Ron J
Active member
This story is about my Cousin Donnie,and his last Catch. My earliest memorys of my cousin,go back to the mid to late fifties.My Mother & Dad would visit my Aunt Dot,Uncle Pete,Cousins,Donnie,Diane and Debbie in Salem,Ma.,on a Friday or Sat.evening. My cousin Donnie was a couple yrs older,and made my brother Paul,and i feel special. My Uncle Pete died on a Christmaseve.unexpectedly. My cousins were maybe 10 to 12 yrs old! They had it rough. As Donnie got to be 13 or so,he started odd jobs.One of those jobs was working for my father,on his lobsterboat.My father taught him alot about the ocean and fishing. Donnie learned all the "hot" spots to fish between Salem and Gloucester Ma.during those years. Donnie had a great personality,always friendly and outgoing! When my brother Paul was 15 and gonna get his license,Donnie GAVE him,his 53 Mercury! How cool was that!! Donnie learned the carpentry trade,and became a contractor.He was also an avid hunter,traveled to different parts of the USA,even brought home a Grizz! That stuffed bear was his pride & joy! But he was still a true FISHERMAN. Always going after Tuna! Don't know the value today,but back in the late 80's or 90's,one could fetch 6 to 10 grand,before you hit the docks of Gloucester! My brothers and i have always had some type of boats.Paul= speed,Allen= fishing,me=pleasure.No fish allowed on my boats.You were more than welcome on board,but no fishing,go to the fishmarket! Just had no interest. In 1989 i purchased a 1yr old,21ft Larson,Cuddy. I would spend weekends cruising between Boston Harbor to Salisbury Beach,near Seabrook N.H. Started to go Whale Watching alot at Stellwagen Bank off Cape Ann,maybe 25 miles out. Everytime i brought friends out,we were always amazed at seeing the Whales.It was a real popular spot for the fishing boats of all sizes,mostly for Tuna. On one trip out to Stellwagen,I saw a real bright "Taxicab Yellow" 27' or so fishingboat,towing its lines,for Tuna. The skipper looked like my cousin,Light hair,weatherbeatin face,husky,but strong build.I cruised closer to see if it was him,or not.(hadn't seen him in a couple of yrs) Sure was!!! I pulled along side,he was just as surprised to see me out there!! Donnie was his joyful self,and we were both happy to see ech other!!Had a quick conversation,and left him to his trolling.. i continued WhaleWatching.. Next Winter,i came home for lunch,and Donnie was visiting my Father.(Dad lived with me after my Mom died) As usual,we were glad to see each other! First thing he mentioned was "You must be goodluck Ron! Right after you left me at Stellwagen,i got a Tuna,sold it for close to $9000.00" That was great,the money carred him thru the winter,when carpentry was dry. This happened in 1990 or 91. In 1993,i believe,i was visiting my Dad in the hospital.Arriving there,i met my brother, Allen,(the fisherman) and Donnie and his daughter Debbie were already visiting.Al and Donnie started talking fish,right off.Al was trying to "milk" Donnie for some fishing secrets,such as what Donnie use's for BAIT? "NO Way",replied Donnie,"WHAT ARE YOU CRAZY? NO WAY!!" He never did release that info. Debbie,(who is rather large,but very joyful,and always a barrel of laughs) starts telling us,how when she was trolling with her Dad,at Stellwagen,had to go potty! Well,its an open boat,so she grabbed the bucket,did her business,and threw it overboard.Like a good seaman,she leaned over the side,to wash out the bucket,but the bucket went to deep,and pulled her ovrboard!! HA! She then tells us,Donnie wouldn't stop,because he's still trolling,with lines way behind him,and tells Debbie,to swim away from his trolling lines,and don't tangle them up!!! Man!,we were all cracking up!!! Donnie told us it was no "Big DEAL" He plucked her out,after completing a large circle!! A true fisherman,letting his daughter paddle around in only 150/200 ft of ocean! That had to be a sight!! That was the last time i saw Donnie.the next year,he was at Stellwagen,and as he was pulling in his last catch,a TUNA,witness's saw him fall to the deck,as he was pulling the fish out of the water.Another fishing boat went over,to see what happened,found him dead on the deck.The Coast Guard,airlifted him,but to late.The coroner told his wife,he was dead,before he even hit the deck! His funeral was packed with people,he had alot of friends.I can still see that smiling,weatherbeatin face of his.He went out doing what he truly enjoyed,with that LAST CATCH!! RJ
