Happy New Year♥!　6

【A message for golf and baseball lovers!】

Act 6 [Yeltsin] Jin, the grandfather of Gantan and father of Gen-san, a master carpenter, has a hobby of fishing. First, they went to an artificial pond near their house to fish for crucian carp. Watching the colorful float floating alone in the tranquil, waveless, mirror-like pond makes you feel sleepy. It's a very elegant way to spend time. The float twitches, and Jin suddenly looks serious as he timed it, and the fishing pole bends like a bow. Jin immediately takes a scooping net in his left hand, and a crucian carp covered in silver scales is drawn into the net. He removes the hook, puts the crucian carp he caught in the net he has at hand, attaches a kneaded potato dumpling to the hook, and repeats the elegant time of watching the float. One Sunday,"Gantan, should I invite Hapi-chan to go fishing?""Yes, let's go."Neither Gantan nor Hapi-chan were particularly interested in fishing, but the instant wonton noodles made for 200 yen at the fishing pond management hut were very tasty, so they often went along with him. Fishing was just staring at the float, which was very boring, so they quickly got bored of it, and while the two of them were running around the pier of the fishing pond, chasing each other, Grandpa Jin-san got angry at them. "Hey, Gantan, if you're too noisy, you won't catch any fish, and it's dangerous!" Gantan turned around and fell into the fishing pond.Jin-san was surprised, and the man at the fishing hut threw him a lifebuoy with a rope attached, and Gantan clung to it. Gantan, completely soaked, somehow managed to escape, and Jin-san apologized profusely to the man at the hut. After that, Jin-san was banned from the fishing pond. Undaunted, Jin bought a fishing rod and reel for sea fishing and switched to sea fishing. He is so skilled that he threads the line through the hook and makes his own fishing tackle, instead of buying commercial tackle. At first, he fished for horse mackerel and mackerel from the breakwater, and then used a weighted line to cast from the beach to catch sillago and flounder. After a while, he was taken by ferry to an uninhabited island offshore, where he became obsessed with catching big porgy such as black porgy and black sea bream. Unlike a fishing pond, when the waves crash against the rocks, the waves move violently. It is very hard to see the float that sways between the waves, and it is hard to tell if the float that sinks slightly is a fish biting the bait or rising and falling with the waves, so Jin is very serious about it. He doesn't have many chances, and if he catches two or three big fish a day, he is lucky, and there are many days when he doesn't catch a fish. The boatman who runs the ferry business makes a fish print of the fish he catches. When Jin came home with the fish and the fish print, he said proudly,"I caught one!"He immediately cleaned it in the sink in the back and shared the fresh black porgy sashimi with everyone."Natsu-chan, take this!""Thank you as always!"The black porgy sashimi was crunchy and very delicious. One summer vacation, Gantan and Hapi were taken on a fishing trip on the rocks for the first time. Gantan, who has a criminal record, was told many things to be careful of by Jin. Gantan and Hapi got into the back seat of the car driven by Jin and set off in the middle of the night. The car drove for more than three hours to Wakayama. Both of them were sleeping soundly in the back seat, breathing quietly. On the way, they stopped at a roadside station for a break and arrived at a shop selling bait. Gantan and Hapi both woke up. When they entered the shop, there were many fishermen wearing orange life jackets, even though it was midnight. It was a specialty store that also sold fishing equipment and tackle. Jin bought some krill to attract fish, and some turban shells and shrimp for bait, and got in the car. When we arrived at the ferry terminal, we slept in the car until dawn. When the alarm went off at 5am, everyone got up and lined up at the ferry terminal. About eight fishermen were already lined up, chattering away, planning to catch a big fish. Jin's face was red from sea tanning, and his hair was completely white. His fellow fishermen called him Yeltsin. He was well built and looked like the president of Russia at the time. "Yeltsin's here! Hey, you've brought your grandchild today! Be careful because the rocks are dangerous." It was still dark all around. The boatman lent us a child's life jacket.Gantan, we were given cardboard boxes filled with krill and everyone got on the fishing boat. The smell of diesel made us feel a little sick. As the fishing boat departed, the sea breeze felt so good on my face. The eastern sky brightened and the sun began to rise. What a beautiful sunrise.The sky changed from navy blue to orange, and as the sun rose, the sky turned a deep blue.It was the first time I'd ever seen a sunrise like this. After rocking for about 20 minutes, we arrived at our destination, an uninhabited island. There were several islands, and fishermen got off one after another. When we reached the rocks, the boatman adjusted the boat to the ebb and flow of the waves and moved it closer to the rocks where it was easier to get off. With excellent maneuvering, he brought the boat closer to the rocks as the waves were crashing in on the rocks. As the rubber tires on the front of the boat rubbed against the rocks, the fishermen hobbled down to the island. It was amazing teamwork. The fishermen, one by one, carried cases full of fishing rods, coolers, krill, and bait on their shoulders as they crossed to the rocks. Only Jin and we remained on the boat. Jin asked the boatman to take us to a relatively safe rocky shore, and we arrived at a large uninhabited island that looked like a jungle. Since I had seen how everyone got to the rocky shore, I was able to get down to the rocky shore relatively easily. Apparently the boatman would bring lunch boxes to each rocky shore at lunchtime."I wonder if the now commonplace delivery services Uber Eats and Demae-kan started here,"Hapi thought.Jin quickly got ready and started throwing krill into a plastic ladle-like thing at the point. It seemed like the blue sea had turned black with the shadows of fish, as if fish had come near. He threw a fishing tackle with a float into it. He was good at it. The bait was slices of turban shell, a favorite food of black porgy. "That's a luxurious fish. I love grilled turban shells," said Gantan. We were given a child's fishing rod with four hooks attached. There was a safe spot between two rocks a little distance from Jin's place, and beyond that was a stretch of pure white sand where you could swim. We promised to play within Jin's sight, and he brought us to the rocks, so we kept our promise. It was exciting, like we were camping on a deserted island. The ocean with the waves crashing in was cobalt blue, and schools of fish were clearly visible in the clear water. The way Jin taught us to fish was to attach a 5cm basket about 80cm above the four hooks to hold paste dumplings. You put potato dumplings mixed with rice bran into the basket. When you drop the rod in the sea, a school of fish will surge towards the melted paste, and the clear cobalt blue sea will turn pitch black. When you raise the rod, the fish will get caught on one of the four hooks, and you'll be caught. It was surprisingly easy to catch fish, and there were almost no misses. The most common fish caught are 10cm-long chariko (baby sea bream), but occasionally we catch 20cm-long filefish (hage). Chariko has many small bones, but it is said to be delicious when boiled. Hage has a very light white flesh that is delicious when skinned and eaten in a hotpot with ponzu sauce."Grandpa, it's okay if you don't catch anything! I'll catch the fish for dinner tonight!"Grandpa was laughing. After catching a lot of fish in the cooler, I got bored, so I changed into my swimsuit and swam on the sand with my life jacket on. Grandpa said,"Swim as far as your feet can reach! You'll be swept out to sea, so be careful!""Okay!"After swimming for about an hour, the boatman brought us lunch. Lunch on the rocks is extremely delicious.It was a simple bento with salted rice balls, pickles, and rolled egg, but it ranked among the bentos I've ever eaten. ★★★★★After lunch, we explored the deserted island, and time flew by. Grandpa only caught two sea bream less than 30 cm long. It seems that you have to go to more dangerous rocky areas to catch black porgy. When the boatman and other fellow anglers came to pick us up in the evening, they saw the fish in the cooler and praised us as masters of fishing. We arrived home on Gantan with a proud look on our faces. The two of us slept soundly in the car on the way home.

　

act6【エリツィン】

元旦のおじいちゃんで、大工棟梁の元さんのお父さんの仁さんの趣味は釣り。

最初は家の近くにあるへらぶな釣りの人工池に行っていた。

のどかな波一つ無い鏡のような池にポツンと浮かぶカラフルな浮きを眺めていると眠たくなって来る。

とても優雅な時間の過ごし方だ。

浮きがピクッと動き、仁さんは急に真剣な眼差しでタイミングを合わせると、釣り竿は弓の様にしなった。

仁さんは、すぐさま左手でスクイ網を持つと銀色のウロコをまとったフナがスクイ網に導かれる。

針をはずし、手元の捕獲網に釣ったフナを入れて、又練った芋団子を針に付けると浮きを眺める優雅な時間の繰り返し。

ある日曜日、

「元旦、ハピちゃん誘って釣りに行くか?」

「うん、行く」

元旦も、ハピも釣りにはあまり興味が無かったが、釣り池を管理する小屋で200円でこしらえてくれるインスタントのワンタン麺がとても美味しくて、よく付いていった。

釣りは浮きをじっと眺めているのが、退屈すぎて直ぐに飽きてしまい、2人で追いかけっこしながら釣り堀の桟橋を走り廻っているとおじいちゃんの仁さんに怒られた。

「コラッ元旦、うるさくすると魚釣れんし、危ないぞ!」

後ろを振り向いた元旦が、ドッボ~ン。

釣り池にはまってしまった。

仁さんは驚き、釣り小屋のおじさんがロープの着いた浮輪を投げて元旦は浮輪にしがみついた。

全身ずぶ濡れの元旦は、何とか助かり、仁さんは、小屋のおじさんに平謝り。

それから仁さんは、釣り堀を出入り禁止になってしまった。

めげない仁さん、海釣り用の竿やリールを購入して海釣りに転向した。

売っている仕掛けを買わず、針に自分でハリスの糸をくぐり、自分で仕掛けを作るぐらい、器用だ。

最初は防波堤で、アジやサバを釣ったり、砂浜で重りのついた投釣りでキスやカレイ等。

暫くして渡船で沖の無人島迄乗せてもらい、グレやチヌ（黒ダイ）の大物に夢中になった。

釣り堀と違って波が岩に押し寄せるとザッブ～ンと波の動きが激しい。

波の間に間に揺れ動く浮きはとても見にくくて、微妙に沈む浮きは魚が餌に喰らいついているのか、波で上下しているのか解りづらく、仁さんは真剣そのもの。

何度もチャンスはなく、1日２，３匹の大物が釣れれば良い方で、ボウズの日もよくある。

釣った魚は渡船業を営む船頭さんが魚拓を取ってくれる。

魚と魚拓を持って家に帰って来ると仁さんは得意げに

「釣れたど~」

早速裏のシンク台で捌き、新鮮なチヌのお刺身をお裾分け。「夏ちゃん、これ持って行きや!」

「いつもおおきに!」

チヌのお刺身はコリコリしてとても美味しかった。

ある夏休み元旦とハピは初めて磯釣りに連れて行ってもらう事になった。

前科がある元旦は仁さんから色々と注意事項を聞かされている。

仁さんが運転する車の後ろの席に元旦とハピが乗り込み、夜中に出発した。

車は、和歌山迄３時間以上走る。

後ろのシートでは、2人とも静かな寝息をたてて、グッスリ眠っていた。

途中、道の駅で休憩して餌を売っているお店に到着。

元旦もハピも目が覚めた。

お店に入ると真夜中なのに、たくさんのオレンジ色の救命着を着た釣り人が居た。

釣り道具や仕掛けも売っている専門店だ。

仁さんは魚を引き寄せるオキアミとエサ用のサザエやエビを買って車に乗り込んだ。

渡船場に着くと夜が明けるまで車の中で一眠り。

朝5時目覚ましが鳴ると、皆んな起きて渡船場の船着き場に並ぶ。

すでに８人程の釣り人が並んでワイワイガヤガヤ大物を釣る計画をしている。

顔が海やけで真っ赤、髪が真っ白の仁さんは釣り人仲間からエリツィンと呼ばれている。

体格の良い仁さんは当時のロシアの大統領に似ていた。

「エリツィンが来た、よう、今日は孫連れて来たのか!磯は危ないから気を付けなよ」

まだ周りは薄暗い。

船頭のおじさんが子供用の救命着を貸してくれた。

元旦は、オキアミの入ったダンボールの箱を持たされ、皆んな漁船に乗り込んだ。

ディーゼル油の臭い匂いがして少し気分が悪くなった。

漁船が出発すると潮風が顔に当たってとても気持ちが良い。

東の空が明るくなって来て朝日が昇りだした。

とても、綺麗な朝焼けだ。

紺色からオレンジに変わって太陽が昇りきると真っ青な青空に変わった。

こんな朝日を見るのは初めてだ。

20分ほど揺られて目的地の無人島に到着。

島は幾つかあって、次々と釣り人が降りて行く。

磯に着くと船頭さんは波の満ち引きに合わせて船を磯の降りやすい所へ近づける。

バツグンの操縦で波が磯に押し寄せる時に船を磯に近づけた。船の先頭に付いたゴムタイヤが磯にコスって近づくとヒョイヒョイと釣り人が島に降り着いた。

見事な連携プレイだ。

釣り人は釣り竿の入ったケースやクーラーボックス、オキアミや餌を肩一杯に担いで1人、2人と磯に渡って行った。

船に残ったのは仁さんと私達だけになった。

仁さんは比較的安全な磯に行く様、船頭さんにお願いして私達は、ジャングルみたいな大きな無人島にたどり着いた。

皆んなの磯に渡る要領を見ていたので、比較的簡単に、磯に降りることが出来た。

お昼に船頭さんがお弁当を各磯迄持って来てくれるらしい。

「今当たり前のウーバーイーツや出前館のデリバリーはここから始まったのかな、」

ハピは、ふと思った。

仁さんは早速支度をしてポイントにオキアミをプラスチックのひしゃくみたいな物に入れて投げている。

魚が寄って来たのか青い海が魚影で黒くなった気がした。

そこに浮きの付いた仕掛けを放り込む。

上手いものだ。

餌はチヌの好物のサザエの切り身、

「贅沢な魚やな～サザエのつぼ焼き僕大好物や」

元旦が言った。

私達は子供用の釣り竿に4本の針が付いた仕掛けの道具を渡された。

仁さんの所から少し離れた岩場と岩場の間に安全なポイントがあって、その先は真っ白な砂浜が続き、泳ぐことも出来る。

仁さんの目が届く所で遊ぶ事を約束して、磯に連れて来てもらったので、私達はその約束を守った。

まるで無人島に、キャンプに来たみたいでワクワクした。

波が押し寄せる海はコバルトブルーで透明な海水に魚の群れがはっきり見える。

仁さんに教えられた釣り方は4本の針の80センチ程上に練り団子を入れる5センチ程のカゴが付いている。

そのカゴに米ぬかを混ぜた芋団子を入れる。

海にポチャンと付けると解けた練り団子に魚の群れが押し寄せ、透明なコバルトブルーの海が真っ黒に変わる。

そこで竿を上げると魚が4本の針のどれかに引っかかり、釣れるという物だった。

面白い様に簡単に釣れる、ハズレはほとんど無い。

良く釣れるのは、10センチ程のチャリコ（タイの子供）だが、たまに、20センチ近くもあるハゲ（カワハギ）が釣れる。チャリコは小骨が多いが煮付けで食べると美味しいらしい。

ハゲは皮を剥いで鍋でポン酢と食べるととても淡白な白身で美味しい。

「おじいちゃん、ボウズでもいいよ!今晩の夕食の魚は僕が釣るからね!」

おじいちゃんは笑っていた。クーラーボックスに一杯釣るとさすがに飽きて来たので、水着に着替えて救命具を着けたまま砂浜で泳いだ。

おじいちゃんが

「足の届く所で泳ぐんやで!沖に流されるから気付けや!」

と言った。

「わかった!」

1時間程泳ぐと船頭さんがお弁当を持って来た。磯で食べるお弁当はバツグンに美味しい。

塩おにぎりと漬物、卵焼きの単純なお弁当だけど、今まで食べたお弁当の中でもランキング上位だ。★★★★★

お昼からは無人島を探検したりして、あっと言う間に時間が過ぎた。

おじいちゃんの釣果は、30センチ未満のグレが２匹だけだった。

チヌはもっと危険な磯に行かないと釣れないようだ。

夕方お迎えに来た船頭のおじさんや他の釣り人仲間達は、クーラーボックスの中に入った一杯の魚を見て、釣りの名人と褒めてくれた。

元旦は得意げな顔をして、帰宅に付いた。

帰りの車の中では、2人は、爆睡でした。