By God, it's mostly a fishing report

I had a job trading bits for pieces
We'd make wrinkles, advertise them as creases
Please, find my resignation enclosed,

Mag Bay has it's own roll and rythm. The giant river of current that cascades down the Pacific Coast entertains a wide variety of fishes, and as the season roles on there are stages to this yearly parade. Last week Chris and his band of brigands headed north, beyond the Thetis Bank to an area called "The Ridge". This area officially terminates it's southern extremity at the Thetis, but it is essentially and underwater mountain range, roughly paralleling the coast, in between dry land and the continental shelf. Do the fish navigate by bottom feature or is it the high spots that attract bait and therefore the big boys? Not sure myself, but it hosts some real National Geographic days, those when you feel that mother nature has decided to take off her sweater, flex her biceps, and show off the tattoos that she has acquired. You've probably seen some of the underwater filming of bait balls, tight formations of bait fish being attacked from beneath by a variety of predators. Herding the bait into a tight ball allows the predators to slash and feed their way through the middle, kinda like watchin' Capt. Chris and his friends at a Perry Boys'. Although the underwater display is both violent and graceful, much of the grace disappears when you are sitting in a boat in the middle of one of these slaughters. Your first inclination that the bar is open is usually bird activity. As the bait crowds against the air ceiling that defines their environs birds will not miss out on the opportunity to feed on captive prey. As you close on one of these events the underwater activity becomes more visible. Most of the feeding activity this week was striped marlin, although it is common to get tuna, wahoo, dorado, and marlin all goin' at it together. Our Mag Bay Allstars released 22 marlin and 2 sails in 3 days, and had they been trying for records could have probably doubled that, but, why? Marlin were literally bumping into the side of the Dire Wolf, chasing bait back and forth underneath. When hooked fish at the boat would regurgitate some of the bait with which they were stuffed, other marlin would come in to clean up. Literally a dozen marlin all within a grandmas' stones throw of the boat. While fishing is our primary task, there always comes a time in these special circumstances where everyone forgets to fish and just watches this unique and impressive display. Kind of like the few days a year where the sunsets in front of our office are so spectacular that traffic comes to a collective halt and folks just get out of their cars to watch for 5 or 10 minutes. Everyone smiling, happy to have their activities interrupted by pure majesty. Displays such as these are a kind of religious experience, showing us what can be, reminding us of our place, and hinting at our responsibilities as the major consumers off all that our planet can offer.

And on the La Paz side C.W. and his son were going through their own conversion of sorts. Day #1, an ok day, one amberjack and some triggers. Day #2 Even less in the boat, but 1/2 dozen fish rocked them, hard. Thinking that perhaps they had brought Swiss Army Knives to the St. Valentines' Day Massacre, they retooled with some 130lb. fluoro leader had a hell of day #3. Three Cubera Snapper (Dogs to those of us who are devotees) with one of them well over 60 pounds. That's a really big Cubera, biggest we've seen in several years. They had the 3 dogs, and 2 other nice Mulattos. A day of pulling on big fish, successfully. C.W. and son, El Casador, had gotten beaten, regrouped and merged triumphant. It's a good feeling, and if your son is with you to help get it done, it don't get much better.

Have Fun, Be Careful,
David Jones

Sometimes the light's all shinin' on me, Other times I can barely see.

Well, it's over. Donald J. Trump is the President of the United States. My favorite line about this has been, "Well, it's like his hair, I know that it's real, but I just can't believe it." Mr. Trump won. I think that all the excuses by the media, those that helped him so much, are garbage. Electoral college vs. actual vote, garbage. Blame it on the blacks for not voting, or the Hispanics for not voting, or give credit to the largest minority, white folks, for getting off their asses and making their choice. These aren't the analyses that we ought to be exploring. I would prefer that we:

Check out why neither party understood the voters. They sure had the donors in mind, and that didn't work. A cheer for that. Like Bernie, D.J. struck a chord, one that the establishment, or the elite, or whatever word you use, didn't even know was on the finger board. The worst part of elite, is the insulation and isolation that seems to go along with it. Time and time again, the ruling class, who may well have started out givin' a shit about the little guy, eventually takes care of themselves, until one day the folks in the fields start to use their shovels and rakes and votes, as weapons of their cause. Will they learn? Probably not.

Wiki leaks, emails, the Russian government all played roles in this thing. We need to decide whether this is part of the whole democratic slaw, or not, and if not, what do we do about it?

A man who ran against the establishment, so well framed by HRC, is now going to put names like Guiliani, Christie, Gingrich, and perhaps even Palin in charge of vast chunks of our democracy. They earned their turn, but are they not just a different tentacle of the establishment cephalopod? I do understand the desire for change, I support it, I crave it, but "same ol' shit" masquerading as change? Didn't we just do that? Is this not just the establishment pendulum swinging within it's well worn arc?

The difference between a good candidate, and a good president is essentially too vast for one person to bridge. That which gets our attention and support is almost diametrically opposed to the stability, intellect, and leadership that we all want our president to possess and project. In Silicon Valley you have a Marketing department, and an operations department, and about all that they share in common are the bathroom facilities. The circus of the campaign allows, nay requires, the coliseum/gladiator like atmosphere of rallies, fake debates, and the character assassination that the viewers apparently crave, and that the media capitalizes upon.

The winner is the winner, the rules are the same for both. But like Mrs. Clintons' surely shady dealings with The Clinton Foundation and Bill Clinton Inc., and Mr. Trumps' ability to legally deduct losses from his taxes that the bank also deducted from theirs, it's wrong. "I didn't break the law" has become and excuse for immoral behavior which has been codified by the purchase of legislators and
legislation.

It is our country, and therefore I wish Pres. Trump all the luck that it will take to get it back into tune.

Have as much fun as the law, and your conscience will allow you to,
David Jones

NOTHIN' LIKE GNAWIN' AN OLD BONE

Got a call from a really nice guy today. For the sake of this piece, Jorge Peso will be his his nom de plume. Jorge and some of his SoCal stalwarts had been to Mag Bay this year, and had a good trip. Upon returning home Jorge wrote the trip up, and sent it and some pictures of their scaly victims into the Western Outdoor News, as that established periodical solicits and publishes articles from civilians. Aside form receiving free material, this practice allows them a precarious hold to claims of veracity and accuracy in their reporting. After waiting a couple of issues and not seeing his piece, Jorge called them up and wanted to know how come the tale of his friends and he had not yet seen the light of day. "Well", he was told, "We haven't seen that come across our desks, could you resend it." Being a good guy, a trusting member of our greater community, Jorge resent the article, complete with info as to who he fished with and undoubtedly some kind words for Captain Chris. When he saw one of the pictures in a subsequent issue they had merely published the photo, referred to Mag Bay, and Jorge, and that was it. Jorge then called me to ask, "Do they have a big hard on for you, or what?" I assured him that while I was certain that nothing about their aged erection could possibly be big, it certainly does exist. And now, as my idol Paul Harvey was want to say, "The rest of the story."

After an evening of thinking it over, fuck it, I'm not going to drone on about this. Suffice it to say that my experience with them includes:

Relabeling of Fishermens Fleets' customer pictures to say that they were caught during a WON event.

One of their writers was an investor in one of my competitors, during which time several articles, once even two issues in a row, touting this competitor were published.

No less than 3 other customers with experiences identical to Jorges' when submitting articles documenting their trips with us.

During the many years here I have been solicited to buy advertising in the WON, and on two occasions I have been told, on the phone, that this would result in articles covering my business.

When I asked Mr. McDonald about this at the Fred Hall Show he politely told me that, "We have a business to run, and this is how we run it." I think that Enron used that one too.

OK, I get it. Business. But if the advertising and editorial policies of WON are going to overlap to this extent I think that they should print the little "Paid Advertisement" label that magazines use when that is what an article appearing advertisement is published.

Remember also that any business paying the rates that WON charges passes that business expense on to those who buy their product so the money that advertisers pay them is actually paid by you. The money we don't spend on them ends up in your pocket, with which we hope you buy even more fishing.

So, if you haven't guessed by now, short of lining the bottom of the cage of a very large and messy parrot, I see no viable use.

Damn, is this election thing almost over? Need a diversion? Go fishin'. It continues to be good here, with yellow fin tuna still comin' in daily, often wahoo, the large marlin are still here, some pargo. "No different than last time?", you ask. " I thought that you didn't update unless things had changed", you say. Right enough. I wrote this for my General, who I can hear grumbling from here. The thing that wasn't in the last report is Magdelena Bay. In our 6th year there it remains one of the highest quality fishing trips on the planet. Groups this year are scoring on grouper, yellow tail, yellow fin, wahoo, amberjack, cabrilla, sierra, and a few "i don't know what it was, but it tasted good" fish. Leavin' town excited and antsy, returning a week later a little browner, happy, tired, fishingly spent if you will. Our perspective is that this trip is a much better value, with better variety and quality of fish than most of the trips to Alaska, and a fish load cheaper. Depending on who you want to win the election, and on who wins, feel free to at least temporarily escape the end of the world as you know it. Go fishing.

It's almost over, let's get together and make it better,
David Jones

WHY DOES IT WORK LIKE THAT? I DON'T KNOW, JUST ENJOY

JUST FISHIN' ALONG. BEEN PRETTY GOOD THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, CERTAINLY BETTER THAN EARLIER IN THE YEAR. WHAT'S DIFFERENT? WELL THE WAHOO HAVE CONTINUED TO COOPERATE, PARTICULARLY DURING THE HIGH CURRENT TIMES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FULL MOON, BUT WHAT FOLKS ARE CENTERING ON IS A YELLOW FIN TUNA BITE. NICE FISH, NO FOOTBALLS, MOSTLY IN THE 20-30 POUND CLASS WITH THE OCCASIONAL "HUSKY" 50 POUNDER. "HUSKY" WAS WHAT THEY USED TO CALL ME IN GRADE SCHOOL WHEN EVERYONE ELSE SEEMED TO BE SMALLER, SO THAT'LL DO FOR NOW. THESE FISH ARE MOVING ALONG THE SHORELINE, SOMETIMES AT CASTILLO, SOMETIMES IN FRONT OF THE HOTEL, OR PUNTA PERICO, OR THE LITTLE BAJO AT THE MOUTH OF MUERTOS. GOTTA LOOK AROUND A LITTLE, BUT AT LEAST THOSE PLACES ARE ALL IN RELATIVELY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO EACH OTHER. SOME DAYS 2, SOME DAYS 4 OR 5 PER BOAT. TO FILL IN THE DAILY BOUQUET THERE ARE SMALL DORADO (SUB 20) MARLIN (SOME VERY LARGE), WAHOO, A FEW DOG SNAPPERS, AND THE UBIQUITOUS TRIGGER FISH. WHILE CERTAINLY NOT A GLAMOUR SPECIES, AND YOU WON'T CATCH ME TELLN' YOU TO COME DOWN IN SEARCH OF THE WILY TRIGGER FISH, THESE TASTY LITTLE GUYS FILL IN THE CHINKS IN THE FISH BOX PRETTY WELL. (NO DIANE, FAR FROM ME TO CAST ASPERSIONS ON YOUR HERITAGE). FOUR DIFFERENT VIGNETTES STAND OUT OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

HARBOR MAN, WHO WILL REMAIN ANONYMOUS CAME DOWN TO FISH, BY HIMSELF, AS USUAL. HE IS A GOOD AND SERIOUS FISHERMAN, PATIENT AND PERSISTENT. THIS TRIP HE DIDN'T SLAY QUANTITIES BUT THE VARIETY AND QUALITY OF THE FISH WAS IMPRESSIVE. A 45 LB. YELLOW TAIL, NICE AMBERJACK, GOOD CABRILLA, AND A HUGE DOG SNAPPER (OVER 50 LBS.) WERE THE CREAM OF HIS CATCH. WELL DONE, MAN OF THE HARBOR.

THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED DIANE BROUGHT HER TROOPS HERE, HERDING THEM LIKE THE SHEEP THAT THEY AREN'T, BUT HERDING NONE THE LESS. SHE HAD BARELY ESCAPED MATHEW DOWN IN FLORIDA, GOT BACK TO SOCAL ON SATURDAY, CAME DOWN SUNDAY, AND SHE AND THE BOYS COMMENCED TO FISH. WAHOO, TRIGGERS, DORADO, PARGO, TUNA, THEY TOUCHED ALL THE BASES. A NICER AND MORE ENTERTAINING GROUP YOU WILL NOT FIND, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THERE ARE DODGER FANS AMONG 'EM. WELL IT'S KINDA LIKE THEY USED TO SAY ABOUT THE GAP IN CYBILL SHEPARDS' TEETH, IT WAS THAT ONE BIT OF IMPERFECTION THAT FRAMED HER OVERALL BEAUTY. AND THERE REMAINS ROOM FOR MARGINAL IMPROVEMENT.

KMcK CAME N FROM TEXAS AS HE HAS BEEN WANT TO DO OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. I CAN'T TYPE THE ACCENT, BUT YOU KNOW THAT HE'S FROM THE LAND OF LBJ AFTER THE FIRST 2 WORDS. "WELL DAVE, WE DON'T WANT TO BOTTOM FISH, NONE OF THOSE TRIGGER FISH, WE WANT TO TROLL FOR DORADO OR MARLIN". I TOLD THEIR PROSPECTIVE CAPTAIN, EFRAIN, OF THEIR INSTRUCTIONS, AND HE ALLOWED AS HOW BEST EFFORTS WOULD BE PUT FORTH. AT THE END OF THE DAY ONE VAN GOT BACK ON TIME, AND UPON INTERROGATION ITS' OCCUPANTS REVEALED THAT THE OTHER VAN WAS WAITING, AT THE BEACH, WITH IT'S CREW COMFORTABLY ENSCONCED AT THE CANTINA THERE, WAITING FOR THE LONE STAR STATE CONTINGENT TO COME IN. THEIR CAPTAIN HAD RADIOED IN THAT THEY WERE FAST TO A LARGE MARLIN, AND TO STAY TUNED. AFTER A 4 HOUR FIGHT THEY HAD THE FISH CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE BOAT TO GO PRO IT, AND THEN CUT IT OFF. I'M NOT SURE WHETHER THEY WERE MORE IMPRESSED WITH THE POWER OF THIS ANIMAL, OR THAT THEIR FISHING REQUEST HAD BEEN FULFILLED. EVEN A BLIND PIG......... OVER THEIR NEXT THREE DAYS IN TOWN THEY WANDERED BY THE OFFICE TO SAY HI, AND BY THE SECOND DAY WERE NO LONGER LIMPING. THEY HAD REQUIRED A MASSAGE TO REALIGN THEIR PUNISHED BODIES, AND I'M SURE THE MARLIN WAS STILL RUBBING HER JAW. I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER.

THE LAST SNAPSHOT PERTAINS TO THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THE TUNA BITE. THESE FISH ARE ALL COMING ON SQUID, BUT THERE ARE NO SQUID WHERE THEY ARE EATING. AS A RULE "MATCH THE HATCH" IS A GOOD PHILOSOPHY FOR FISHING, EVEN WHEN THE "HATCH" ARE 40 LB. HUMBOLDT SQUID, BUT IN THIS CASE THERE ARE NOT SQUID THERE. DEPTH FINDERS ARE SHOWING CLOUDS OF SOMETHING NEAR THE BOTTOM, BUT WHEN YOU OPEN THE TUNA UP THEY ARE FULL OF A SMALL, ALMOST MINNOW LIKE, FISH THAT NO ONE RECOGNIZES, BUT NO SQUID. HMMM, DEPENDS ON YOUR MAKE UP I SUPPOSE (I DON'T WEAR MUCH) BUT I FIND IT REFRESHING THAT MYSTERIES STILL PRESENT THEMSELVES, EVEN WITH MY ADVANCED TIME ON THE PLANET.

SQUID MYSTERIES, OF COURSE, MR. TRUMP ON THE OTHER HAND IS A MYSTERY THAT WE NEED TO DO WITHOUT. I KNOW, I KNOW, HILLARY IS A PERSON WHOSE RING I AM NOT HAPPY ABOUT THROWING MY HAT IN, NOT EVEN CLOSE, BUT COME ON, THINK IT OVER.

'NUFF SAID

HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL, OR IN THIS CASE, FALLS ETERNAL

FISHING HAS BEEN GOOD THIS YEAR. YOU KNOW THAT IF THE GUY DOING THE FISHING REPORTS SAYS, "GOOD", THAT AIN'T ALL THAT GOOD. WE'VE CAUGHT LOTS OF FISH, GOOD YEAR FOR WAHOO AND MARLIN, LOTS OF PARGO, BEST YEAR IN YEARS FOR THE PARGON, BIG ROOSTERFISH, BUT STILL MISSING HAS BEEN OUR NORMAL MAINSTAY, THE DORADO. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF EL NINO, BUT...
WITH WATER TEMPS UP NORTH RETURNING TO "NORMAL' WE'VE SEEN SOME REALLY UP NOTES OF LATE. MORE AND MORE DORADO THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS, IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT PLACES, A FEW BIG ONES ON THE BUOYS, ALL GOOD SIGNS THAT I FIRMLY BELIEVE/HOPE POINT TOWARDS A LATE SEASON DORADO BITE, GOOD CHANCE. THE LAST WEEK WE'VE BEEN TAKING 15-30 LB. YELLOWFIN TUNA. THEY ARE IN THE AREA FROM THE OLD HOTEL TO THE SOUTH POINT AND ARE FEASTING ON SQUID. I'M GOING OUT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS TO FIND THEM, AND EAT THEM. i'LL REPORT BACK.
ENJOY,
DAVID

BETWEEN THE SARDINE AND THE QUAIL

I'VE LONG HAD THIS VISION OF LIFE IN A SARDINE SCHOOL, A GROUP WHOSE ONLY DEFENSE IS IN ITS' SHEER NUMBERS. IN THIS VISION, WHEN ONE SARDINE NOTICES THAT ONE OF HIS COMPADRES IS MISSING, HE SWIMS FASTER, AND IS LEFT WITH "OH WELL, BETTER HIM THAN ME." SORT OF THE DONALD IN MASS.

I'VE ALSO SEEN QUAIL AND THEIR DEGREE OF COMMISERATION. IF A QUAIL IS RUN OVER ON THE ROAD, THE REST WILL GATHER AROUND, TRYING TO RAISE THEIR FALLEN MEMBER, TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS LIKELY THAT OTHERS WILL BE RUN OVER BY SUBSEQUENT CARS. SORTA MORE LIKE THE DEMS.

ALL POLITICS ASIDE FOR A MOMENT, I'M TIRED OF MEMBERS OF MY COVEY PASSING. WHILE I'M NOT BEST FRIENDS WITH MOST OF MY CLIENTS, IN MANY INSTANCES WE DO HAVE AN CONVERSATION THAT GOES ON INFREQUENTLY, BUT REGULARLY FOR YEARS. THIS CERTAINLY TRANSCENDS THE MODERN DAY, "FACEBOOK" DEFINITION OF FRIENDS, AT LEAST IN MY MIND.

PUKA SHELL MAN WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS. A TALL RANGY SORTA GUY, LOOKS LIKE AN OUTFIELDER OR TIGHT END IN A FORMER CONFIGURATION, ALWAYS HAPPY, OPTIMISTIC, MAKING VERY GOOD LEMONADE AT THE HIND OF BEING GIVEN LEMONS. HE AND HIS CRONIES WERE WANT TO WEAR PUKA SHELL NECKLACES WHEN DOWN HERE, I EVEN HAVE ONE THAT THEY GIFTED ME HANGING ON THE WALL IN MY OFFICE, RIGHT OVER THERE. A RIDICULOUS THING THE PUKA, BUT THESE GUYS, ESPECIALLY THE SUBJECT OF THIS WRITING, PULLED IT OFF. BIG GOOFY GRIN, LOUD SHIRT, AND PUKA SHELLS.

COUPLE OF YEARS AGO HE WAS MADE AWARE OF CANCER IN HIS BODY, OF A KIND THAT WOULD INEVITABLY AND CONSIDERABLY SHORTEN HIS LIFE SPAN. I SAW A COUPLE OF GRIM LOOKS ON HIS FACE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT HE HAD MADE A DECISION TO FINISH AS STRONGLY AS POSSIBLE, AND FROM MY LIMITED VANTAGE POINT HE DID JUST THAT. WHEN HE WENT TO MAG BAY, WITHOUT A DOUBT THE LAST FISHING TRIP THAT HE WOULD TAKE DOWN HERE, HE THANKED ME FOR THE TRIP. IMAGINE THAT. IN MY DREAMS CLOSEST TO MY CORE I HOPE TO SUMMON THAT SORT OF COURAGE, OPTIMISM, AND PERSPECTIVE IF FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION.

I WILL THINK OF HIM WHEN LOOKING AT HIS SHELLS, AND TO HIS PUKA BROTHER I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT YOU DID A MAGNIFICENT JOB OF SUPPORTING YOUR FRIEND THROUGH HIS MOST DIFFICULT OF TIMES. I HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF RESPECT FOR YOUR ACTIONS, ALL OF YOU, AND APPLAUD UNTIL MY HANDS HURT.

AS TO FISHING
I KNOW THAT MOST OF YOU DON'T COME DOWN HERE TO CATCH MARLIN, BUT TO MANY PEOPLE THE MARLIN REPRESENTS A FANTASY FISH, ONE THAT ONLY WEALTHY PEOPLE ON HUGE EXPENSIVE SPORT FISHERS CAN HOPE TO ATTAIN. NOT RIGHT NOW FOLKS. OUR YEAR IS STILL A LITTLE WHACKED OUT AS WE RECOVER FROM THE FADING EL NINO, BUT MARLIN ARE BEING SERVED. SON CHRIS HOOKED 12 OR SO IN THE LAST 3 DAYS, THE PANGA GUYS ARE SEEING LOTS AND HAVE CAUGHT FISH TO 450 LB. IN THE LAST WEEK, AND REPORT SEEING DOZENS IN A DAY. YEP, THERE'S SOME WAHOO, PARGO, ROOSTERS, EVEN A FEW YELLOW TAIL AROUND STILL, BUT IF A MARLIN IS ON YOUR LIST, THIS WOULD BE THE PLACE, AND NOW WOULD BE THE TIME.

HAVE FUN,
DAVID

NOT

IF YOU ARE ENAMORED WITH THE THOUGHT OF WADING A CHALK STREAM, SIFTING THROUGH THE GRAVEL IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY TODAYS' HATCH, CAREFULLY

SELECTING A #24 BARRED DUNG BEETLE FROM THE LITTLE WOOLEN PATCH ON YOUR GRAPHITE REINFORCED GORTEX FLY VEST, AND THEN LAYING IT AS

GENTLY AS THE TOUCH OF A UNICORNS' TONGUE UPON THE WATER, THE YOU HAVE COME TO THE WRONG PLACE. WE'VE SCORED VERY WELL THE LAST COUPLE

OF DAYS ON THE BEAST, CUBERA SNAPPER. BIG LINE, BIG BAIT, BIG STRIKE, BIG FIGHT, BIG TEETH, BIG TIME. THESE GUYS WERE IN SHORT SUPPLY

LAST YEAR, BUT THIS IS THE TRADITIONAL TIME OF THE YEAR TO TAKE THEM, I WOULD GUESS THAT THEY ARE UP IN THE SHALLOWS WITH THOUGHTS OF

REPRODUCTION. I'VE WRITTEN MANY COLUMNS ON THESE BAD BOYS IN THE PAST, AND SO I SHAN'T RISK REDUNDANCY BUT, IF FRUSTRATION IS YOUR

HIGH, IF A FISH THAT CAN LITERALLY KNOCK YOU TO YOUR KNEES SOUNDS LIKE FUN, AND TO EXPERIENCE WHAT I THINK IS ONE OF THE FINEST EATING

IN THE WORLD YOU MIGHT JUST WANT TO LOCK HORNS WITH ONE OF THESE DEVILS. THIS AIN'T YOUR MAMAS' BULLHEAD SON!!


DAVID

P.S., MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINED THAT THE "ALL CAPS" WAS HARD TO READ, BUT I DON'T SEEM TO KNOW HOW TO CHANGE THE PRINT SIZE, SO I'VE

DOUBLE SPACED THIS IN ORDER TO TRY AND MAKE HER HAPPY. YOU NEVER STOP, DO YOU?

THOUGHTS ON PERSPECTIVE, AND FISHING

NEUROSIS IS THE INABILITY TO ACCEPT AMBIGUITY

HAVE HAD EXPERIENCES LATELY THAT ARE WEAVING THEMSELVES INTO A THEME. WITHOUT GOING INTO SPECIFIC DETAIL I HAD IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS SEVERAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH I SUDDENLY FOUND MYSELF IN NEED OF HELP, UNEXPECTEDLY. NOT EMERGENCIES, BUT THOSE KIND OF THINGS THAT SEEM TO HAPPEN MORE AND MORE AS YOU GET OLDER, LESS BOLD, LESS PHYSICALLY CAPABLE, MORE FORGETFUL, AND THE LIST GOES ON... IN EACH OF THESE CASES I WAS EMBARRASSED BY MY OWN INABILITY TO SOLVE MY OWN PROBLEM. NEARBY PEOPLE, FOLKS THAT I HAD NEVER MET, STEPPED IN TO HELP ME, WITHOUT BEING ASKED. THEY ASSISTED ME WITH THE RESOLUTION OF MY SITUATION, SMILED, AND WAVED GOODBYE WHEN I THANKED THEM. NONE WANTED TO BE COMPENSATED, NONE CONSIDERED THEMSELVES HEROES, NO T-SHIRTS WERE PRINTED, NOR DEEDS OF DARING DO SHARED ON FACEBOOK, CERTAINLY NO SELFIES WITH "THE GEEZER THATI JUST HELPED. JUST GOOD OLD FASHIONED "HELP THE OTHER GUY OUT 'CUZ HE NEEDS IT" KINDA STUFF.

MEXICO TAKES A LOT OF HEAT, PARTICULARLY FROM THE NORTH, FOR THE DEGREE OF CORRUPTION THAT EXISTS HERE. IT DOES EXIST, THE GOVERNMENT HASN'T RESOLVED SOME HORRIBLE ISSUES, AND THE PEOPLE DOWN HERE ARE NOT HAPPY ABOUT IT. THE ACTIONS AND WORDS THAT WE GRINGOS DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL TOO OFTEN ARE ASSUMED TO REFLECT A CULTURE LESS ADVANCED THAN THAT OF THE UNITED STATES. I WOULD QUESTION THE DEFINITION OF THE WORD "ADVANCED" EACH NATION HAS ITS' OWN UNIQUE COCKTAIL OF THE INGREDIENT PROBLEMS THAT DEFINE THE HUMAN CONDITION. WHILE I'M SURE THAT IN RURAL AMERICA IT IS MORE COMMON THAT FOLKS HELP EACH OTHER, AND MEXICO CITY PROBABLY ISN'T ANY MORE CIVIL THAN NEW YORK, IN MY LIFE, HERE, I SEE MORE PEOPLE JUST BEING GOOD HONEST FOLKS THAN I EVER REMEMBER IN MY 43 YEARS IN THE STATES. COMPARISON OF THE TWO IS NOT WHERE I'M GOING, BUT GIVING PEOPLE CREDIT FOR THEIR STRENGTHS, BOTH CULTURAL AND PERSONAL, IS SURELY JUST AS IMPORTANT AS POINTING OUT AND ATTEMPTING TO LEVERAGE THEIR WEAKNESSES.

I SEE ALL TOO LITTLE OF THAT IN THE U.S. THOSE OF YOU WHO KNOW ME KNOW THAT I AM A BIT OF A POLITICAL JUNKIE, AND SO I'M FOLLOWING THE CURRENT PRESIDENTIAL RACE PRETTY CLOSELY. I SEE SO LITTLE CIVILITY FROM EITHER MAJOR CANDIDATE, AND SO MUCH RELIANCE ON FEAR TO MOTIVATE THE VOTERS THAT I AM PERSONALLY QUITE TAKEN ABACK. I BELIEVE THAT WHETHER WE CLEAVE TO ONE CANDIDATE OR THE OTHER, THE PLAYING OUT OF THIS GLADIATORIAL CIRCUS AT LEAST PARTIALLY INFLUENCES AND LOWERS THE STANDARDS OF HUMAN INTERACTION FOR ALL OF US.

ONE OF OUR CANDIDATES IS THROWING NOTHING BUT WARNINGS OF PERILOUS RESULTS IF WE DON'T REMOVE, BAN, AND ERADICATE AND INCARCERATE ANY ONE WHO ISN'T "ONE OF US", PREACHING THAT ONLY THROUGH THE RESTRICTION, REGISTRATION AND LIMITATION OUR FELLOW MAN CAN WE RETURN TO THE GLORY DAYS OF FREEDOM THAT HE SO GLIBLY PORTRAYS IN A PAINT BY NUMBERS ROCKWELLIAN STYLE, ON BLACK VELVET NO LESS. THIS , WHILE THE OTHER WIELDS FEAR WITH SLIGHTLY MORE ELEGANCE, BRIEF GLIMPSES OF ALL THAT COULD GO WRONG IF SHE ISN'T CHOSEN, IF HER SELF PROCLAIMED EXPERTISE IS NOT BROUGHT TO BARE ON PROBLEMS SO COMPLEX THAT THEY ARE BEST LEFT TO HER, AND HER ALONE. MEAN WHILE SHE HAS A DECENT RECORD, BUT CERTAINLY ONE NOT WITHOUT MISSTEPS, GAFFS, AND OUTRIGHT MISTAKES FOR WHICH SHE TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY, NOR CHANGES THE COURSE THAT SHE WOULD LIKE TO PLOT FOR THE REST OF US.

I DON'T THINK OF MYSELF AS A UNICORN SEEKER, i KNOW THAT THERE ARE THINGS TO BE AVOIDED, ENEMIES TO BE VANQUISHED, AND SOME FOLKS LESS GOOD THAN OTHERS, EVEN EVIL, BUT I ALSO SO THINK THAT FEAR IS A CHEAP AND TAWDRY MOTIVATOR, EASY TO CLING TO, WITHOUT PROVIDING ANY REDEEMING ENLIGHTENMENT OR PERSPECTIVE. IT'S A CULTURAL BUG ZAPPER, ATTRACTING US TO THE LIGHT, BUT TO WHAT END? IT IS THE COWARDS WAY OUT, AND I DON'T WANT TO THINK OF MY COUNTRY AS COWARDLY, I DON'T THINK THAT IT IS, BUT I BEGIN TO WORRY.

FISHING ON THE OTHER HAND IS A JOYOUS THING FOR ALL BUT THE FISH. WE'VE BEEN DOING WELL, NOT GREAT, BUT WELL. WAHOO, MARLIN OF 2 TYPES, AMBER JACK, PARGON AND DORADO HAVE BEEN COMING IN DAILY, NOT SCADS, BUT ENOUGH TO KEEP YOUR INTEREST AND INSPIRE YOUR HOPES. YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD TO EITHER GET A LOAD, OR TO GET SKUNKED, KINDA UP TO YOU.


DAVID

"COMMUNITY IS NOT ABOUT AGREEMENT, IT IS ABOUT DIVERSITY AND ACCEPTANCE." r.h.



AS I SIT IN THE OL' COCKPIT (DO WOMEN PILOTS HAVE COCKPITS, OR..........?) I AM COMFORTED BY THE SOUND OF ANDRES, OUT IN THE BACK, CUTTIN' FISH AND SUCKIN' ON BAGS. IT'S A GOOD FEELING. THE LAST 10 DAYS OR SO HAVE BEEN REALLY CLOSE TO WHAT OTHER REPORTS HAVE SAID. MAYBE NOT QUITE HEART ATTACK WIDE OPEN, BUT DAMN GOOD. WAHOO ARE HITTING AGGRESSIVELY (3 BIATS WITH 2 EACH TODAY), AND IT'S NOT YET THE FULL MOON. AMBERJACK INTO THE 50 POUND CLASS ARE AN ALMOST DAILY OCCURRENCE. OUR FIRST BLUE MARLIN WAS TAKEN BY TOSHI AND HIS WARRIORS FROM BRAZIL. DORADO, STILL SMALL AND MEDIUM, ARE AN EVERY DAY OCCURRENCE. DOG SNAPPERS ARE BEING TAKEN BY THE PATIENT AND TALENTED. SAIL FISH ARE SHOWING FOR THE FIRST TIME THIS YEAR. DAMN, I'M GONNA BLUSH, OR CHANGE THE NAME OF MY BUSINESS TO SOME SLIGHTLY SEXUAL INNUENDO. (YOU KNOW WHAT AN IN U ENDO IS? AN ITALIAN ENEMA.) ANYWAY, IT'S HOT, ITS' FUN, AND IT'S ON.
GO FISHING, ENJOY YOURSELF AND OTHERS,
DAVID

"IN WICKEDNESS OF PRIDE IS LOST THE LIGHT TO UNDERSTAND HOWLITTLE GRACE IS EARNED AND HOW MUCH GIVEN."
ROBERT HUNTER


FISHIN'? WE GOT SOME O' THAT. LAST 4-6 WEEKS WE HAD BEEN PLODDING ALONG THROUGH SOME GOOD DAYS, LOTS OF OK DAYS, AND A FEW REAL STINKERS. BEEN WAITING FOR SOME CONSISTENT SIGNS OF CONCERTED ACTIVITY AMONG THE DENIZENS FOR WHOM WE FORAGE. THE NEEDLE HAS DEFLECTED DECIDEDLY CLOCKWISE THE LAST FEW DAYS. BEGINNING ABOUT 9 DAYS AGO A BOAT OUT OF 4 WOULD RETURN WITH 2-3 NICE AMBER JACK. THOUGH NOT WELL KNOWN UP NORTH THIS MEMBER OF THE JACK FAMILY IS A STAPLE ALONG THE GULF COAST, OFTEN TAKEN WHILE FISHING OIL PLATFORMS. HERE THEY LOCATE ON ROCK PILES. LOOKIN' SORTA LIKE A ROOSTER FISH SANS THE MULTI MASTED TOP KNOT THEY ARE HARD FIGHTERS, IN FACT THE MEXICAN NAME IS "PEZ FUERTE", AND PERCHED ON TOP OF THAT THEY EAT VERY WELL, MUCH LIKE A YELLOW TAIL. THEY CAN BE TAKEN EITHER ON LIVE BAIT OR BY YO-YOING WITH A SPURIOUS VICTIM BROUGHT TO JUSTICE USING RAPALA'S. WHILE SARDINES WILL DO THE JOB, MORE OFTEN BIGGER BAITS ARE THE TICKET, WITH ZEBRAS, THOSE STRIPEY LITTLE GUYS THAT OFTEN SWARM THE BUOYS, BEING THE FILLET DE CARNADA. WE'RE TAKING THEM RIGHT NOW ON MACKEREL. WHILE THESE ARE NOT HUGE, THEY'VE ALL BEEN IN THE 20-35 POUND CLASS, AND REQUESTS TO BORROW ROD BELTS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE. ALONG WITH THESE THERE HAVE BEEN PARGO, MULATTO, MULLET, AND CUBERA. THE SUPPLY OF LARGE ROOSTERS HOLDS STEADY OFF THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE ISLAND. NUMBERS OF STRIPED MARLIN, BOTH SEEN AND HOOKED, INCREASED MARKEDLY IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, AND WE LOST 3 WAHOO JUST YESTERDAY. I KNOW, "WE" LOST 'EM BUT i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

FISHIN' IS FUN, FUN IS GOOD
DAVID JONES

THIS ONE IS PARTICULARLY FOR CHUCK, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE,
FISHING HASN'T IMPROVED MUCH, IT'S STILL PERCIN' ALONG WITH WOME EXCELLENT FISH, PARGO LISO, ON A LADYFISH YEP A LADYFISH, THAT WOULD HAVE SERIOUSLY CHALLENGED CORNELLS' 38 LB. RECORD FISH OF A FEW YEARS BACK, COUPLE OF DOG SNAPPERS IN THE 30'S, 2 DAYS WITH SOME MEDIUM DORADO, A MARLIN HERE AND THERE, BIG ROOSTERS. NOT WIDE OPEN, BUT THE QUALITY OF THE FISH HAS BEEN VERY IMPRESSIVE. BAIT OCOTINUES TO BE MACKEREL BOTH THE GREEN BACKS AND THE SCAD, IN THE WORDS OF CAPT. FERNANDO, "SOME DAYS EASY, SOME DAYS HARD". WEATHER HAS BEEN NICE, DAYS GETTING A LITTLE, VERY PLEASANT AT NIGHT. THINGS COULD BE A LOT WORSE.
DAVID

THINGS JUST SORTA PERCOLATED ALONG FOR MUCH OF THE LAST TWO MONTHS. SOME NICE FISH HERE AND THERE, SOME GOOD DAYS, SOME NOT SO GOOD. PLEASANT, "GOOD TIME HAD BY ALL" SORTA CRAP. KINDA LIKE MY OL' CULTURE MATES, THE GRATEFUL DEAD, IN THE MIDDLE OF A JAM THAT WASN'T INSPIRED. GOOD NOTES, GOOD TONE, GOOD RHYTHM, BUT LACKING THE KIND OF SPARK WHICH COULD IGNITE THE FIRES OF THAT WHICH COULD BE. (I AM TRYING LIKE HELL HERE TO AVOID ANY COMPARISONS TO THE 2016 ELECTION PROCEEDINGS, OOPS, JUST FAILED.) LAST WEEK, WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NAGS AND THE WISE MEN FROM UP NORTH, THINGS BEGAN TO FOCUS JUST A BIT. A FEW MORE YELLOW TAIL, A FEW MORE AMBER JACK, SOME NICE CABRILLA, WITH A FEW ACCENT NOTES THAT STARTED TO ATTRACT THE WONDERING MIND BACK IN SEARCH OF THE MELODY. YELLOWFIN TUNA, NOT A LOT BUT SOME NICE FISH, AND MORE LOST. FIRST MARLIN FOR ONE OF THE WISE MEN, 70 YEAR OLD GUY GRININ' FROM EAR TO EAR, TELLING OVER AND OVER THE STORY OF HIS GREAT STRUGGLE, AND WITH EACH RETELLING HIS HANDS WERE FURTHER AND FURTHER APART. THEN ONE DAY, THE FIRST DORADO OF THE YEAR. AGAIN, NOT A BUTT LOAD, BUT RESPECTABLE FISH WITH A FEW LARGER SITED. THE BAND APPEARS TO BE ONTO THE THREAD, AND LIKE A PACK OF BLUE TICKS, AS THEY ALL START TO PICK UP THE SCENT THE HUNT BEGINS IN EARNEST. A COUPLE OF THINGS ARE HAPPENING AHEAD OF SCHEDULE. WE'VE TAKEN HALF A DOZEN ROOSTERS OVER 50 THIS WEEK, AND 3 OR 4 NICE CUBERAS. THESE ARE AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, AND IN THE CASE OF THE DOGS, THE SPEAR FISHERMEN DON'T GET HERE FOR ANOTHER MONTH SO I DO BELIEVE THAT YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THESE IN THE COMING DAYS. I AM LOATHE TO ADVERTISE A WIDE OPEN BITE WHEN IT AIN'T QUITE HERE YET, BUT MY IMPATIENCE, OPTIMISM, AND DESIRE TO GET OUT THE GOOD NEWS ARE BARELY TEMPERED BY MY DESIRE TO GIVE YOU WHAT IS AND NOT WHAT IS DESIRED. MY PREDICTION, IT WON'T BE TOO MANY DAYS UNTIL MY NEXT REPORT, SIGNALLING A CHANGE IN THE NEW SAME OLD, AND IN THE DIRECTION WE WOULD ALL LIKE IT TO PURSUE. I WILL BE BACK SHORTLY, STICK AROUND.

DAVID

The Better Choice

WHEN I WAS A KID MY DAD USED TO MAINTAIN THE FAMILY CARS. CHANGING OIL, TUNE UPS, BRAKES, MINOR REPAIRS AND PREVENTATIVE TASKS. IT'S WHERE I STARTED TO LEARN TO USE PROFANITIES. "HAS YOUR FATHER FOUND ALL THE S.O.B.'S, DAVEY?" MY MOM WOULD ASK, AND I WOULD ANSWER PROUDLY, "NOPE, HE JUST FOUND SOME MORE!" (I LATER CONTINUED MY GRADUATE STUDIES IN THE PROFANE LEARNING FROM MY OLDER SISTER). I WAS LIKE THE NURSES IN THE OPERATING ROOM, STANDING BY TO SLAP THE NEXT PIECE OF SURGICAL EQUIPMENT INTO HIS GREASY HAND AS IT EXTENDED FROM BENEATH THE AILING PATIENT.
PART OF THIS RITUAL WAS A TRIP TO MENLO AUTO PARTS. THIS WAS LIKE A WONDERFUL, SEPARATE WORLD, KINDA LIKE ONE OF THE SUB WORLDS AT DISNEY LAND. A SMALL CUSTOMER WAITING AREA, BACKLESS CHROME STOOLS WITH BLACK NAUGAHYDE SEATS, A GREEN FORMICA COUNTER TOP WITH THE WELL WORN SECTIONS TURNING THE UNDERLYING WHITE. BEHIND A WORLD OF MYSTERY, ROWS OF SHELVES AND BINS, HUNDREDS OF VARIOUS PARTS WAITING TO RESOLVE SOMEONES, EVERY ONES' TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS. BEHIND THE COUNTER WERE LARRY AND RODGER. ROUGH CUT HOMBRES THEY WERE, ROGER WITH HIS D.A. HAIRCUT AND MULTIPLE TATS, LARRY SHAGGY AND BEARDED. THEY EXUDED THE KIND OF BAD BOY BIKER AIR THAT JAMES DEAN ONLY PRETENDED TO EXUDE. NICE GUYS, ALWAYS POLITE AND FRIENDLY, THEY ALWAYS REFERRED TO MY DAD AS "DOC", THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT I HAD HERE TO FORE HEARD REFER TO HIM AS SUCH. "WHAT'RE WE WORKIN' ON TODAY DOC?" THEY WERE A FOUNT OF MECHANICAL EXPERIENCE AND TALENT. THE MAIN REASON THAT MY DAD FORSOOK THE NEWLY OPENED "SCHERBA'S" OR THE BROTHERS M,M,&J, WAS THAT THE GUYS AT THOSE NEON LIT PARTS CASINOS "DIDN'T KNOW CRAP" AND WEREN'T GOIN' OUTTA THEIR WAY TO HELP. NO REAL PARTS, JUST THOUSANDS OF TUBES AND PLASTIC BOTTLES, ALL PROTECTED FROM NUCLEAR ATTACK BY THOSE GOD DAMN PLASTIC HANGING CARD THINGS THAT NO ONE CAN OPEN. IF YOU TOOK A PART TO MENLO AUTO FOR MACHINING OR REFURBISHING, AND THAT SPECIFIC SERVICE WAS ONE THAT THEY DID NOT PROVIDE, THEY WOULD TAKE IT TO THEIR COMPETITORS FOR YOU, TRACK IT'S COMPLETION AND CALL YOU DOWN TO M.A.P. TO GET YOUR PART, WHERE YOU PAID THE INVOICE FROM THE OTHER SHOP, AND YOU WERE DONE. THEY WERE COMMITTED TO GETTING YOUR CAR FIXED, WHETHER OR NOT IT MEANT AN IMMEDIATE PROFIT TO THEM. CAN YOU IMAGINE? RELIABILITY, CONSISTENCY, PERFORMANCE, TOUGH TO BEAT, JUST FOLLOW THEIR ADVICE.
FISHING RIGHT NOW IS KINDA LIKE THAT. THERE ARE SOME MARLIN, THERE ARE SOME WAHOO, EVEN A FEW SAILFISH, BUT FOR THOSE THAT CHOOSE TO TAKE THAT RISK THE REWARDS ARE SPOTTY. IF YOU SETTLE INTO THE FISHING THAT IS GOING ON, THOUGH SLIGHTLY LESS GLAMOROUS, THE REWARDS HAVE BEEN SIGNIFICANT AND PREDICTABLE. WE HAVE A LOT OF MACKEREL AROUND NOW, BOTH THE TRADITIONAL GREENIES AND THE YELLOW TAIL MACKEREL THAT THE LOCALS CALL "PLANTANOS". THE METHODS FOR CATCHING EACH KIND ARE DIFFERENT, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT FOR THE LAST 3 WEEKS OR SO WE'VE BEEN TAKING ONE KIND OR ANOTHER, OR BOTH, ON A VERY REGULAR BASIS. THEN OUT TO YOUR FAVORITE ROCK PILE, BEST TO TROLL VERY SLOWLY, OR IF THE CURRENT WILL ALLOW, DRIFT THE LIVE BAITS OVER THE STRUCTURE, AND HANG ON. THIS AIN'T YOUR HAWAII MARLIN CRUISER, YOU DON'T HAVE 10 MINUTES TO PARK YOUR MAI TAI BY THE BLENDER AND FLOSS WHILE YOUR WEE NATIVE COMPENDIUM HOOKS THE FISH AND SCAMPERS TO ASSIST YOU IN YOUR ENSCONCMENT IN THE MULTI POSITIONAL ADJUSTABLE THRONE OF COMBAT. NO NO, YOU BETTER HANG ON, GET CRANKIN' AND LISTEN TO THE CAPTAIN. IF YOUR LINE, AND LUCK HOLD YOU SHOULD BE FAST TO ONE OF THE OFFENSIVE LINEMEN OF THE SEA. CABRILLA INTO THE HIGH TEENS, CLAVALLINOS TO 23 LBS., MULATTOS TO 20, A FEW DOG SNAPPER, AND EVEN THE OCCASIONAL YELLOW TAIL HAVE BEEN COMING IN. 12 STRIKES, 8 HOOK UPS, 4 IN THE BOAT. THAT'S KINDA WHAT'S BEEN GOIN' ON. THAT RATIO IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITH LUCK, YOUR SKILL, AND A BIT OF SWAMP GAS, BUT YOU WILL CATCH SOME FISH, YOU WILL GET ROCKED, AND YOU CAN HAVE A VERY GOOD TIME IF THAT IS YOUR INTENTION.

ELECTIONS !!

COMIN' UP ON ANOTHER PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN THE GOOD OL' U.S. OF A. AND AS AN ACTIVE POLITICAL ANIMAL I FEEL BOUND TO COMMENT. I WILL DO MY BEST TO LEAVE MY PERSONAL OPINIONS ABOUT WHICH CANDIDATE OR PARTY OUT OF THIS, AS THAT ISN'T THE POINT. PEOPLE ARE PISSED. TIRED OF THE SAME OLD SAME OLD. 2 VERY POWERFUL TEAMS CONTROL OUR ACCESS TO, CHOICES IN, AND THE DIRECTIONS OF OUR GOVERNMENT. FOLKS ON ALL SIDES OF THE SPECTRUM, AND TRUST ME WHEN I SAY THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO GET ALL KINDS DOWN HERE, ARE UPSET WITH WHAT SEEMS TO BE A RIGGED AND INEFFECTIVE GOVERNMENT, NEITHER MAKING SENSE OR PROGRESS. WELL, THIS YEAR THERE ARE SIGNS OF BIG CHANGE. MR. TRUMP ON ONE HAND AND SEN. SANDERS ON THE OTHER ARE OFFERING US A BREADTH OF CHOICE THAT WE'VE SCARCELY SEEN SINCE THE DAYS OF THE BULL MOOSE PARTY. HALF OF YOU THINK THAT EACH OF THEM IS A CRAZY CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT, BUT THEY ARE MOST CERTAINLY NOT THE STATUS QUO, THAT WHICH REPRESENTS THE ONE THING THAT VIRTUALLY EVERYONE CAN AGREE IS NOT SERVING US WELL. "IT DOESN'T MATTER WHO YOU VOTE FOR" DOESN'T SEEM TO APPLY. SURE THE ENTRENCHED FORCES THAT BE WILL KEEP EITHER OF THESE GENTLEMEN FROM FULLY REALIZING THEIR OWN PERSONAL VISION OF HOW THIS PROGRESSIVE EXPERIMENT THAT WE CALL OUR HOME WILL PROGRESS, BUT WHICHEVER OF THEM WINS IT WILL BRING A NEW TONE TO OUR EFFORTS, AND SHAKE UP OR DESTROY THE PARTIES THAT HAVE HAD SUCH A FIRM HOLD ON OUR CHOICES IN THE RECENT DECADES. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THIS IS FOR THE GOOD. NEITHER OF THEM WILL DESTROY THE U.S., POLITICAL INERTIA WILL GUARANTEE THAT THE BALL KEEPS ON A ROLLING, BUT WITH A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT, AND LONG OVERDUE SPIN. MAKE A CHOICE, GO AND VOTE!
DAVID
P.S. THEIR IS ONE PROMINENT CANDIDATE THAT I HAVE NOT MENTIONED ABOVE, AND WITH MY COMMITMENT TO RESERVE MY OWN PERSONAL OPINIONS FROM THIS OPINING, I CAN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO TALK ABOUT HER AS ANY PART OF A POSITIVE FUTURE. OOPS, I ALMOST MADE IT, DARN.

LET'S TALK WAHOO

WAHOO ARE A FISH THAT MANY OF OUR CUSTOMERS WANT TO CATCH. THEY ARE ON AND OFF HERE, DEPENDING ON BAIT, WATER TEMP, AND CURRENTS. RIGHT NOW WE ARE HAVING A GREAT BITE, WITH ONE OF OUR BOATS HOOKING 10 YESTERDAY, NETTING 2 IN THE BOAT. WHILE WAHOO PROBABLY HAVE ONE OF THE LOWEST YIELD RATIO (ON THE HOOK: IN THE BOAT), APPROACHING THAT OF CUBERA SNAPPER, THERE ARE WAYS TO INCREASE THAT RATIO, IF YOU UNDERSTAND THE FISHES BEHAVIOR, AND REACT TO IT WHILE TRYING TO REEL THEM IN. WAHOO HAVE A HARD MOUTH. HOOKS OFTEN DO NOT PENETRATE WELL, AND HENCE COME OUT MORE EASILY.

SHARP HOOKS ARE A REQUIREMENT. I ALWAYS HAVE A COUPLE OF EMORY BOARDS IN MY TACKLE BOX, AND CERTAINLY TOUCH UP ANY HOOK UPON WHICH i WOULD LIKE TO IMPALE A WAHOO, BE IT A BAIT HOOK OR ONE MOUNTED ON A LURE. WAHOO GENERALLY APPROACH A BAIT/LURE FROM THE BOTTOM, AND BITE IT NEAR THE MIDDLE. THIS IS WHY SOME PREFER A TWO HOOKED RIG WHEN RUNNING BAIT. MY EXPERIENCE SAYS THAT I'LL GET MORE HITS WITH ONE HOOK, BUT A HIGHER HOOK UP TO BITE RATIO WITH 2 HOOKS. YOU CAN CHOOSE WHICH YOU WANT, PERHAPS PAYING ATTENTION TO THE BAIT THAT YOU ARE USING.

WHEN USING BAIT, AND SLOW TROLLING THERE WILL OFTEN COME A VERY QUICK BITE, FOLLOWED BY A SEEMINGLY LIMP LINE. THE 'HOO HAS EITHER CUT YOU OFF, OR HAS PERFORMED SURGERY ON YOUR BAIT. WAHOO WILL COME AT BAIT, SLASHING AT ANY AND ALL, AND THEN GO BACK TO PICK UP THE PIECES. IF YOU QUICKLY KICK THE REEL INTO FREE SPOOL, ALLOWING YOUR BAIT TO DRIFT DOWN LIKE A RECENTLY LIVE ONE, THEY WILL SOMETIMES COME BACK AROUND AND PICK THEM UP.

KEEP THE LINE TIGHT. WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED HARD MOUTH THEY ARE SOMETIMES NOT WELL HOOKED INITIALLY, AND YOU WANT TO KEEP WORKING THAT HOOK INTO A DEEPER POSITION.
WHILE TRYING TO KEEP THE LINE TIGHT THE WAHOOS' COMMON TENDENCY TO SWIM AT THE BOAT CAN BE ANNOYING. IF YOUR LINE GOES
SLACK AFTER HAVING "HOOKED" ONE, KEEP REELING. DON'T PUMP WAHOO, JUST KEEP REELING UNTIL YOU EITHER SEE A HOOK OR A FISH.

WAHOO WILL GENERALLY COME TO THE BOAT MORE QUICKLY THAN SAY A TUNA OR DORADO OF COMPARABLE SIZE. THIS DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN THAT THEY ARE SPENT. AS THE FISH COMES WITHIN GAFF RANGE LIGHTEN UP ON THE DRAG JUST A TAD, AND KEEP AN EYE ON HIM. CAREFULLY WORK THE FISH INTO A POSITION THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR THE CAPTAIN TO GAFF IT. THIS WOULD BE PARALLEL TO THE BOAT, ON THE SURFACE. WORK WITH THE CAPTAIN TO GET THE FISH INTO THE RIGHT POSITION, STEADY, NO HURRY 'MON.

OVER THE YEARS, AND WITH SOME CONSULTATION WITH FRIENDS WHO ARE VERY SUCCESSFUL ON WAHOO IN CABO, WE'VE CONCLUDED THAT ALTHOUGH YOU CAN CATCH WAHOO ON ANY PART OF THE MOON CYCLE, THE PERIODS OF THE MOST INTENSE ACTION ARE THE 3-4 DAYS LEADING UP TO A FULL MOON. THIS DOESN'T MEAN THAT EVERY FULL MOON WILL PRODUCE WAHOO, BUT IF THE MOON, BAIT, WATER TEMPS, AND COSMIC ZEITGEIST ARE ALL IN ALINE, THAT'S THE TIME.

THAT'S WHAT I KNOW, CHECK BACK SOON,
DAVID

DAY 2

DECIDED TO GO OUT OF LA PAZ WITH CAPT. JUAN FOR DA @2. HE HAD HAD A COUPLE OF GOOD DAYS LAST WEEK END, WITH SEVERAL YELLOW TAIL IN THE 30'S AND SOME NICE CABRILLA. WE LOOKED AT THE WIND AND WEATHER, THE MOON, THE OLD COFFEE IN THE BOTTOM OF MY GLASS, AND DECIDED THAT WE COULDN'T LOSE. SO MUCH FOR SCIENCE. I'M GONNA GET THE BAD NEWS OUTTA THE WAY AND TELL YOU THAT THE FISHING STUNK. SMALL PARGO, TRIGGER FISH, AND NADA MAS. BUT THAT WAS NOT THE DAY THAT I REMEMBER.
AFTER GATHERING SOME BAIT IN THE HARBOR WE HEADED OUT OF LA PAZ, GOING NORTH, WITH PUNTA COYOTE AS OUR PLANNED GOAL. A REALLY NICE DAY WITH TEMPS IN THE 70'S AND A VERY SLIGHT SW WIND FOLLOWING US. THE SMOKE FROM THE ELECTRICAL GENERATING PLANT STACKS HEADED STRAIGHT UP TO 1000 FT. OR SO AND THEN SPREAD OUT INTO A HORIZONTAL SMUDGE ON OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY. AS WE REACHED THE SPIT OF LAND THAT DEFINES THE FERRY TERMINAL WE WERE SUDDENLY JOINED BY A POD OF DOLPHINS, 15 OR SO. I'M NOT GOOD AT DOLPHIN IDENTIFICATION BUT THEY WERE THE FLIPPER TYPES, ROUND, SHINY TUBES OF MUSCLE, WITH THAT PERPETUAL GRIN, PLAYING AROUND THE BOAT AND LAZILY SWIMMING IN CIRCLES, FEEDING ON SOME POOR VICTIMS THAT NO DOUBT SAW THOSE SMILES DIFFERENTLY THAN WE DID. I DEVOURED A COUPLE OF BURRITOS AS JUAN HUMMED CONTENTEDLY TO HIMSELF. IF EVER THERE WAS A PERSON BORN TO THE WATER IT IS JUAN ANTONIO ROMERO ARCE. THE SOMEWHAT NERVOUS AND MANIC ENERGY THAT SEEMS TO POSSESS HIM ON THE LAND WAS SHED LIKE AN ILL FITTING COAT, AND HE WAS AT PEACE. I "DECIDED" TO LIE DOWN ON THE SEAT OF HIS BOAT, PURELY TO BALANCE THE LOAD IN THE BOAT MIND YOU, AND JUAN CONTINUED NORTH.
COULDN'T HAVE BEEN MORE THAN 25 MINUTES OR SO WHEN I REJOINED THE SHOW IN PROGRESS. LYING THERE IS SEEMED A LITTLE OUT OF KILTER. THE MOTOR DROWNED ON, AND THERE WAS WATER SLAPPING THE SIDE OF THE HULL, BUT THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO VERTICAL DISPLACEMENT. THE HULL WAS AS CALM AS THOUGH IT WERE ON A TRAILER. I SAT UP, TO INVESTIGATE THIS SEEMING ANOMALY AND WAS GREETED BY A SCENE THAT I HAD NOT PREVIOUSLY BEEN PRIVILEGED TO WITNESS.
THE WATER WAS FLAT. I DON'T MEAN CALM, I MEAN FLAT, WITHOUT ANY MOVEMENT OTHER THAN OURS. THE SKY WAS A LIGHT GREY BLUE WITH A VERY THIN CLOUD COVER BARELY INTERFERING WITH THE PHOTON FLOW. THE SKY AND SEA WERE EXACTLY THE SAME COLOR, AS ONE WAS A REFLECTION OF THE OTHER, AND THE SEAS SO CALM THAT YOU COULD NOT DISCERN THE HORIZON LINE. IT WAS AS THOUGH THE WATER CONTINUED UP IN FRONT OF US, A TUBE, OR PERHAPS IS WAS AS THOUGH THE SKY CONTINUED UNDERNEATH THE PANGA. LOOKING AT CERRALVO ISLAND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHERE THE REAL ISLAND AND REFLECTED ISLAND WERE JOINED, AND WITH THE SKY AND SEA SEAMLESSLY JOINED IT WAS A 2X REALITY FLOATING MASS. A GIANT BATTLE CRUISER FLOATING IN THE SKY. LOOKING BACK AT ISLA ESPIRITU SANTO IT WAS APPARENT THAT A SQUADRON OF AERIAL BEHEMOTHS HAD SURROUNDED US. OTHER THAN JUAN AND HIS TRUSTY PANGA, OUR WAKE BEING THE ONLY RIPPLES, THERE WAS NO APPARENT REFERENCE SOURCE AS TO OUR RELATIVE LOCATION TO TERRA FIRMA. THE ILLUSION WAS SO PERFECTLY CAST AS TO BE DISORIENTING. OTHER THAN A FEW ARTIFICIALLY INDUCED MOMENTS YEARS AGO, I HAVE NOT EXPERIENCED ANYTHING LIKE THIS, AND I'M AFRAID THAT MY MERE WORDS CANNOT SATISFACTORILY DESCRIBE THAT WHICH MY EYES TOOK IN AND MY BRAIN LABORED TO ORIENT.
THESE CONDITIONED CONTINUED FOR SEVERAL HOURS, AND AS THE BRAIN DOES, IT BECAME ACCUSTOMED TO THE NEW "NORMAL", LESSENING THE INITIAL WONDER OF THE EFFECT. EVEN THOUGH THE FISHING SUCKED, ON THIS DAY I'M GLAD THAT I WENT FISHING. ON THE WAY HOME WE PASSED NO LESS THAN 6 HUMPBACK WHALES, 4 ADULTS AND 2 YOUNG'UNS, ALL WITHIN 90 YARDS OF THE SHORE. A DAY WHEN NATURE DEMANDED TO BE WITNESSED, NOT TO BE EXPLOITED.
DAVID

TWO DAYS OF FISHING, PART I

WENT OUT FISHING LAS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. IT WAS TWO DIFFERENT DAYS:

THURSDAY: I HAVE A STANDING APPOINTMENT WITH CAPT. ENRIQUE, EVERY JANUARY, TO GO OUT AND GET THE ONE MARLIN PER YEAR THAT WE'VE AGREED TO LIMIT OURSELVES TO TAKING. I'VE EXPLAINED THIS BEFORE AND WON'T BELABOR YOU WITH THAT, AGAIN. I COULDN'T MAKE OUR APPOINTMENT THIS YEAR DUE TO THE VOYAGE NORTH THAT I'VE DESCRIBED HERE RECENTLY. CAPT. LUCERO WAS NICE ENOUGH TO HONOR MY BETTY CHECK THIS LAST WEEK. WE HEADED OVER TO CERRALVO TO GET SOME SARDINES. (FOOTNOTE #1 THERE ARE SARDINES AT THE ISLAND, BAIT SIZE, AND THIS IS AN IMPROVEMENT OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS OF EL NINO BS). WHILE CRUISING OVER TO THE ISLAND ENRIQUE MENTIONED THAT THE SHARK GUYS WERE STARTING TO SEE LARGE NUMBERS OF SMALL DORADO ON THE BUOYS OUTSIDE. WE NETTED A TANK FULL O' 'DINES AND TROLLED UP AND DOWN THE BEACH FOR CONCINERO TO USE AS BAIT FOR OUR EVENTUAL PREY. WORKING' OUR WAY UP THE FOOD CHAIN. WHILE DOING THIS WE TOOK A COUPLE OF NICE SIZE SIERRA, CONFIRMING THAT THE WATER TEMPS WERE ABOUT RIGHT FOR FEBRUARY. WE ONLY GOT ONE CONCINERO, AND ONE SMALLISH BONITA, BUT THEN WE WERE LOOKING FOR ONLY ONE MARLIN. ENRIQUE SEEMED SOMEWHAT DISTRACTED FROM OUR PLANNED GOAL. HE KEPT TALKING ABOUT THE PARGO LISA AT PUNTA PERICO. (FOOTNOTE #2 THERE HAVEN'T BEEN ANY LISAS TO SPEAK OF AT PP IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, EL NINO). AFTER AN HOUR OR SO OF UNPRODUCTIVE MARLIN TROLLING CAPT. E SAID THAT HE WANTED TO GO TRY SOME PARGO, AND THEN GO BACK OUT FOR MARLIN. AT PP WE SET UP THE DRILL. USING 30 LB. FLUOROCARBON LEADER, WITH A #1 LIVE BAIT HOOK, CONNECTED WITH A PALOMAR KNOT (CRITICAL AS IT IS THE SMALLEST OF THE FUNCTIONAL TERMINAL TACKLE KNOTS), ENRIQUE CAREFULLY THREADED THE HOOK INTO A DEAD BAIT AND SET IT ON THE GUNNEL. HE FLUNG A HAND FULL OF DEAD SARDINES IN, LAY THE HOOKED BAIT ON TOP OF THE PILE, AND STARTED HAND LINING OUT SLACK LINE TO ENSURE THAT THE HOOKED BAIT WOULD PRESENT AS CLOSELY AS POSSIBLE TO THE CHUM BAITS. WE HAD ONLY DRIFTED 15 FEET AWAY, AND WE COULD SEE BROWNISH RED FISH CIRCLING THE BAIT PILE. "GET READY" ADVISED E AS HE GENTLY HELD THE LINE TO IDENTIFY ANY CHANGE IN THE HOOKED BAITS' STATUS. HE GRABBED THE LINE FIRMLY AND PULLED TIGHT, SAYING ONLY "OK". NOT MY FIRST RODEO I WAS AHEAD OF HIS INSTRUCTION, HAVING PUT THE REEL INTO GEAR AND REELED UP THE SLACK BETWEEN ROD TIP AND CAPTAINS' HAND. HE LET GO AND I WAS FAST TO MY FIRST LISO IN A COUPLE OF YEARS. 30 YARDS ESCAPED MY REEL INSTANTANEOUSLY, EVEN WITH A STIFF DRAG, I LOOKED AT THE SMILING CAPT. AND SAID "BOINK!!". TWO SECONDS LATER THE LINE WENT SLACK, HAVING BEEN RUBBED IN HALF BY THE ROCKS. "BOINK" SAID ENRIQUE, AND WE SET ABOUT PREPARING FOR OUR NEXT EFFORT, ME CHECKING THE LEADER AND TYING ON A NEW HOOK, HE CHOOSING THE NEXT BAIT IN WHICH TO HIDE THE HOOK. 3 TIMES WE HOOKED LISAS, 3 TIMES WE REPEATED "BOINK" TO EACH OTHER. ON THE 4TH TRY WE HOOKED AND BOATED A NICE CLAVALLINO SNAPPER, AND NEXT A 10 POUND CABRILLA. ALTHOUGH THESE ARE CHALLENGING FISH THEY HAVE NO WHERE NEAR THE TRACTOR PULL TYPE OF POWER THAT THE LISAS HAVE, BUT THEY ARE ATTRACTED BY THE BAIT PILES. GLAD THAT THERE WERE FINALLY LISAS AT P.P., BUT STILL THINKING "MARLIN" WE CALLED SEVERAL OF THE OTHER PANGEROS ON THE RADIO TO CHECK OUT THEIR DAYS, AND EFRAIN REPORTED THAT HE HAD HOOKED A MARLIN ABOUT A MILE OFFSHORE OF WHERE WE WERE PARGO FISHING, AND OUT WE WENT. "IF THERE IS ONE MARLIN, THERE IS MORE" ENRIQUE SAGELY INFORMED ME, ME NOT SURE WHICH OF US HE WAS TRYING TO CONVINCE. SURE ENOUGH AFTER ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF TROLLING SOME OUTSIDE FORCE STARTED TO SERIOUSLY EFFECT THE BEHAVIOR OF MY CONCINERO. LINE WAS PEELING SLOWLY BUT STEADILY FROM THE REEL WHEN I LOCKED IT UP AND E GUNNED THE BOAT A BIT TO ASSIST THE CIRCLE HOOK IN IT'S QUEST FOR PENETRATION. HARD HOOKED WE WERE, AND A 40 MINUTE STRUGGLE BEGAN. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TYPICAL PATTERNS TO A MARLINS' FIGHT, THIS ONE MADE THE DECISION TO BE ATYPICAL. IT FOUGHT DOWN AND STRONG, NO JUMPING, NO AIRBORNE WASTE OF ENERGY. AS WE HAD NOT SEEN IT HIT THERE WAS SOME SPECULATION AS TO WHETHER IT MIGHT BE A THRESHER SHARK, OR PERHAPS SOMETHING LARGE BUT NOT MARLINISH. AFTER A HALF AN HOUR OR SO THE LINE STARTED UP, AND WE COULD SEE THE TELL TALE THRASHING OF A MARLIN BILL ON THE SURFACE SOME 60 YARDS OR SO AWAY. AS WE CLOSED ON THE FISH IT REVEALED ITSELF TO BE A NICE STRIPED MARLIN, MAYBE 135 POUNDS. ENRIQUE SUNK THE GAFF, DONNED HIS FISH GLOVE AND GRABBED THE BILL, WHILE I GRABBED HIS BELT FROM BEHIND TO MAKE SURE THAT ANY SUBSEQUENT MOVEMENT OF OUR PHYSICAL CHAIN WOULD BE IN A BOATWARD DIRECTION. MARLIN IN THE BOAT, WE BREATHED DEEPLY AS AGING MEN DO, AND HIGH FIVED EACH OTHER ON COMPLETING THE 9TH YEAR OF OUR TRADITION. THERE WILL COME A YEAR WHEN WE DON'T GET OUR WINTER MARLIN, MOST LIKELY BECAUSE I WILL HAVE GOTTEN TO OLD, BUT IT WAS NOT TO BE THIS YEAR, AND WE SMILED AND ENJOYED EACH OTHERS' COMPANY, AND THE BEAUTIFUL SURROUNDINGS, AND THE WARM SUNSHINE, AS WE ALWAYS DO. BY GAWD, THERE ARE STILL PLENTY OF TOTALLY SATISFYING MOMENTS LEFT.

DAVID

POINTS OF INTEREST:
WHILE EL NINO IS STILL WITH US TO SOME EXTENT THERE WERE SOME VERY POSITIVE SIGNS: SARDINES AT THE ISLAND, SIERRA WHEN THERE SHOULD BE, PARGO LISA BEGINNING TO SHOW AT P.P, SMALL DORADO ONT THE BUOYS. ALTHOUGH STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO PREDICT THE YEAR, THESE ARE VERY GOOD SIGNS.

THEY'RE PACKING UP THE RIDES AS I TYPE. WHOOPEE!!! THEIR SHODDY CARAVAN WILL FORM UP AND CLANK AND SQUEEK ITS' WAY ON THE NEXT VICTIM TOWN, LEAVING HOLES IN THE PAVEMENT, STAINS ON MY HOUSE, AND AN ACCELERATED USE OF TOILET PAPER FOR THE NEXT 2-3 DAYS. BAH HUMBUG? YOU BET. THIS LOW IQ HEDONISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS JUST RUBS ME THE WRONG WAY, BUT, IT DOES SIGNIFY THE END OF WINTER. THE WIND IS SUPPOSED TO DROP DOWN THE NEXT 3-4 DAYS AND I'M GONNA GO EXPLORIN'. TOMORROW OUT OF LAS ARENAS AND FRIDAY I BELIEVE FROM LA PAZ. ENRIQUE AND I HAVE TO GET OUR YEARLY KICKOFF MARLIN, AND I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT EXPLORE THE SLOWLY GROWING YELLOW TAIL RUMORS. THEY ARE NOT YET HERE IN FULL FORCE, BUT PRIOR TO THIS LAST WINDY SPELL THEY WERE STARTING TO SHOW IN THE USUAL PLACES. GOOD STRONG TIDES HELP THE JUREL BITE, BUT I'M NOT EVEN CHECKIN' THAT, NEED TO GO FISHING, FLUSH THE CARNIVAL SLUDGE FROM MY SYSTEM. I'LL REPORT BACK THIS WEEKEND.
DAVID

COMING OUT OF HIBERNATION, CARNIVAL IS HERE, THE LAST WORST DAYS OF WINTER, GETTIN' READY TO GO TO WORK, LOOKIN' FORWARD TO IT.

FIRST POST OF THE YEAR:

MISSION BETTY
AROUND THE WORLD BY MANY MEANS
STOPPING NOW AND THEN FOR13 HOUR

RECENTLY RETURNED FROM A TRIP TO NORCAL. HEADED UP TO LOS GATOS, CALIFORNA, TO VISIT MY MOM. SHE'S 95% OF THE WAY THROUGH HER FIRST CENTURY AND ALL EVIDENCE POINTS TO THE FACT THAT SHE SHALL ESCAPE THIS MORTAL COIL BE FOR I DO. HENCE ME VISITING HER. EVEN THOUGH I WAS PASSEPARTOUTLESS THERE WERE MANY KEY PLAYERS WITHOUT WHOM THIS MANY LEGGED BEAST WOULD NEVER HAVE BEEN MOBILIZED, AND I WOULD LIKE TO, AND WILL, THANK THEM EACH IN TURN.

STARTING WITH CASTILLO, WHO TRANSPORTED ME TO THE LA PAZ AIRPORT. THE SHORTEST LEG OF MY JOURNEY, BUT IT DID BEGIN WITH BUT A SINGLE STEP. I THEN FOUGHT MY WAY THROUGH THE LA PAZ AIRPORT, WITHOUT THE AID OF VOLARIS AIRLINE WHICH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LONG HISTORY WITH THEM WAS LESS THAN SUPPORTIVE IN MY EFFORTS TO EXCHANGE MONEDA NACIONAL FOR THEIR SERVICES. I EVENTUALLY FOUGHT THEM TO A DRAW AND LICKED MY WOUNDS AS I BOARDED THE PLANE. IF YOU CAN'T LICK YOUR OWN WOUNDS............

ARRIVING IN TIAJUANA I WAS EXCITED TO AUDITION THE NEW CBX BOARDER CROSSING. THE “CROSS BORDER EXPRESS” IS A NEW TERMINAL ON THE CALIFORNIA SIDE OF THE BORDER, DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM THE TJ AIRPORT. IT IS FOR THE USE OF ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES FOR FOLKS TRAVELING BY AIR ONLY. IT'S 350 YARD WALKWAY, ALL ENCLOSED AND WITH FREE CARTS, ALLOWS YOU TO AVOID ANY WAITING IN LINE WHILE CROSSING THE BORDER, IN EITHER DIRECTION. GUARDED PARKING, DEDICATED CUSTOMS AND IMMIGRATION IN BOTH DIRECTIONS, ALL THE TRIMMINGS. SLICK AS CORN THROUGH A GOOSE, VERY NICE. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. FASTER AND CHEAPER THAN COMING THROUGH CABO FOR ANYONE WITHIN A 3 HOUR DRIVE OF THE BORDER. I'LL DO IT AGAIN.

I HAD PREARRANGED FOR ONE “ALVARO THE DRIVER” AND HIS EVER READY SHUTTLE BUS TO WHISK ME TO THE SAN DIEGO AMTRAK STATION, AND HE WAS WAITING IN THE PARKING LOT, TRUSTY STEED CHOMPING ON THE BIT AND WHISKED I WAS. THE SAN DIEGO AMTRAK STATION IS A NOT A GRAND STRUCTURE, BUT IT'S SORTA SPANISH MISSION, FOLKSY, AND THE FOLKS THERE WERE FRIENDLY. I HAD A COUPLE HOURS THERE SO I SAT AND SOAKED UP DOWNTOWN SAN DIEGO. YOUNG FOLKS HUSTLIN' ON THEIR WAY UP THE LADDER OF LIFE CARRYING THEIR BRIEF CASES WHILE OTHERS WERE MARKING TIME WITH THEIR SHOPPING CARTS FULL OF ALL OF THEIR EARTHLY BELONGINGS. ONE CHAP STUCK OUT. HE WAS OVER 6 FEET TALL, AND I'M SURE WHEN HE LOOKED IN THE MIRROR, WHICH I AM EQUALLY SURE HE DID QUITE OFTEN, HE SAW SEAN CONNERY. BALDING AND BEARDED, HE WORE A TWEED SPORT COAT WITH ELBOW PATCHES, WOOL SLACKS, AND TASSELED LOAFERS, NATURALLY WITHOUT SOCKS. HE WAS MOUNTED ON A SEGUE, ZOOMING ALONG WITH 3 LED HEADLIGHTS POINTING HIS PATH THROUGH THE NIGHT, A LARGE IPHONE DEVICE IN HIS RIGHT HAND ILLUMINATING HIS FACE, AND ROBERT PLANT SCREAMING FROM HIS SPEAKERS (“BEEN A LONG TIME...”). HE CUT QUITE A CAREFULLY CHISELED FIGURE AND CERTAINLY SIGNALED TO ME THAT I HAD LEFT LA PAZ FAR BEHIND.

ON TO THE TRAIN, CIVILIZED TRANSPORT TO BE SURE. SNACKS, COMPLIMENTARY DRINKIES, A GREAT VIEW OF PEOPLES' BACK YARDS, ALL WHILE WE ZOOMED PAST CARS STUCK IN FREEWAY COAGULATION. THE CADENCE OF THE RAILS REMINDING ME OF MY FAVORITE SCENE IN “THE MUSICMAN”, “BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW THE TERRITORY”. PULLED INTO UNION STATION IN L.A. NOW THERE'S A BUILDING. LIKE THE SAN DIEGO STATION IT IS OF THE MISSION STYLE OF ARCHITECTURE, BUT THIS ONE IS BIG. MULIIPLICITY OF TUNNELS HEADING OFF TO LOADING PLATFORMS LIKE GIANT MOLE RUNS, AND A LOBBY THAT IMPRESSES BOTH IN SIZE AND ELEGANCE. BEST OF ALL, MY SISTER MARSHA WAS THERE, WAITING TO WHISK ME FURTHER ONWARDS. WHOLE LOTTA WHISKIN' GOIN' ON. THIS TIME IN THE DIRECTION OF HER HOME IN WESTLAKE VILLAGE. JOURNEY FOR THE DAY, ABOUT 13 HOURS. A BRIEF CONVERSATION WITH HER HUSBAND DAVID, A FEW HOURS SLEEP, AND WE WERE ONCE AGAIN IN HER CAR SPEEDING NORTHWARD TOWARDS LOS GATOS.

THE DRIVE WAS QUITE PLEASANT, GOOD CONVERSATION, A WANDERING REVIEW OF OUR 6 PLUS DECADES TOGETHER. STOPPED IN KING CITY FOR A VERY FINE BOWL OF PHO. LOST THE WAR, GAINED A CUISINE. THE KING CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS TUCKED INTO STEAMING BOWLS OF NOODLES, AND SLURPING CONTENTEDLY. WOULDN'T HAVE THAT WITHOUT IMMIGRANTS SR. TRUMP. I KNOW THAT DIGESTING 15 MILLION IMMIGRANTS IN BASICALLY ONE GULP ISN'T THE EASIEST THING, BUT YOU, ME, AND THE PHO FOLKS, ALL IMMIGRANTS SON, SO I SUGGEST THAT YOU TAKE YOUR OPINIONS AND STUFF 'EM WHERE THE PHO DON'T SHINE.

LOS GATOS IS A VERY WEALTHY LITTLE BERG TUCKED UP AGAINST THE COAST RANGE BETWEN SAN JOSE AND SANTA CRUZ. 2 FERRARI AGENCIES, MANY FINELY APPOINTED RESTAURANTS, AND SATED RESIDENTS PUSHING BABY CARRIAGES THAT COST MORE THAN I PAID FOR A CAR UNTIL I WAS 30 YEARS OLD. IT ALSO CONTAINS THE FACILITY THAT HOUSES MY MOM. A VERY NICE PLACE EMPLOYING SOME VERY NICE PEOPLE. I WILL NOT GO INTO THE DETAILS OF BETTYS' SITUATION AS THAT'S SORT OF FAMILY BUSINESS, BUT SUFFICE IT TO SAY THAT SHE ENTERS THE FINAL LEG OF HER EARTHLY JOURNEY IN RELATIVELY FINE FETTLE. I AM GRATEFUL THAT:

-SHE'S IN A GOOD PLACE.

--DAUGHTER KELLY IS CLOSE BY, VISITS OFTEN, AND SEEMS TO HAVE DEVELOPED THE KIND OF RELATIONSHIP WITH HER GRANDMA THAT YOU WOULD WANT YOUR CHILD TO HAVE.

---MY SISTER TAKES A LOT OF TIME FROM HER ALREADY TOO BUSY LIFE TO MONITOR BETTYS' CARE AND HOUSING SITUATION CLOSELY.

GOT TO VISIT WITH KELLY A BIT, ENOUGH TO DOWNLOAD HER JAM PACKED ACTIVITY AND EDUCATIONAL ITINERARY. SHE'S IN THE HOME STRETCH ON HER DEGREE AND IS INTERNING AT BOTH THE CROSBY AND THE SUPER BOWL THIS YEAR, AND SEEMS TO BE ACCELERATING TOWARDS THE FINISH LINE.

ALSO CROSSED PATHS WITH BARNARD. LONG TIME FRIEND AND SOMETIMES SUBJECT OF THESE WRITINGS, BARNARD AND HIS WIFE SANDY, AND 5TH CHILD, #5 TO YOU AND ME, STOPPED BY OUR HOTEL TO SAY HI AND TALK FOR AWHILE. WE SHOT SOME OLD SHIT, AND BID EACH OTHER A FOND ADEAU.
AFTER VISITING BETTY A COUPLE OF TIMES A DAY, FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS, WE HEADED SOUTH. MARSHA DROVE, WE TALKED, I NAPPED. EVERY TIME I REGAINED CONSCIOUSNESS WE WERE PASSING VINEYARDS. GRAPES, GRAPES, AND MORE GRAPES. SOME OF YOU FOLKS MUST BE DRINKIN' A WHOLE LOTTA VINO. OUR DRIVE TERMINATED IN 1000 OAKS, CALIFORNIA, AT THE HOUSE OF MY DAUGHTER GLYNNIS. THERE ARE A LOT OF OAK TREES THERE, I DIDN'T COUNT THEM. GLYNNIS LIVES IN A HOUSE WITH EQUAL HALF STEVEN AND ROOMATE PAUL. KINDA STRANGE WHEN YOU'VE ALWAYS DEALT WITH YOUR KIDS ON YOUR OWN HOME TURF, TO GO TO THEIR FIRST REAL HOUSE FOR THE FIRST REAL TIME. THEY WERE FRIENDLY, ANIMATED, AND HOSPITABLE, KINDA LIKE WALKING ONTO THE SET AT “FRIENDS” I WOULD IMAGINE. THEY COMMUNITY PREPARED A FINE REPAST, STEPHEN WAS IN CHARGE, AND FULLY CAPABLE. THERE FOR, YOU GUESSED IT, 13 HOURS, AND THEN BACK ON THE TRAIN, BOUND FOR OCEANSIDE AND HE WHO IS KNOWN AS FRITZ. AS IS OUR WANT WE TALKED, WE ARGUED, WE ENJOYED EACH OTHERS' COMPANY AS WE HAVE FOR YEARS. HAD SOME FINE MEXICAN FOOD FOR DINNER, SORT OF TUNIN' UP FOR MY HOMECOMING. FRITZ IS A GREAT HOST, AND I AM GRATEFUL TO HIM AS ALWAYS. QUANTITY OF TIME SPENT IN OCEANSIDE? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER.

FRITZ DROVE ME TO THE BORDER, WHERE I DID THE REVERSE WETBACK, TO THE TJ AIRPORT. THIS TIME VOLARIS AND I GOT ALONG FINE AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST AND SOON MY FAVORITE PART OF THE TRIP, SEEING JANE, WAS HAPPENING. DREX CHECKED ME INTO THE JONES FACILITIES AND IT WAS AS IF A LONG DREAM, PERHAPS OF 13 HOURS, HAD ENDED.

CASTILLO, ALVARO, UNKNOWN TRAIN ENGINEERS, MARSHA, KELLY, BARNEY, GLYNNIS, STEVEN, PAUL, HANS, VOLARIS: THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE IN ASSEMBLING AND EXECUTING THIS JIG SAW PUZZLE OF A JOURNEY.

AND TO STUART, IF MY MOM THINKS THAT YOU ARE A LOSER, THEN I'M AFRAID THAT YOU ARE.

THANKS FOR READING
DAVID