What else do you do in a city known as “The Sailfish Capital of the World” but hire a sport fishing boat and crew for the day just to see if it’s true? Known for its excellent sport fishing, Manzanillo, Mexico lies along two crescent shaped bays separated by the scenic outcrop of Santiago Peninsula. Beyond fishing, there are perfect beaches for sun seekers and sea lovers and on land, lush golf courses and resorts.
We had booked a charter in advance and with our friends from home, John and Kathy traveling with us from Miami to San Francisco, and our newfound friends onboard, Melody and Randy, we were met at the pier by our friendly Captain Ruben, who took us the short distance to his boat, the Lori III. There we met his two able crewmen who, in an elaborate system designed to keep from getting crossed and tangled, rigged and baited seven lines as we headed out to the bays at full throttle in the salty wind and mid morning sunshine.
Barely twenty minutes into our ride, the crew jumped to attention when one of the lines dipped. Totally unprepared in the heat of the action, we called Dean to the fighting chair to reel it in, which turned out to be a large and challenging Mahi Mahi. So now, with renewed confidence and rushing adrenaline, we all figured we needed a plan and then decided who would be next. Sure enough, shortly after, we had another hit and I took this one, another Mahi Mahi. Throughout the day everyone had a catch, including more Mahi Mahi, small sharks, and even little Bonitas, whose will to fight belied their small size. Meanwhile, we enjoyed fresh ceviche with crispy fried tortillas and cold beers under the covered mezzanine, and saw playful dolphins, a sea turtle and, here in the height of their migrating season, even blowing and diving gray whales as if waving to us with their tail flukes.
Manzanillo did not quite prove to us to be “The Sailfish Capital of the World”, but it came pretty close. Driving us back to the ship, Ruben confided that he had seen a sailfish take our line on the way back in to the bay, but before the crew could set it, it got free, all unnoticed by us as, despite a sailfish trophy, we were busy basking in the glory of our own angling adventures on this splendid day.
Love sharing your photos of your day angling for sailfish! Exciting day!