I fell in love with Gyotaku as a way to feel that same momentary connection you feel when you feel the line of your fishing rod thump, jerk, and shake like a zap of electricity and sometimes raw majestic power. It’s a method of preserving and sharing memories, stories, and the call to be responsible stewards of the land and water around us that ultimately sustains us.
I remember soaking stinky baits for catfish in public and private ponds and lakes after dark. The other part that was almost as good as hooking into a fish was how good it felt to unplug, be present, and soak up the sights, sounds, and the living world around me. It felt good to sit with friends and vent to get the pressures of daily living off our chests for a moment. Sometimes the best thing was the silent comradery, kicking back, and watching the scenery like it was a scene in our life’s movie.
Moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 2007 to go to Salisbury University where I ultimately graduated with a BS in Environmental Studies with a minor in Business Management. My junior year a local organic farmer came to speak to one of our classes, and I knew 10 minutes into his presentation/conversation with us that this was someone who I needed to learn from. At the time he was in a sling recovering from right shoulder rotator cuff surgery. So, after class I asked if I could help out if he was willing to teach me anything about growing food.
The first time I went to visit Jay Martin’s farm, that man had me pull weed grass from the nearest garden (which I later found out was reserved for the produce that had the highest profit margin per square footage). I pulled weed grass until he told me to stop. I think he was testing me to see if I had enough grit to potentially try farming.
I worked for him for 3-4 years and I learned so much about how to grow food and what it took to tend to living beings that you know you or someone will be eating in a few months, days, hours. Those experiences gave me a deep understanding and appreciation for our food and the respect of life.
The Eastern Shore has been sustaining and providing abundance sustenance for communities of people for centuries and I’ve always wanted to learn more about it so I can live in synchronicity with it. Gyotaku is a way for me to continue that connection I feel with the water after I’m back on land. Basically, when I’m not fishing, I’m obviously thinking about fishing.
Catfishing and bass fishing in freshwater ponds was my usual go to. I’d hit any chance I could to stash the Old Towne Canoe in the truck bed, throw the backpack full of tackle (most of which I’d never use) in the back, and dip out.
I’d been brushing up on my YouTube videos learning about saltwater fishing and trying to wrap my head around how to fish the rivers and bays, just longing to learn how to access them and how to catch fish that I could eat instead of catch and release all the time.
Finally worked up the courage to take the canoe and gear to Roaring Point in Nanticoke, Maryland and I didn’t check the wind, didn’t check tides, didn’t do anything but drive 45 minutes and hope, I guess. Hope is not a plan.
The wind was blowing, it was a wind against tide situation which made for a real sketch day for a paddle. As I’m unloading in the parking lot, this young dude with his Corgi dog pull up and park. Dude asks if I wanted a hand with the canoe to get it down to the beach and steadily tried to convince me that it was too dangerous to go out and that I should fish with him.
I said nah, thanks but I’m giving this a go. Best worst idea ever. I got my ass handed to me and was being blown all over the place getting tossed around by the competing winds and tide. By divine guidance the water pushed me right where dude and his Corgi were.
Todd, Scarlet, and I ended up getting our limit of Rockfish and he ultimately helped me carry the canoe back to the parking lot. Since then, we’ve been great friends.
I’ve learned, and continue to learn so much from folks like Captain Todd Bellamy of FishPit Charters, Jimmy Marvel of Honest Oysters of Maryland, and so many different folks who’ve woven the water into their way of life.
I hope you enjoy my “Heart” work, it’s my way of being present to internalize the moment and memory of that experience on the water and share it. These are real things that deserve to be remembered and talked about with others.
If you’ve ever felt a moment that you wish you could’ve bottled up, to save and have forever, so you could always vividly remember how you felt; where you were, who you were with, and everything about it…Welcome to Eastern Shore Gyotaku.
I know that feeling, yes, I know it very well.
Gyotaku is my way of saving and sharing, expressing, and communicating these special moments as well as the culture of our community.
“Very little is needed to make a happy life; it is all within yourself, in your way of thinking.” -Marcus Aurelius
