Being a Cork on the Ocean

The fishing is fantastic in the ocean around Pedasi. It is world renowned and highly sought after. Especially for Yellow Fin Tuna.

We decided to try and slay a few tuna.

The fisherman met us in our hotel the night before and arrangements were made. The cost...$130. All inclusive, boat, fuel and tackle.

Now, I don't know about you, but I was thinking of fishing the way it is done in say Mexico.

You find a large, clean, dry dock, with a gleaming white substantial boat. You are met by your host with a huge tray of fresh, cut up fruit and all the drinks you could possibly want.

Not!!!!

These fishermen, pros who have been doing it all their lives, have Pangas. What is a Panga you ask?

Well, it is a row boat, about 22 feet long with a 40 horse power outboard motor on the stern. No life jackets, no oars, no radio or cell phone, no...nothing but a highly skilled fisherman, very limited tackle (but all you need) and a sense of adventure.

The adventure is the operative part.

The boats are launched into the surf off the beach. This is a tricky and dangerous event. I should have known we were improperly dressed when the fisherman showed up in a bathing suit.

We were in jeans and long sleeved shirts to protect us from the sun.

What a mistake!

We got thoroughly wet launching the boat. Then continued to get wetter as we plowed through the ocean swells.

I am used to waves on lakes, not the ocean. These waves were jumbled, coming from all directions. It was impossible to keep the boat in a comfortable position.

We went WAY out in the ocean, beyond the sight of land. That puckered me up!

I kept thinking, what and the hell are we doing out here?

We did catch a couple of Bonitos, a fighting fish that is not eatable.

But, a lass, no tuna.

I made in 3 hours before I started hurling from sea sickness. And I took sea sickness medication before we left. The action of the boat on the jumbled waves was ridiculous.

When we got back to the beach, I was SO GRATEFUL.

No more ocean fishing for this landlubber.

However, this fishing trip would have cost around $1000 in other tourist locations. For us it was only $130...safety be damned!

P.S. We met a couple of guys who had been out in a little different location fishing the same day we were. They caught 16 tuna. Damn! We got skunked.