Of Fins and Feathers

A normal work day is eight hours for most; like 9 to 5, 3 to 11, whatever. For a lot of people, they clock in, do their thing, check email, pass along filthy memes, go get coffee, do some work, take a phone call, do some work, go to lunch, rinse and repeat for the rest of the shift.

8 hours can zip by like that (snaps fingers) and before you know it, you're back in the car, headed home.

But like the old joke about what goes by faster, an hour in the dentist's chair, or an hour eating ice cream, 8 hours is not always just 8 hours.

Especially when you're Peter Schultz, a Maryland guy who was participating in the Big Fish Classic Tournament in Ocean City the other day. He hooked himself a swordfish, did Peter, a state-record 301-pounder, and it took him 8 hours to reel Charlie in!

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources says Peter Schultz, who is 36, snagged the giant sandwich-maker 50 miles offshore at Washington Canyon.

Peter Schultz, second from left, earned the Maryland record by catching a 301-pound swordfish.

Schultz acknowledges that his fishing buddies helped on the sea; after all, he is not an old man in a Hemingway story. He says it was the "fish of a lifetime." Well, I should say!

And for the benefit of non-Marylanders: that "M. R. Ducks" sign does not mean there is a Mr Ducks involved. M.R. Ducks is a seaside bar & grill named after a conversation between two duck hunters:

First guy says, "Them are ducks!" His buddy says, "Them are not!"

First guy says, "Oh yes they are! See them wings?

And his buddy finally agrees. "Well, I'll be! Them ARE ducks!"

It's a Maryland thing to disregard grammar and spelling and so forth while out looking for waterfowl.

By the way, last year's winner in the fishing contest was disqualified. He hooked and landed a 245-pound tuna, but it was a PIANO tuna!