Fishing in Mexico

Trigger Fish from Isla Isabella – about 2 pounds each – they were big fighters with very tough teeth for eating sea urchins – they broke several hooks – delicious firm and white flesh.

Fishing in Mexico

Man – I just lost the big one. I am so sad. I felt worse than when I did not make that trade in time and lost $20,000 in the stock market – well – not that bad, but almost that bad….

I had gotten a bit cocky about my ability to catch and land fish here. I had caught quite a few fish, including a big dorado or mahi mahi, of about 25 pounds, a big yellowtail tuna of the same weight, a bunch of skipjack tuna, and triggerfish and snapper off the boat in Isla Isabela. I had the technique and touch, and was quick to tell fellow cruisers about how good I was. Oh, how the mighty have fallen – ‘cause I caught the big one and he got away – I am humbled.

Well – maybe not the truly big one – out here, there are really big fish, and really big boats full of very determined men willing to spend any amount of money to catch the big one. A marlin or spearfish of some type weighing in about 300 pounds or so. We think the fish I lost was a yellowfin tuna weighing about 30-40 pounds. It had a lot of fight – my medium weight pole – designed for 50-100 pound fish, was bent double…..

We were traveling between San Blas and Chacala – about five miles offshore, in under 100 feet of water. I was trolling a jet head squid called a Mexican flag because it is red, white and green – at about 6.5 knots. I was also towing a flasher hooked up to a weight to keep it in the water. The flasher makes a bit of noise and splash to help attract the fish. I had not had a bite all morning when the tuna struck. The line spun out of the reel like a freight train roaring down the pass, making that loud clickety sound you love to hear. I slowly set the drag as MS slowed the boat down, and I started fighting him in. This fish was very heavy, and put up a real fight. It took about 20 minutes and I had him next to the boat. He spun, twisted, dived under the hull, and used all of his wily tricks to lose the lure that seemed stuck in the corner of his mouth.. This fish had been caught before and had lived to tell the tale- he was smart, fast, and determined not to be sushi…

We moved him along side the boat, I had the gaff in hand, and was trying to keep tension on the pole so he would not shake the lure – about one more minute and I would have him landed. I was dripping with sweat and my hands were shaking from fighting the fish so long – what an experience – if I could land this fish I would pay myself $250 – which is what a day charter costs out here in a panga with three other guys…… I was just getting set to hand the pole off to MS when he had a big jump and twist and shook the lure – off he went down to the depths.

I was crushed, stunned – I almost had him. He was a monster – at least to land on a sailboat – we would have had tuna for a dozen boats – tuna sushi, tuna in coconut milk, tuna grilled, tuna jerky, tuna in wasabi cream, tuna with kalamata olives, capers, and green peppercorns, tuna ceviche – ahh, the list was endless, all that food snatched out of my hands by Neptune – my hubris had offended him and I was paying the price…

What did I do wrong – after anchoring I pored over my fishing books, examined my gear and my inner soul to see if I had the right stuff to catch such a big fish. Bad gear, bad technique – clearly I need a new pole, more reels, bigger line, more hooks and lures, and – oops, wait, the cost of the fish I have caught is down to about $50 a pound – better use what I HAVE GOT – and a bit more modesty – still I think I need some better hooks in PV, mine are getting a bit dull……

Later on – I found out that this fish was a jack crevalle – a good fighting sport fish that looks a lot like a yellowfin tuna –  I was crushed once again…