Opening day

OPENING DAY LOBSTER SEASON

Lost in the Fog 

         Dale Ball was one of the 3 coxswains that acted as skipper aboard the 41 ft search and rescue US Coast Guard vessels that I served as deck hand. Along with an Machinists mate, the 3 man crews operated search and rescue missions in and around the Channel Islands. Dale was also a sport diver, and when I showed up with all my dive gear asking questions, Dale was happy to inform me that the Channel Islands had some of the best diving in the world. He also had a little Avon inflatable raft and he was glad to have a dive buddy. He had also just purchased a 19 ft radon type boat that George Hawkins a local urchin diver had built. It had a little 4 cylinder volvo gas engine, that could get up on a plane.

       Well I had made several sport dive trips in the inflatable with Dale . One to Rincon oil Island and one to county line in front of Neptunes Net. One day Dale said he wanted to take his little boat to Anacapa Island on opening day for lobster season. I was eager to join him and we set off on sun-up on opening day. Conditions were favorable and Frenchys cove was only 12 miles from the harbor and were anchored up in Frenchys, a little over an hour later. Dale said just go in tight, and look in the little caves that were formed up against the rocky shore. I swam in and dove down about 20 ft and the lobsters were everywhere. Once I started grabbing for them, the little buggers were shooting across my face mask and every where. I had 7, which was the sport limit in no time and so did Dale.

        We were happy on the way back until the fog set in. We had no radar so when we got close we shut down the motor and listened for the fog horn....back and forth we went searching for a glimpse of the breakwater. We heard the fog horn but by the time I spotted a surfer in the line-up our fuel ran out. It was more than a little embarrassing to have to call the Coast Guard on the radio to come rescue us lost in the fog and out of fuel. Nobody really noticed as 2/3 rds of one of the Coast Guard rescue crews was towed in by the same 41 footer we both stood duty on performing rescues...but we had a lobster feast that night and laughed about it.