The fish ARE calling....

Posted by: eyeFISH

The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 02:47 AM

"The fish ARE calling"

Fond words of wisdom spoken tonight by one of many well wishers as a grateful community and esteemed colleagues gathered earlier this evening to honor and celebrate the retirement of the finest surgeon to ever call Grays Harbor home. As locals know all too well, that man is the LEGENDARY yet inexplicably humble Dr Juris Macs.



Legendary is not a term I throw around loosely. This man is truly deserving of the title. From humble Latvian beginnings, to his farming family's unlikely escape from certain death in a Siberian concentration camp, to their immigration to the Promised Land.... Macs would eventually grow up in Tacoma and later attend medical school at UW. His professional career would ultimately lead him to Aberdeen some 46 years ago.

Here, he would dedicate his personal and professional life to SERVE a community in dire need of his superior skills and services. In all my years at Grays Harbor Community Hospital, no physician has worked harder to provide professional and compassionate care to his patients.

I will tell you this without reservation.... the patient ALWAYS came first... and Macs would invariably be the last doc to leave the hospital (if at all) on any given night. He earned the respect and admiration not just of grateful patients, but colleagues in particular... a doctor's doctor.... a surgeon's surgeon.

From Grays Harbor, he would lead the charge to revolutionize the state of emergency medical care in rural communities.... from reforming acute intervention in the field to streamlining the efficiency of trauma care in hospital emergency rooms. He is the Godfather of Washington's rural EMS system, and would go on to gain regional, state, and national recognition for his contributions in this arena.

Any of you who have survived a potentially life threatening injury in rural Washington during the past half century probably owe your life to the unwavering efforts of this uber-committed surgeon. I personally know some of the old-timers on this board who would not be here if it weren't for the persistence and skills of my dear friend and fishing buddy, Juris Macs. A handful of you have had the privilege of fishing Grays Harbor on my barge with one of my greatest personal heroes.... consider yourselves blessed.

We gathered in Aberdeen tonight from far and wide in a moving celebration of this storied surgeon's career.... patients, nurses, colleagues, hospital administrators, news editors, statesmen.... to pay thanks for an exemplary life of service to a grateful community.



So as I type here overwhelmed by yet another night of insomnia, I raise my glass of Lagavulin to my colleague, my mentor, my friend.

Remember, Juris.... the fish ARE calling!

















Posted by: Jerry Garcia

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 05:21 AM

Fish On!!!
Posted by: DrifterWA

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 07:22 AM

Plus all the great things he did for Community Hospital, Grays Harbor in general.......as a parent he made Aberdeen High School a great place to teach....at least one of his daughters was awesome....

Thanks for all you did....
Posted by: eugene1

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 07:03 PM

Congrats on the great career and the retirement to the fellow!

Hope he gets to fish with team eyeFISH even more now!
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 10:49 PM

A great story about him 2 years ago....

http://thedailyworld.com/news/local/health-harbor-macs-has-been-fixing-harborites-1969
Posted by: fp

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/16 11:06 PM

What a great man Juris is. I would not be alive if it wasn't for him saving my life back in 1978 when I got run over by a 2 ton truck while I was on my motorcycle.

Thank you Dr. Macs.

fp
Posted by: RowVsWade

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/09/16 11:15 AM

Very nice tribute to a great man. Men like him are becoming a rare species in a demanding and often frustrating field. Dr. Michael Copass is my Dr. Macs. He taught EMS to us young "fuggers" and demanded 100% whilst he gave 200%.

The number of lives saved is only outnumbered by the lives these dedicated men have positively impacted.

I hope a long enjoyable retirement surrounded by family and friends is their reward for a lifetime of service.
Posted by: Todd

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/09/16 11:54 AM

I have had the pleasure of fishing with Dr. Macs...and Freddie, the first war story he told was about putting you back together after the truck/motorcycle altercation!

I hope I get to fish with him again some time, he is a really cool dude who has likely forgotten more cool stories than the rest of us know combined.

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: slabhunter

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/09/16 02:11 PM

I can see where the Surgeon brings on a new calling.

You are welcome in my boat anytime. I like to be alive, over caffinated. I am blessed to still be here. I only lost partial color vision in the service.
Posted by: NOFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/12/16 09:02 AM

Thanks for sharing his story Doc, sounds like a helluva man and a giver to Society thumbs
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/26/16 05:13 PM

The fish were definitely calling y'day. Here's a guy enjoying his retirement!





Posted by: OceanSun

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/26/16 07:35 PM

Some most excellent eating right there!! ...all except for the cabezon - those are nasty and require special handling to get rid of - I'll be happy to swing by and take care of that for you.

Good to see a guy enjoying his retirement and good on you for facilitating the fish-fest!
Posted by: Sebastes

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/26/16 08:51 PM

I know that OceanSun is kidding about Cabezon being nasty and he must have a favorite recipe for them.

Personally because the flesh is so firm, my favorite way is to cut them into one inch square cubes and make fish kabobs.

If you happen to catch any with blue flesh and are unsure about eating them, please call me and if you are anywhere near Monroe, I'd be happy to pick them up and bring them to my house and prepare them for you after I do a test sampling, that is if anything is left.
Posted by: Bucket/Good Sport

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/27/16 07:34 AM

Thanks for sharing Doc!
Posted by: Eric

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/27/16 09:07 AM

Very nice!
Posted by: Sebastes

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/27/16 11:14 AM

Yes, the doctor sounds like a man a community can be very proud of.
Posted by: OceanSun

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 06/27/16 04:52 PM

Yep, Cabezon are somewhere between lobster, shrimp, crab and halibut in taste and texture. I've got my honey holes for them here in the sound and out at the coast! My wife gets more excited about those than a prime salmon.
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 10/16/16 02:19 PM

Calling.... calling.... calling....

Here's a few that the good doc found down the krik.

No additional keystrokes necessary....











Posted by: STRIKE ZONE

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 10/17/16 11:08 AM

Cool stuff. Good luck,

SZ
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/27/17 08:38 PM

The fish were silent tonight, but the clams... well, they were definitely calling...

Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 03/11/17 10:22 PM

Convinced the good doc to come join the fun at our recent CCA Banquet at Grays Harbor College last weekend. Happy to recruit another member to the ranks of our local fish advocacy.

He was rewarded with winning the Best of Live raffle...



.... and wisely chose the coveted Green Egg from among the many items up for live auction.

Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 03/11/17 10:32 PM

Earlier today he and I joined up with Team fp at a local beach. Unexpectedly calm surf permitted us to pluck quick limits of dandy razor clams under drizzly skies. All were surprised at how easy it turned out to be despite a forecast for 6 ft swell and 2-3 ft wind waves!

Posted by: cobble cruiser

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 03/12/17 09:12 PM

Way to go Doc! Keepin' it alive buddy. Always appreciate your photos essays. smile
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 10/16/17 11:54 PM





Posted by: Todd

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 10/17/17 09:02 AM

Very nice!

Fish on...

Todd
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/09/18 12:45 PM

The fish came a'callin' for Dr Macs again this past week. On a whim, I filled the boat with Team eyeFISH's resident Medicare Masters. How fitting that Macs took top honors with biggest ling (best one to EVER come over the gunwale of my barge!) as well as biggest black rockfish of the day!











Posted by: Mingo

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/09/18 02:35 PM

awesome post, what a man he is.
Posted by: OceanSun

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/10/18 08:00 AM

Nice haul! A few BIG bass in there - and one lonely salmon. Good on ya for getting the old guys out on the water he looks pretty happy with his ling.
Posted by: Ikissmykiss

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/12/18 03:37 PM

Nice...lotsa fish and chips over the winter for you guys. Wish the Sound had that type of bounty and opportunity.

Originally Posted By: OceanSun
and one lonely salmon

Is it just me or is said salmon very oddly proportioned? Like a large Rufus Woods trout?

Ike
Posted by: Blktailhunter

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/12/18 08:15 PM

That black is a toad
Posted by: JTD

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/12/18 09:04 PM


Homage to a mentor. I totally get it. I wish I had photo documentary for one in particular as well.

I get it. Well done Doc.

beer
Posted by: cohobankie

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 09/19/18 11:03 PM

You sir are a good man. BTW. Great article this month. I guess we all can only hope to find someone like yourself to take us fishing when we get old. Karma paid forward.
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 11/09/18 12:42 AM

Beautiful night for some dark'diggin'...

Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/21 07:34 PM

Daylight diggin Feb 2019:


Loco'coho Sept 2019:


Grocery run Sept 2019:


Team eyeFISH early finish reward... ICE CREAM!


JAMMIN' with Jambo Oct 2020:


JUMBO coho with Jake Oct 2020:


Diehards at sundown Oct 2020:


Sailin' into sunset skies Oct 2020:
Posted by: Dan S.

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/21 09:10 PM

That sure was a fun day, doc!

I'm anxious to get out there again with you guys!
Posted by: Streamer

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/08/21 09:34 PM

Cool pics, doc!

Jake and Dan appear to be the same size for once.
Posted by: eyeFISH

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/12/21 01:27 AM

Originally Posted By: Dan S.
That sure was a fun day, doc!

I'm anxious to get out there again with you guys!

That was the day of the infamous GH QUAD for me.

Part 1: Early morning spent seeing postoperative patients
Part 2: Late morning loading up on bottomfish
Part 3: Mid afternoon to sundown chasing salmon
Part 4: A starlit night digging razor clams

Extracting every ounce out of the day.... right down to the LAST drop. Jake's a bonafide die-hard for hangin' with me ALL day/night. Not too many that will take that kind of abuse.
Posted by: Anonymous

Re: The fish ARE calling.... - 01/12/21 08:25 AM

I didn't know Jake smiled in photos. Nice pics as usual.