Well, I finally got a new camera. I bought the same as the one I drowned as I have separate lens for it. Surprisingly, I picked it up on ebay for $75, think I paid $700 when new! I’ve been trying to bear the heat, but 2 weeks ago I set up my AC. Now it can be 107 outside and inside I’m comfortable at 75 AND no more mosquitoes or no seeums! and that is huge! A few weeks ago there was a Dorado tourny and I hooked up with a complete stranger,

urged on me by friends. I usually fish with Richard and we get along great. Being with a stranger on a small boat for 2 days is well…..Bob assured me he didn’t have much gear and was easy going. He shows up with a 7′ x 3′ fishing bag to hold the catch! Great expectations! It is filled with ice and barely fits in the V bow. Moving it is like moving a body bag. Hence “Body Bag Bob” or BBB for short. The next day I convince him that the fish bag leaks and is a PITA, but he still insists on lugging it along. The Dorado are out about 25 miles and the boat has an iffy fuel pump. Due to the fuel pump and choppy seas, we decided not to risk going out that far. This was also the situation on the second day. BBB and I were both disappointed, but we saved $75 in gas. We try for Yellowtail and BBB hooks something large. After an hour of slow grunts and groans, BBB brings up a 6′ + Manta Ray. We release the ray and try bottom fishing. BBB is not a happy camper. Luckily, we catch a ton of bass and trigger fish and even a Hombolt squid.

Had a Bar B Que that night featuring steamed bass and calamari. Happy ending.
Meet a fantastic family from Sweden. They flew into NYC, bought an RV in NJ and started their travels across the USA and into Baja about 6 weeks ago. They stayed at Cuesta Real Hotel / RV park http://hotelcuestareal.com/ for a week, prepping for the journey and then moved to Coyote Beach for a week of warm water and beach life. They are on their way to Panama. Great people.
I bought some snorkeling gear 3 weeks ago and having a blast viewing the vast variety of fish at the different beaches. The water is 75-80 degrees , so no wet suit needed, but sunblock and a shirt are needed to keep the hot sun from scorching. The beaches are not full, maybe half the palapas are in use and most are Mexican families for Norte. There is always a party with lots of food, Tecate and great people. Mousse, my dog, loves the water and thinks anyone swimming is there for him to play with. He gets invited to all the parties. I tag along.
Pepe and Sandra went to the mainland, Leon for their daughters graduation ( the second daughter to become a lawyer). They asked me to be in charge. I’m doing this at the busiest time of the year, 90% of the guests are Mexicanos, I speak very few words of Spanish ( but improving) and have 2 – 17yo helpers and an experienced housekeeper, Nelly and a maintenance man, ChaChuey, none of them speak any english. The 17 yo girl kept using white out and erasers on the reservation sheet, see pic.
What a mess. It wasn’t too bad until a guest shows up with a reservation for 2 rooms and convinces someone to give him 3 rooms. Needless to say, I was juggling rooms all week. The families spend all day at the beach then return to cook huge meals and party till the wee hours. As the “manager”, I got invited to all and meet some great people, many of which I will stay in touch with.
I’ve been busy, but not sure what with. Put a new clutch in Antonio’s Suzuki and overhauled his transfer case. It went thru the flood, so there are many problems, but getting them sorted. He bought it for 10 pesos from a guest here. Getting auto parts here is not easy, you order a part, it may or may not come in a week and half the time it is the wrong part. I’ve been adding a lot of graphics to my store and sales have been brisk. http://zazzle.com/zgdesign*
Last night it rained for 2 hours! First rain, other than 2 – 5 minute sprinkles, since Sept. So, today is cloudy, also a first and cool, 95 degrees and 40% humidity.
Here is a Fishing story from my outing 2 days ago.
Dorado (Mahi-mahi)
So it had been about 6 weeks since I was out fishing. Tried to get out many times, but either no gas money, wrong tides, strong winds or whatever, I was anxious. Pepe and Sandra returned Tuesday evening, but slept most of wed. So, today was my big chance. Pepe wanted to go and Mario and possibly another guy. As Pepe has returned to drinking after 72 days sober, I knew it would not make the 5:30 am start, Mario wasn’t going to convince his wife to stay another day and I had serious doughs about the other waking that early. Lo and behold, no one was around at the early hour and that was terrific – I could fish and relax. The launch went smoothly. Having learned my lesson the hard way, I tested the steering before starting and putting her in gear. It was froze solid. Someone else was preparing to launch and the dock was already full with a disabled panga. What to do? A Mexican fisherman jumped aboard and I rocked the engine while he turned the wheel. It finally loosened up enough to get out to sea. I wasted 1/2 hr with the steering and the sun was rising. Made bait, 2 tiny big eye mackerel and noticed two pangas on either side of me, Mateo and Victor, the local fishing tour captains. Off I went and they followed, figured I must be going in the right direction. Got half way to Punta Concepcion and started trolling. Mateo and Victor did the same, but were trolling slightly faster. Suddenly Victors boat has a hit and stops to reel her in. It looked small and dark, maybe a Bonita. Dorado was the target fish for all, but Bonita are tasty too. Not knowing for sure it wasn’t a Dorado, I turn right and double back, Mateo turns left and doubles back. Military precision at its finest. Back to the wedge formation now, heading due east into the hot sun. I’m leading in my red and white boat and the white pangas have got my sides. After about 15 minutes they pull ahead, I debate whither to increase speed and decide it is best that I follow the pros. Suddenly, weeeeeeeeee, my line is flying off the reel, the reel clicker is going 90 mph, my ticker is also going 90 mph. I grab the pole and realize I have a FISH. He is taking line and jumping clear out of the water, golden bright yellow and a brilliant colbalt blue. He quits prancing after about 5 minutes and lets me reel him in. I’m stunned and disappointed, I wanted a true fight. This is too easy. I get him about 10 feet from the boat and start organizing how I will pick up the gaff, while maintaining control of the rod, how I will gaff him , again with out loosing the pole. Wham, off he goes, straight out to the deep sea. The reel is screaming, my muscles are screaming. I’m holding on with everything I’ve got. He turns, I get a few cranks in, he slows, a few more cranks, he rests, a few more turns. Sap, off he goes, but tires quickly. Finally after about 10 minutes ( 2 hours?) I get him near the boat. Now, I he goes under the boat, I do a pole around radio antenna dance, somehow not breaking the antenna or loosing to pole and Mr Dorado. This happens two or three times, And I’m wondering who will win. At some point I grabbed the gaff and launch my attack, then remembering to launch my attack from underneath him and hook him so he can’t side off. Second attempt is strong and grabs him in the head, perfect. I bring him aboard, remove the hook and somehow get him mostly in the cooler, with out him trashing around and making a departure overboard. John Denning had stopped to watch the action. This was my second Dorodo, the first being a tiny 12lb back in Nov, hardly counted. This Bull was about 25 lbs. I celebrate with an ice cold coke and a smoke. I’m still stoked and grab the radio and yell YeeHaa. I caught back up with Victor and
Mateo and gave them the thumbs up sign. And showed them that it was at least 6′ long, well, ……, it was about 42” tho, coiled into a 30” cooler. I troll for another hour out near the Mines, several boats doing the same thing. Radio talk is “they are out here” but no one was taking great numbers. I put the Bimini top up as I’m baking. So now, if I get a hit, not only do I have to shut down the boat, but also put the bimini down. I think it thru, yep, doable if I wedge the pole in my left side, on it in tension against the windshield, kill the engine, reach across the 6′ beam and unsnap the top, etc.. I enjoy the shade for half an hour and realize if I get another fish, this Bimini is going to be one huge PITA. I apply more sun block and lower the Bimini. Another hour and I’m melting, have drank 3 liters of water and 2 cokes and 2 coffees. I decide to head back in and I go over Wilburs Hole again where I got the earlier one. Bam, I get hit again. I watched him jump a few times, but he broke free. I came back in early, with enough gas for tomorrow!! Mahi-mahi is absolutely delicious, as well as being a fun fish to catch. Taking the camera next time!
more info
http://www.mexfish.com/fish/dorad/dorad.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahi-mahi