Week-ends, school holidays, summer break and with even more than a few truancies, I was just where I wanted to be. By cleaning the fish of the paying passengers, I received a few tips and was able to make a little money which paid for the bus ride to the docks and home. Forging my mothers signature and giving reasons for my school absences had become an art. I hoped they were not counting how many times my grandmother died. Neither the school or my Mom ever knew (or if they did, it wasn’t mentioned). Between this income and other odd jobs, I was able to buy an old car after getting my drivers license at 15 years old. By this time I knew many of the skippers and they knew me.

The Pierpoint Landing docks were going to close and the fishing boats were now mooring at Pacific Landing. A fishing boat Captain that allowed me passage for my help on his boat got me a job at the Gallagers Galley restaurant at the Pacific Landing docks. The restaurant catered to the all day fishermen who would arrive early and depart early before sunup, returning from their fishing trips at dinner time. From those early days, deep sea fishing was in my blood. No matter what my jobs were, I made time to take short or long range fishing trips when ever I could. At 18 years old, one of my fathers friends (Joe Lane) gave me a small fiberglass boat with a 35 horsepower outboard engine. It was not really suitable for navigating the high seas of the notorious Catalina Channel.

The “Big White Steamship” passenger boat left every morning for Catalina Island and returned every afternoon. By following in its wake, I was able to get to some of the best fishing areas. On the leeward side of Santa Catalina Island is a cove that was a good spot for white sea bass and yellow tail fishing. On one occasion after following the passenger ship to Avalon Harbor and then while keeping close to the shore, proceeded to the cove to fish. Later in the afternoon we returned back to Avalon Harbor to follow the large ship back. About half way back our engine died and we watched the the big white ship disappear. We had no lights, radio or any provisions. 2 days and nights later we were rescued by the Coast Guard about 50 miles south of where we started. It was a long wait and taught me a valuable lesson.