MASTERFUL FISHING IN MANZANILLO, MEXICO

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Today was full of wonderment! TK, Brian, his son Dan, Lawrence, Donna, and I disembarked by 7 a.m., on this warm and sunny day in Manzanillo (Mexico’s largest shipping port and home to the Mexican navy) and easily found the guide, Javier Rodriguez, to our sport fishing charter. He drove us to the fishing pier to board the Albatros IV, a 42 ft. fishing boat. Carlos, the first mate, set 2 outriggers and 5 flat lines straight off the back about 10 miles from the pier in water about 100 ft. deep (we were in the Pacific). The whole setup was just as I had imagined, with a chair for bracing and reeling the fish in. Mylar squid and live bait (small silver fish about 8 inches long) were on the end of the lines.

The shore was rugged with a few sandy coves and the land seemed volcanic in nature with jagged mountains. Heavy smoke arose from stacks in the distance.

Within half an hour we saw a sailfin jump near the boat. Then we saw a few dolphins playing around, as well as at least 4 whale spouts. While most of us had rushed to the front of the boat to see the dolphins, TK stayed in back, watching the lines. Sure enough, there was a bite and the fight was on. For an hour and a half TK engaged in a battle with an unknown fish, reeling in line like the old fisherman he is. Pulling up slow, reeling fast, over and over again for 90+ minutes. The rest of us, the observers, could feel the strength of the fish against the strength of this sturdy man. TK’s whole body reacted to the mighty force of an unknown fish. At intervals the fish neared the ship, then swam away further. Finally the fish was landed onto the boat. It was only then that we knew it was a yellowfin tuna, about 80-100 pounds. TK met the challenge. The lines were reset, but there were no more bites. Shrimp boats were nearby. A very large brown sea turtle, the size of a garbage can lid, floated by the boat nonchalantly just like he was on a sailing vacation. We returned to shore about 1:30 p.m. The captain, the first mate and the guide all were going to share the tuna with all the other charter fishermen.

TK headed back to the ship and Donna, Lawrence, and I went shopping. Soon Lawrence discovered that there was sea glass on the nearby rocky shore and showed us the pocketful of glass and two sea worn marbles he had already found. After a little shopping, Donna and I had to look for sea glass, too. We climbed down the unstable rocky hill to the shore. When I overturned a rock, I saw a wormy wiggly thing, then realized it was a starfish when it started “walking” with so many legs. Sadly I was so engaged in looking for sea glass, I did not choose to get my camera out.

Before I knew it, I had about a pound of sea glass and one sea worn marble, too. By this time, both Donna and Lawrence had plenty more, including a black marble with green dots. The predominant color was an emerald green. Now I can have DDIL C’s sister make me a Manzanillo sea glass necklace. I hope she can find a tuna and/or starfish charm!

We walked a long long way back to the ship, but we weren’t as tired as the mighty fisherman!

Dinner with Donna and Lawrence in the Empire Restaurant: shrimp cocktail, tomato/mozzarella salad, veal parmesan, filet mignon, with cream cake layered with chocolate, raspberry, and vanilla.

Tonight all the ship’s bands joined together for a sort of “Live Aid” concert to benefit the American Red Cross for Haitian Relief and Development. Carnival has pledged $5 million.

TK’s Takes: Fishing wore him out today and he is sore. He said that reeling in the fish, he felt like he had a snag on the bottom that would not budge---like there was a huge weight at the end of the line that could not be moved. We saw lots of marine life on this sunny day.

Note to B1 and B2: Tonight a towel monkey was hanging from the rafter!

Brian’s joke on the boat today to relieve tension after the great fish was caught:
“A preacher, a priest, and a rabbi walked into a bar. The bartender said, ‘What is this, a joke?’”