a TINY bit different

PURSUANT TO LAST WRITING SON CHRIS AND I DECIDED TO GO OUT FOR TUNA. WE ONLY HAD A FEW HOURS, BUT NEEDED TO SCRATCH THE ITCH, JONESING IF YOU WILL. TAKING A RIDE OVER TO CERRALVO FOR BAIT I WAS A LITTLE BEFUDDLED BY THE NET THE CAPTAIN HAD WITH HIM. I USUALLY BUY THE BAIT NETS IN BULK FOR THESE GUYS, AND THIS WAS NOT ONE OF MY PURCHASES. THE OPENINGS IN THE NET WERE TINY, NOT QUITE A COFFEE FILTER, BUT SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN WHAT I BUY. I KNOW THAT THE CAPTAINS DON'T LIKE THESE AS THEY SINK TOO SLOWLY AND DON'T LET THE TINIEST OF FISHES ESCAPE. LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT WE WERE AFTER THE TINIEST OF FISHES. WE GOT ABOUT A MILLION SARDINIA, BUT THEY WERE NO LONGER THAN AN INCH, AND THAT MIGHT BE A FISHERMANS' EXAGGERATION. "PITIFUL" I THOUGHT TO MYSELF AS VISIONS OF #14 TROUT HOOKS AND TRYING TO GET 30LB. FLUOROCARBON THROUGH THAT LITTLE BITTY HOLE WERE PASSING THROUGH BY HAIRLESS HEAD. EVEN WITH YEARS OF TRAINING TO THE CONTRARY I STILL FALL FOR THE "DA' BIGGADA'" THEORY. WRONG AGAIN OH CORPULENT ONE! FIRST ENRIQUE BEGAN BY CHUMMING HAND FULLS OF THESE BITTY DEVILS, IT WAS ACTUALLY MORE LIKE CASTING CORN TO CHICKENS, AND THEN LOADED A COUPLE OR THREE ON A #1 HOOK AND LET OUT A BUNCH O' LINE. STILL FEELING A LITTLE SHEEPISH I QUICKLY TURNED BACK INTO THE SAME OLD GOAT WHEN CLICKETY CLICK, OUT SHE WENT. 35LB. YELLOWFIN. IN A COUPLE OF HOURS WE GOT 2 MORE BIGGER THAN THE FIRST, AND LOST ONE, WHICH WAS OF COURSE HUGE, AS IT GOT AWAY. LESSON HERE: SOMETIMES IT'S BETTER TO MATCH THE AVAILABLE BAIT RATHER THAN TO BRING IN THE RONPOPEILSUPERMEGADELUXEGOTTAHAVEITGIANTBAITAMOBOB. LESSON LEARNED, AGAIN.
DAVID

ODE TO A YELLOWFIN

EACH OF THE FISHES DOWN HERE HAS IT'S OWN DOSSIER (KINDA LIKE A DOSSEY, BUT DIFFERENT). PARGON ARE THE BADDEST THINGS AROUND, LIKE 4 ENGINE FULLY BLOWN FUEL TRACTORS AT A PULL. WAHOO ARE THE CAFE RACERS, ELEGANT, STREAMLINED, FAST AS HELL AND DANGEROUS AS A WIFE ON A FORGOTTEN ANNIVERSARY. DORADO ARE THE Z28'S, ACCESSIBLE TO MANY FAST AND FUN, UNREFINED BUT FLASHY AND COOL. MARLIN ARE THE MERCEDES LIMOS, ELEGANT, BEAUTIFUL, SURPRISINGLY FAST AND POWERFUL. BUT THEN THERE ARE THE YELLOWFIN TUNA, DUAL TURBO PORSCHE CARRERAS, THE PINNACLE OF THE EVOLUTIONARY PROCESS, EVERY PIECE A FINELY TUNED FUNCTIONAL REQUIREMENT AS WELL AS A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART. SMALL MOUTHS COUPLED WITH EXTRA GILL AREA TO FACILITATE THE INTAKE OF OXYGEN WITH THE SMALLEST IMPACT TO SPEED. VIRTUALLY SCALELESS, TIGHTLY STRETCHED SKIN,ALONG THE LINES BUT SO MUCH MORE EVOLVED THAN THE OLYMPIC SWIMMING "SUITS" USED NOWADAYS (STREAMLINED). ALL OF THE TENDONS CONNECTED TO THE TAIL GIVING IT A MUCH DIFFERENT SWIMMING MOTION THAN A NORMAL FISH (REAR ENGINED). MANY CONTROL SURFACES, VERTICAL STABILIZERS ON THE TAIL, FINLETTES DOWN THE TOP AN BOTTOM ALL THE WAY TO THE TAIL TO MAKE SURE THAT TURBULENCE AND CAVITATION ARE KEPT TO A MINIMUM (GROUND EFFECTS). FINS THAT TUCK AWAY INTO RECESSES TO JUST FLAT OUT FLY WHEN REQUIRED. A NETWORK OF CAPILLARIES JUST UNDER THE SKIN THAT TAKE CARE OF PREHEATING MUSCLES FOR MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE WHEN HUNTING, ESPECIALLY WHEN HUNTING DEEP. YES, THEY ARE TO SOME DEGREE WARM BLOODED, WHICH LEAVES ALMOST ALL OTHER FISH IN THE DUST, EVOLUTIONARILY SPEAKING. AND WE HAVEN'T EVEN GOTTEN TO THE GRILL YET. WELL 2011 IS TURNING OUT TO BE ONE OF OUR BEST TUNA YEARS EVER. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME LULLS, ESPECIALLY AROUND FULL MOONS AND SUCH, BUT JUST WHEN THEY'VE SLOWED DOWN FOR A FEW DAYS, THEY COME ROARING BACK WITH 10 ACRE DISPLAYS OF GLUTTONY AND BALLET, LIKE TODAY. I JUST LOVE DEASE GUYS, AND FELT LIKE SAYING SO,
david

Una semana de enselada

One of the nicest things that I think La Paz has to offer is variety. This week has proved that, even with a fairly limited crew. Dorado to 30, tuna to 55, pargo mulatto to 20, amberjack to 60, wahoo to 40, more skipjack than you'd want to count, 2 sailfish, and striped marlin. You might not get what you want, but if you try at this time, you just might find, that you get what you need.
David