04-15-2015, 02:20 PM
Not the member (who's a good friend) the fish.
My wife and I went to Playa Del Carmen for a quick anniversary trip. I didn't think there would be a chance to fish as we were only there for four days. My wife back went out the day before we were supposed to go on an excursion we had booked with the resort. They wouldn't refund the money but would transfer it to another activity such as "Fishing!!!" so I booked a massage for my wife and a four hour outing for myself and Mr. Sailfish.
Before I got on the boat I talked with a group who were out all morning and only caught one barracuda. All of them were sick on the boat, one of them was a fishing guide in Alaska (I immediately had second thoughts about going out). The weather was the second worst seas I've ever been out in. I had the boat to myself as everyone else had more sense than I did and canceled as they wanted no part of the swells and wind. Looking back, I'm glad I went but wouldn't go out in those conditions ever again. The boat looked great, until I got in, the exhaust you couldn't get away from, I'm amazed the deck hands are still alive with the carbon monoxide they must ingest every day. As soon as we cleared the reefs around the docks, we were trolling. They had seven lines out, two out riggers with two lines each, two downriggers and a teaser out the back.
I can say I've never experienced a boat going completely sideways in the water (I was wondering if it would roll) until that day. I had my foot on the side of the boat almost standing up, it was crazy. With the water conditions being so rough and the exhaust, soon I was helping my own cause by chumming. Felt much better after that.
When I got back into the docks, a party of three couples saw our boat and said he couldn't believe it, both outriggers were going under water when the boat was being hit by the waves. They couldn't believe we were out there.
The seas seemed to calm down a little after another hour or so. A sailfish came out of the water missing one of our baits, we all got excited at that point knowing we were in some fish. Soon after a reel started going (I've never heard anything take drag like that before), I had him on for about four minutes when a second rod went off, then a third. Both deck hands and myself had sail fish on. It was crazy, lasted about five more minutes until they crossed lines and were all off. My arms were already smoked. The deck hands cleared up the lines and had them out in no time, we trolled back through the spot and a rod went off again. The deck hand took it and ensured the hook was set well (I swing a rod pretty hard, I thought he might break the line he swung so hard), I fought this fish for 30-45 minutes or so and landed him. It was a beautiful sailfish which the pictures do no justice. Great part is, we headed in after as I couldn't lift my left arm anymore, would have been pointless to stay out there if I literally couldn't reel another sailfish in. They were happy to have a short day of work.
The deck hands must have been paid commission on mounting the fish, as soon as it appeared I would land it, all they were talking about is it's a real trophy and I should mount it, they can take care of everything, half down now, half later ($1200.00's) I asked how would I get it to the States? They said they will work that out, I took that as it will cost another thousand likely. The best pictures I got of the Sailfish were the ones below. Does anyone know if a replica could be made with this? I'm guessing it could, just may not be the exact fish which I think I'm okay with. I'm glad I released the fish, the deck hands said it was over 7 feet long. By the pics I don't know how the guess? From tail to bill I would say that wouldn't be a stretch but am no pro at guestimation when it comes to fish.
Overall it was a fun trip and I'm glad I went, but only because I was lucky enough to land a sailfish. Other than that, I should be admitted to the nut house for going out in those waves.
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My wife and I went to Playa Del Carmen for a quick anniversary trip. I didn't think there would be a chance to fish as we were only there for four days. My wife back went out the day before we were supposed to go on an excursion we had booked with the resort. They wouldn't refund the money but would transfer it to another activity such as "Fishing!!!" so I booked a massage for my wife and a four hour outing for myself and Mr. Sailfish.
Before I got on the boat I talked with a group who were out all morning and only caught one barracuda. All of them were sick on the boat, one of them was a fishing guide in Alaska (I immediately had second thoughts about going out). The weather was the second worst seas I've ever been out in. I had the boat to myself as everyone else had more sense than I did and canceled as they wanted no part of the swells and wind. Looking back, I'm glad I went but wouldn't go out in those conditions ever again. The boat looked great, until I got in, the exhaust you couldn't get away from, I'm amazed the deck hands are still alive with the carbon monoxide they must ingest every day. As soon as we cleared the reefs around the docks, we were trolling. They had seven lines out, two out riggers with two lines each, two downriggers and a teaser out the back.
I can say I've never experienced a boat going completely sideways in the water (I was wondering if it would roll) until that day. I had my foot on the side of the boat almost standing up, it was crazy. With the water conditions being so rough and the exhaust, soon I was helping my own cause by chumming. Felt much better after that.
When I got back into the docks, a party of three couples saw our boat and said he couldn't believe it, both outriggers were going under water when the boat was being hit by the waves. They couldn't believe we were out there.
The seas seemed to calm down a little after another hour or so. A sailfish came out of the water missing one of our baits, we all got excited at that point knowing we were in some fish. Soon after a reel started going (I've never heard anything take drag like that before), I had him on for about four minutes when a second rod went off, then a third. Both deck hands and myself had sail fish on. It was crazy, lasted about five more minutes until they crossed lines and were all off. My arms were already smoked. The deck hands cleared up the lines and had them out in no time, we trolled back through the spot and a rod went off again. The deck hand took it and ensured the hook was set well (I swing a rod pretty hard, I thought he might break the line he swung so hard), I fought this fish for 30-45 minutes or so and landed him. It was a beautiful sailfish which the pictures do no justice. Great part is, we headed in after as I couldn't lift my left arm anymore, would have been pointless to stay out there if I literally couldn't reel another sailfish in. They were happy to have a short day of work.
The deck hands must have been paid commission on mounting the fish, as soon as it appeared I would land it, all they were talking about is it's a real trophy and I should mount it, they can take care of everything, half down now, half later ($1200.00's) I asked how would I get it to the States? They said they will work that out, I took that as it will cost another thousand likely. The best pictures I got of the Sailfish were the ones below. Does anyone know if a replica could be made with this? I'm guessing it could, just may not be the exact fish which I think I'm okay with. I'm glad I released the fish, the deck hands said it was over 7 feet long. By the pics I don't know how the guess? From tail to bill I would say that wouldn't be a stretch but am no pro at guestimation when it comes to fish.
Overall it was a fun trip and I'm glad I went, but only because I was lucky enough to land a sailfish. Other than that, I should be admitted to the nut house for going out in those waves.
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