As A Rule....

  I have rules that go along with being on the pier.  I figure that some folks need a bit of "guidance" when it comes to being on the water even if that water is only about 5 feet deep most times.  There are rules that pertain to fishing such as..."You do not kill anything that you are not going to use.  Either eat it or use it as bait or let it go free." And there are rules about taking care of the Bayou..."Never leave behind any trash."  Then, there are the rules of common courtesy..."Do not harass any of my critter friends."  Of course, there are the general rules of respect and care of the pier and fishing gear but one rule is just commonsense..."Never be on the pier during inclement weather."   That last one is far more important than all the rest because, here, weather can change in a heartbeat.

Rainstorm coming across the Bay!

  This afternoon, Mark and I headed to the pier on three different occasions.  The first time, as soon as we stepped out the door, a loud crack of thunder roared just to the east.  Nope.  Not happening. We turned and headed back into the house.  Second time, the rain started just as we got on the board path. Well, that was not good!  We turned to go back inside.  The third time, we finally made it to the end of the pier, caught bait and then we noticed the raindrops starting.  Time to head back up the hillside.  

  One reason I am so adamant about enforcing the weather rule is that several years ago,  I watched out the window as one of our pier posts was shattered by lightning.  The weather was not even particularly threatening that day but it only took a few seconds to turn into something that could have been devastating.  Had I been on the pier ignoring the upcoming storm, that pier post might have been me!  So even though there are other rules applying to the pier,  I thoroughly enforce the weather rule!