Are you ready for a happy New Year? Any kind of New Year will be an improvement, right? Surfcasting for striped bass was one of the few joys leading up to this crisis-tinged Christmas. And though the pandemic kept us apart, Big Brother Frank and I did our best to cast out our Christmas spirit and reel in this seasonal tradition. So with appropriate apologies to author Benjamin Hanby and singers Gene Autry and Kimberley Locke, we happily present the Fishmas Card of 2020. Wishing you all a safe and healthy and fishy new year. –Fred & Frank
OUT ON A SANDBAR
(To the tune of Up On The Housetop)
Out on a sandbar, cast, cast, cast
Old Saint Nick is after bass.
Fishin’ with LeeBob and wearin’ a mask
Plugging for keepers is Santa’s task.
Ho ho ho, Fred wants to go
Ho ho ho, Frank wants to go.
Out to Camp Hero with a 10-foot stick
Fishing Turtle Cove with Good Saint Nick.
First comes the lure bag of Billy Black
Santa fills it up when the tide goes slack.
Give him a lure that swims at night
One that’ll make the lunkers bite.
Ho ho ho, Randy wants to go
Ho ho ho, Charlie wants to go.
Up on the jetty with a Deadly Dick
Hooking up Alibes with good Saint Nick!
Lyrics by Fred & Frank Abatemarco; graphics by Chaweenie, Photos by St. Toni of the Blitz and The BW.