Adventure on the High Seas

I apologize in advance for typos...the world is still swaying and swash-a-ling around me after mine and Baker's four and a half hour deep see fishing trip.

Baker and I hoped to set out fishing on Monday but due to poor weather we were unable to get out until today. Our trusty captain, Vibert, was a Barbados native but a Costa Rica resident since the early 70s. Tara, Riley and Tae dropped us off at Playa Garza, one beach south of our home beach Playa Guiones and we set out in Vibert's 18 foot wooden boat, through the breakers to the spot where his 27 foot fishing vessel was moored. Before we left the beach, Tara said to me--her favorite weak-stomached waterman, "good luck." Nuff said.

Vibert and his trusty crew (Vibert junior, 23, and Guillermo, ~20) took us out about 3 miles into the Pacific, still well in view of Playa Garza. Our first bit of excitement was the sight of two sea turtles mating! Very cool. And quite impressive. We saw these two lovers two more times over the next hour and both times they were still locked in an embrace. Gentleman, don't let your lady leave you for a turtle...

We had our first bite about an hour into the trip but lost the fish. Our second bite resulted in a beautiful mahi-mahi (aka dorado in the Spanish speaking world). About 15-17 lbs, these fish are just beautiful. An hour or so later, we hauled in another Dorado, a bit larger and a real fighter. Baker and I took turns bringing him in, our arms tired from the strain of the rod and our hands tired from the reeling. The dorado jumped beautifully a number of times, launching himself several feet into the air and across ten feet of the ocean below him. What beautiful power. I like to think that we caught him with some respect for his beauty.

Two Beautiful Fish (and two handsome fisherman!)

Baker was a trooper for his first trip in rather rough seas. He was inflicted with only two things: a bit of a headache and, thrice, having to endure watching his father vomit over the side of the boat. Vibert and crew and Baker too were all very understanding about it.



Tara has been making an outstanding effort since our arrival to reduce the amount of packaging we consume. Last night's dinner was a manifestation of that. We of course had the mahi-mahi, which she prepared deliciously (while I slept off my marea) with olive oil, garlic, and ginger; the fish came with a home-made chunky tomato and ginger salsa; we had arroz con pollo as a side. (She had purchased a whole chicken at the Super Nosara just in case the men-folk returned empty handed from the hunt.) In addition, Riley made some cookies from scratch, rather than our purchasing packaged cookies. All in all, it was a meal in which we were very close to the primary source of the food. And it was delicious.

Riley enjoying her meal.

Mahi Mahi, prepared a la Tara