BigBendFishing.Net

Every December my family looks forward to having friends & family over to celebrate the beginning of the holiday season & watch the annual Palm Valley Light & Boat Parade. There are few things better than enjoying good friends & family while roasting oysters & a piggy too…….


115 live weight piggy
(it was foggy out)


Basic party porker….


Getting dressed up for the evening… (salted & Adobo seasoning)


Splitting the backbone


Injected homemade Mojo Criollo into the shoulders, hams, and tenderloin
(strained solids on the surface)


Racked up and in da box


Apprentice-in-training Jr. Pigmaster


Initial coals


Roasting!!

While the piggy is resting in da box……..it’s time to roast oysters


Couple of bushels of cold Salt Run oysters
(the oysters were SALTY & awesome !)

Start of the Boat Parade


Great weather for a boat parade!

Not the best holiday decorated boat photos but you get the idea…. (a hand held point & shoot is lacking for these type of photos)







As the evening went on….


BURP!

I forgot to take additional pig cooking photos as I was running around but here’s the finished piggy…


Great friends & family!

LIFE IS GOOD!


Happy Holidays!!

Hoo Yah!!

Brian

Good pics, thanks for sharing. That boat canal in the background should have some nice reds in it now.

NICE

Looks great, BBB. I love the caja China pigs. Did you roast the oysters on top of the pig box or on a seperate fire? thanks for posting.

LORDY ME, I DID NOT KNOW ANYONE IN THESE PARTS KNEW ANYTHING ABOUT PALM VALLEY, CAUGHT MANY BIG REDS IN THE CANAL. ALSO CAUGHT AND KILLED MANY, MANY RATTLERS THERE ON BOTH SIDES OF THE CANAL. I HAVE NOT FISHED THERE IN ABOUT 60 YRS. I HAD A GREAT AUNT AND UNCLE THAT JUST LOVED TO GO DOWN THERE AND PICK SEA GRAPES, MY AUNT WOULD THEN TAKE THEM BACK TO JACKSONVILLE WHERE THEY LIVED AND MAKE GRAPE WINE, AND JAMS, BOTH WERE DELICIOUS. THERE USE TO BE A KILL PLANT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE CANAL, THEY KILLED AND DRESSED COWS, HOGS, KOONS, AND DEER. IT WAS ON THE ROAD FROM PALM VALLEY TO GREEN COVE SPRINGS, I DOUBT THAT IT IS STILL THERE SINCE THAT LAND WOULD BE MUCH MORE VALUABLE FOR REAL ESTATE. THE PLACE DID NOT LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THAT 60 YRS. AGO. IT IS LIKE MOST OF THE REST OF FLORIDA COVERED WITH BUILDINGS AND HOUSES. ENJOYED YOUR POST, THANKS FOR SENDING.
PA
SEMPER FI

FutchCairo, I’ve enjoyed your recollections! great reply. I believe I know of the kill plant you speak of. The one I’m referring to is a lone building just west of where the drawbridge was. Run by the Hitchcock family who we have become friends with. One of our good friends Debbie Hitchcock was a butcher there as a teenager (she just passed away this year from cancer at the age of 53). The land around the Hitchcock property is being built up but that family remains there in a number of homes. Good people.

Salty Gator wrote: Did you roast the oysters on top of the pig box or on a seperate fire? thanks for posting.

Salty Gator: I use a grate on a pole. I pound the pole into the ground next to the china box then set the grate on the pole. The grate swings over the coals (360 degrees). You can see it on the left of this photos. Works greate.



Brian

What an awesome looking get down! Glad to see someone preserving all that is good from the past and present!

That looks like a fun event event , with a good crowd.
Barbecued pig can't be beat.

starving