “What’s this stuff we’re eating?”

Coon & Dumplins

He told them it was coon and dumplins.  It was so delicious, and the next time they camped out they decided to cook one for themselves. 

They went hunting for a coon with memories of that delectable meal they had eaten still fresh in their minds.

Big Raccoon

Most folks always think bigger is better, and they were no different. They killed the biggest boar coon they could find.  They dressed him out and cut him up and put him in a big pot to boil, and when he started boiling he started stinking. 

The longer he boiled the worse he stunk.  They finally threw the pot, with coon and all overboard just to get rid of the stink.

Had they bothered to ask the man anything about how to prepare one I’m sure he would have told them to first remove the musk glands. 

I’m also sure he would have told them to choose a young one that would be tender when it cooked down to a stew.  But now the dish they had looked forward to eating, with their taste buds salivating was on the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico.  But they still had to scrounge up something to eat.  Most likely they ate an old stand-by, crackers and canned beanie weenies.

Cedar Key is rich with history, and superstition, folk lore and ghost stories.  Quite a few who have made their living fishing the waters around the islands at night can tell you some tales! 

One night when Chuck, Kenny  and Joe were out fishing, they came around the point of Piney Point, where the Lewis airstrip is, and has been located since WW II, and headed up into the creek.

They intended to fish the creek; throw their let-er-go (a 4’ to 5’ heavy pole that is weighted at one end with lead or concrete, it is attached to one end of the net, the heavy end sinks and anchors the net in place), and run their net out to make a strike, they could hear the fish jumping clearly. 

A Ghost

As they rounded the point they could see a very dim light and heard a mournful moaning sound. And they just knew they were about to have an encounter with one of Cedar Key’s many ghosts.  Kenny was poling and Chuck told him to push on up there and see what it was. 

 The three of them were scared half to death at the prospect of meeting a ghost.  Chuck said, “Kenny just push on up there, I want to find out what it is.”  Very slowly he pushed forward.

The wailing, moaning sounds continued, wooooo, ooooeee, wooooo!  When they finally got close enough to see the outline of a boat they knew it was somebody in pain and needing help. 

Kerosene Lantern

Big Blue Cab

They pushed on up, and come alongside.  Chuck held up their lantern and there was Raymo Wadley, sitting on his middle boat seat, and on the seat in front of and facing him, sat a big Blue jimmy crab that had him by the pointer finger on each hand.

"Hold still Raymo and I'll bust him with this Catfish Billie", Raymo moaned through clenched teeth, "Ooooh noooo Wart, he'll clamp down and cut my fingers off."

Catfish Billie

“Raymo we gotta bust him to get him off, there just ain’t no other way!”

Raymo said, “You know, they say if one ever gits ahold’a you, to hold him overboard and he’ll let go, but that ain’t true, if it was this son-uva-gun’ud be drowned by now.” 

“How’d he get you by two fingers like that Raymo”?  “Well, when I’uz trying to take him outta the net, first he got me by one finger with both claws ‘n’ I’uz trying to git him off with the other hand, but he out smarted me and let go with one claw and grabbed my finger on the other hand.  And I’ve tried ever thing!” “Ooweeee!”

“I held him overboard awhile, and then I tried to git my foot up to stomp him, but ever time I move a little bit he just clamps down harder. 

I wuz thinking next about biting him right in the face, but I’uz scared he might turn loose my fingers and git me in the eyes and blind me then I’d really be in a fix. It’s a good thing you boys come along when you did, to hep me out.”

Whap!  Raymo let out a blood curdling scream!  During the conversation Chuck had concentrated on the best position for the best shot.  The crab did tighten his grip on Raymo’s fingers but didn't cut them off as Raymo had feared. 

They had to pry the claws off his fingers with the pliers.  And even though his two fingers were cut to the bone he was a happy man to be rid of that big blue jimmy crab!

To be continued