The Long Island Blog

Sunshine has been scarce lately and today is not looking very good at all, so I’m glad I took a few minutes yesterday to snap some pictures down by the water.

It was a beautiful day with a brisk wind forming large swells and whitecaps on the Great South Bay. The wind and the waves must have kept most boaters home because the bay was deserted.

Other than the wind it was a perfect day with blue skies and big white clouds.

Sayville Dock

A lone fisherman tries his luck

Rays of sunlight beam from behind a cloud

Strange clouds race past the trees in my yard. (Looks much better in BW than color)

You have no idea how bad I want to buy this tractor. If you’ve driven on Rt. 25 on the north fork lately you may have seen it. Never mind that I have no idea what I would actually do with it (other than ride in circles in my backyard). I just want it. Only $2500! It’s killing me to just let it sit there.

I’ve had this infection ever since I was a kid. I think it started after my first trip to City of Glass on Melville road. Do you remember those giant green houses? There’s nothing but condos there now. It was either that or the TV show “Modern Farmer.” At 6am every Saturday I was glued to the television.

If you’re into this farm stuff like I am you might want to check out The Barns of the North Fork. The book documents all 734 of Long Island’s north fork barns and includes beautiful photographs of 150 of them. It’s much cheaper that a tractor and takes up a lot less room too.

I went down to the dock at the end of Foster Avenue in Sayville for lunch and was surprised to see a lot of people fishing—in the pouring rain.

Now fishermen are as dedicated as golfers when it comes to their sport, so it takes more than a little rain to keep a good fisherman home. However, if you’re going to fish in the rain, the fishing better be good, so I could not begin to imagine what brought so many people out today.

Within minutes I had my answer: Giant Bluefish.

These guys were pulling in the biggest bluefish I have ever seen, and right off the dock no less, one right after another.

I wanted to run home and grab a pole, but I know how these things go. If I had gone home the fish’d be gone by the time I got back. I figured I was better off just taking some pictures.

I know there are normally plenty of bluefish in the Great South Bay, but I have never seen big ones like these so far from the Fire Island inlet.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised. Many different species of fish use the bay as a nursery during this time of year, so the big blues are probably in the bay feeding on them.

Lesson learned? Keep a fishing pole in my truck at all times.

Remember that vineyard I showed you last week? Well, bud break is in full swing there now. The leaves are small, but they’ll grow like mad until the vines flower and produce fruit.

The warm weather not only stirs activity in the vines, but in the vineyards as well. There’s work to be done from now until harvest and beyond.

This is also the time of year when people end their winter hibernation and start exploring Long Island wine country. If you’ve never been to a tasting room before and feel a little intimidated, no bother, just read this bit about Long Island wine tasting and relax. If you already know the drill, then consider taking a chauffer driven Long Island wine tour.

WLIW21 needs your Huntington memories for a new documentary

In the tradition of WLIW21’s award-winning New York the Way it Was series, WLIW21 is getting ready to explore the story of one of Long Island’s most interesting communities – Huntington.

Following the tremendous success of New York War Stories, which featured viewer-contributed videos and letters, WLIW21’s production team turns to viewers like you once again for stories, photos and home movies of family celebrations, sporting events, carnivals, parades and other Huntington activities.

If you lived in Huntington Village, Cold Spring Harbor, Huntington Station, Northport, Greenlawn, Dix Hills and Lloyd Neck between 1950 and 1990, please share with us your memories of the places and people that will always remind you of your hometown, Huntington.

Our cameras can capture Huntington today; we need your help to tell the story of yesterday.

Send your photos or movies (any format) to:

Stephanie Marsh
WLIW21
P.O. Box 21
Plainview, NY 11803

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you want your submission returned.

All photo submissions will also be considered for the film’s DVD cover.

Email your stories of life in Huntington as you knew it to Hometown@wliw.org.

Call 516.367.2100 x8461 with any questions.