A Flash of Silver →

1986

2023

To a blue water fisherman,"8 to 10" is not a measure of time. In the not-so-Pacific Ocean off Baja, California, Mexico, little whitecaps topped big whitecaps, and the following sea pounded the Tiburon, a 31-foot Bertram sport fishing boat.

 We were fishing for billfish, white marlin (Kajikia albida) in particular. My darling Iris' complexion matched her white fishing pants. She was face down on the padded cover of the diesel engines in a cold sweat, fighting against the raging sea.

We were having a fruitless hunt for the evasive billfish. Suddenly, the mate Jose gave out a whoop, and Captain Rosendo Gomez cut back the engines. We had a strike on the line! A jumping marlin is akin to a ballet dancer doing a sissonne—graceful and exciting beyond description!

Remarkably, Iris recovered and hopped into the fighting chair while Jose placed the rod in its holder. Reeling in more than 100 yards of line with a fighting fish of over 100 pounds resisting on the other end is no mean feat in a pounding sea.

This was certainly a challenge for a small, beautiful lady. With adrenalin and an occasional assist from the mate, Iris pulled in the marlin! Of course, I gave constant support and instructions.

The white marlin was quickly and carefully taken from the blue sea, hook removed, photographed, and returned uninjured to the indigo deep.

On the way into the port, I held a cold Pacifico beer in one hand and a Cuban cigar in the other as we passed El Arco, the distinctive, imposing landmark of Cabo San Lucas.

The captain slowed the craft to enter the busy harbor. In my mind, I heard the triumphal march from Verdi's opera "Aida." What a day!

 Just when we thought the excitement of the day was over, hovering pelicans covered the bow, flying at exactly the speed of the Tiburon or alighting on the boat.

Past experience had wizened these birds. We had used only a few of our live bait fish.

Now the mate held a foot-long wiggling fish in his hand, teased the pelicans, and then tossed it high in the air. The fastest pelican snatched the fish and swallowed it in a single gulp!

The frenzy became more interesting when a huge sea lion rolled and zoomed up to the stern and placed his paws on the gunnel. With a grunt, he signaled that he expected a bait fish, and we granted his wish.

Soon another sleek, tawny sea lion joined the extravagant feeding event.

It was a great day of adventure on the high seas.

 What a homecoming gala! Life is good!

 In 1933, Ernest Hemingway wrote:

My admiration for marlin knows no bounds. They are fast as light, strong as bucks. Fishing for these great fish is completely and utterly satisfying as a sport, a living, a spectacle and a form of exercise.