Big Bend Sportsman Guide Fishing Stories
"Stories from the
Caribbean"
From a Series of Short Stories
By: Capt. "Tato" Reyes
Ivette’s Bright idea
Once again it is Wednesday in
sunny Puerto Rico and I am ready to go catch them. Ivette took care of
the kids and the nanny was home early as it was the rule on fishing
days.
It was a gorgeous September
morning and we enjoyed a slight onshore breeze.
My mullets were smiling over ice
and Ivette packed some nice sandwiches for lunch.
Our target, a 150 pound blue
marlin on 30 pound test line. It is September, the month of the many.
It is also the month of the Club Nautico de San Juan Billfish
Tournament. At least 150 boats participating in what was then an 80
pound test all you can kill fiasco. Poor little fish abused on heavy
tackle by teams of half drunken boat owners, halfway skilled captains
and heavyweight deck mates ready to jump on the bleeding fish.
Like I said it was Wednesday, the
tournament’s day off. They fished Monday and Tuesday took Wednesday of
(party day of course), fish Thursday and Friday and party for the rest
of the weekend. Don’t get me wrong it was a great social event, which
I enjoyed many times once I had a boat big enough to be accepted in
the tournament. A huge social event with a Formal Award Banquet,
everyone in tuxedos and ladies wearing long dresses. Beach parties,
Pool parties, all kind of parties for just $600.00 per person. Don’t
forget this is back in the early 80’s so $600 was a lot of money.
Anyhow it was the biggest event of the year for the fishing
aficionados and we had people coming from all over the world. I made
some good friends I still keep contact with them.
The point is that we have the
north coast for ourselves and that there is plenty of small fish
around as the VHF radio would let us know from the previous days
fishing reports.
I started with two ¾ of a pound
deboned mullet on each rigger, one for Ivette and one for me. We were
both using 30 pound outfits with Ande Tournament line.
It was a perfect day, I thought
that with such calm sea we even had a chance to a bigger fish if she
showed up, we could fight it with the boat and keep our pressure on
him by chasing him all over the place.
I must have bee prophetic since it
did not take long and we ha a 350 pound fish jump from behind the bait
with his mouth wide open (I could see his guts) and swallowed Ivette’s
bait.
The battle was on. I brought in my
line and chased the fish so Ivette could recover the 250 yards she had
lost in the fish first run.
We did the usual, took our time
and brought the fish to gaff only when he has shown color. Once two
flying gaffs were secured on her and a Tuna hook was placed in her
mouth we left her hanging from the side of the boat and admire her. We
had a soft drink and rested for a wile looking at the fish. It was at
least 350#, we knew that much. We also knew that we have never been
ale to bring onboard a fish that size just the two of us. It always
required help form a friend fishing close to us.
But you know what is the middle of
the week and most people are working and those that were not, had the
day off during the tournament. Yes, we were alone thee miles offshore
and we wanted to bring the fish up into the oat and continue fishing.
That is when Ivette ha the great
idea of bringing him up from the back. It was simple; we float the
fish behind h engines and wait for a swell to help us pull it onboard.
I mean, we use the boat movement
to bring fish on board all he time; this was just a new approach.
I must remind you I had twin 140HP
Evinrude in my transom and a hydraulic steering system.
I was desperate enough that I was
willing to try Ivette’s so I moved the dead fish to the stern and
waited for a swell big enough to lift hi above the engine levels and
them we would pull him in.
There is he swell, fish is in
position and we pulled, but it id not make it al the way. I got stuck
between the two engines with such force that we could not move him
either way.
Now I am sitting looking at 350#
Blue marling stuck between my engines and none to help us.
To make a long marital dispute
short, we seated there for full four hours until one of my friends
from my home port came back home, went to the clubhouse for a drink
and to check on me since he knew I would be fishing. I then talked to
him on the clubhouse radio that has been of all day since the morning
shift did not show up to work that day.
He jumped in his boat with another
of our friends still wearing their work suits and came to my rescue.
It was 5:30PM when we got to the
dock, Ivette went straight to the house to take care of the kids and I
spent the evening laughing this episode out libating on some wonderful
Caribbean drinks prepared by Julio or regular bartender.
We still don’t talk about this day
and Ivette still refuses to accept that it was her idea.
The kids have a great laugh every
time a tell this story and I sleep on the sofa for doing so.
I will be back with more stories;
you have not heard anything yet….
From a series of fishing
stories submitted by Capt Tato Reyes
copyright Capt Tato Reyes
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