OctoberFeast

October is mullet roe month, with those huge female red roe mullet. Males are smaller, with white roe. We seem to have a spawning ground in the little “protected” area that is our front yard now. Large mullet jump evenings and mornings. About sunup today two different small boats drifted through with someone standing in the bow scanning the bottom and then casting the net for its circular drop. Lead weights in the rim drop the ring straight to the bottom then, as the fisherman pulls the net up, the lead weights drag in along the bottom and close so that nothing escapes. 

Now the birds – first a large flock of what may be cormorants flying in, landing and floating. They dive, seemingly as if on cue, the whole flock disappears at once, then all pop to the surface simultaneously. Float, dive, surface. Float, dive, surface, float. Evidently noticing them, a bunch of pelicans arrive, circle, and splash down clumsily amongst them. Seagulls overhead joining in the fun of the feast. The attraction has got to be mullet, perhaps eggs, maybe even spawnlings.

Haven't had mullet in a couple of weeks, maybe a month, got to get some. We don't fry, we cook them either braised in a pan, or in the oven, or out here on the electric grill. There is no better taste.

Mullet and hot black coffee.

There's another fisherman now, alone in his small boat, but he's not casting for mullet, he's checking his traps for crabs.

If, as I suspect, this is my only chance for heaven, no matter; I'm good.

Thos+