OUTDOORS WITH PETER YOUNG

Sometime during the never-ending inquisitional search for article topics that is an integral part of any freelance writer's life, it was suggested by a fellow compatriot that someone should comment on the offshore itch that never ceases to come out of hiding around this time of year.

Common symptoms of the afflicted can include, but are not limited to: Obsessive weather monitoring, constant or compulsive discourse involving offshore fishing, frequent trips to check the jetties, anger at the weather, wind, or just plain grouchiness while around the dock. While the only obvious cure for this ailment is to take the patient to the nearest worthy vessel and administer offshore fishing of any kind, this treatment is not always available due to adverse weather conditions or any number of logistical reasons. Fortunately, there are other treatments that can alleviate the suffering for those who spend eight months of every year waiting for a certain four.

Looking at other people's boats, or looking at boats for sale, is a great way for those with ample means to relieve some of the springtime offshore stress. For a number of others, including your faithful correspondent, this activity, while enjoyable, serves as more of a wakeup call from reality, than an actual cure. It should be noted, however, that since offshore boats come in all shapes, sizes and price ranges, there is something to be said for this sympathetic scratching. For those who may be interested, the Texas International Boat show is this Thursday through Sunday, April 26-29, at the Corpus Christi downtown marina.

Thanks to Al Gore and the advent of the Internet, another means of relief, no matter how temporary, can be found by checking out what the Web has to offer. There are vast numbers of Web sites out there dedicated to fishing and boating of all kinds. With the information available, one can browse through pages and pages of sites that cover everything from buying a boat to how to rig terminal tackle for specific types of fishing. Besides corporate sites that actually sell material over the Internet, there are a large number of sites dedicated to question and answer forums about engine repair, mechanics, reel repair, tactics, or simply chatting about fishing. It was recently brought to my attention that one of the docks here in Port Aransas even has a Web cam dedicated to their fish rack that is updated every 10 seconds or so.

Some of the more practical applications of all these excessive thoughts about fishing involve actually applying some of this mental energy to your fishing equipment. Now is when you want to be making any adjustments on your boat and checking it for flaws. Check all of your radios, electronics, bilge pumps and wiring. If your boat needs yearly yard repair, now would be a good time to get that done. Make sure that your batteries are charged, and that your engines are in good running condition. The dock is a more advantageous place to check all of your safety equipment instead of when you actually have to use it. Take the time now to check the line on all of your reels, check the hooks and rigging on all your lures, jigs, and leaders and reorganize your tackle

It is close enough now that you might want to have your boat fueled up and ready to roll when that next weather window shows itself. This season has already started for some, and for others it is just around the corner. Make any last minute adjustments that need to be made, so when the time comes to scratch that itch that has been building for eight months, you won't be left standing at the dock wishing you had done it earlier.

Peter Young is an outdoors enthusiast who writes for several outdoor magazines. He is a mate on the 65- foot Outlaw out of Rockport. He and his wife, Cathy McDonnell Young, live in Port Aransas.