Fish Story

SSSSSSSSZZZZZZZZ…the sharp  metallic mechanical whirring of a fishing reel being unspooled by a big fish pierced the afternoon air. “Fish on the line!” shouted skipper Paul Wagner. “

We had been cruising right on the edge of the soundings line, the border between depths a marine depth sounder can accurately record and the gorgeous blue water over the underwater canyons too deep to record on the depth sounder.

Marine paradise, two miles off Great Exuma on the southeast end of the Bahama Islands. A dozen brilliant shades of water from blue to green, sandy beaches, warm trade winds kissing my bare shoulders, clean salt air blowing through my hair. New Englanders are rendered speechless with sights and sensations like this. We’d been trolling in the deepest blue water for about an hour and a half.The hope of fresh fish for dinner was fading. But disappointment is easy to absorb in paradise. The music of that steely rachet spooling from the fishing reel put the idea of fish back on the front burner.

Blue water was foaming from the thrust of the 150 HP outboard on the 21 foot center console Alcar fishing boat. The rod bent and whipped. Whatever was on the line was in full flight mode.

Command structure ensued.

“Take the helm and throttle down!”
“Reel in the other line!”

The captain began to reel in, pause, tug the rod, reel in again, pull his shoulders back and tug the rod in from his perch on the stern deck. Four minutes later the black mackeral-like markings of a thirty inch wahoo were within sight.

“Open the fish box!”, the captain shouted as he gave a final heave and landed the writhing fish into the fish box in the stern, slamming it shut as soon as the line was cut.

Recipes* for a fresh wahoo dinner began in earnest.

*The winner:filet of wahoo, rubbed rubbed with salt, T hot chili oil, lemon juice. Marinate for couple hours, served with salsa of avocado, lg tomato,half onion, cilantro,  juice of one lemon. salt and pepper.