Fishing Expedition

For our last full day in Belize we're headin' out to the ol' fishin hole. By which I mean we booked a small fishing boat to take us trolling in the ocean and to get a fly fishing lesson. 

Up bright and early, we hopped on the boat and Arthur (our fishing guru) took us waaaaaaay out to the middle of the ocean. I have to admit it was a little unnerving taking such a small boat more than an hour straight into the heart of an ocean storm... 

Despite the apparent inclement weather, we arrived at a very specific, surprisingly nondescript spot of ocean. Arthur explained that a large school of Spanish Mackerel and King Mackerel spend time on the deeper fringes of this random shoal. 

Dropping our lures, we began trolling at fairly high speed. In seconds I had a bite! And a feisty one at that! Reeling it in, Arthur identified it as a bonito - the very salty, fishy fish that is flaked and put on many Asian dishes. Described as "not good eating" back into the ocean went the bonito. Maybe not good eating, but very fun fishing!

The crew's luck continued as mom, Cassidy (a family friend), and I each caught a mackerel. 

You could say Erin is half as lucky as us... She felt a bite, started reeling, felt a big tug and pulled in an eviscerated mackerel. Acting quickly, the guide hooked the fish head on the line, threw it behind us, and gave dad the rod to reel in the barracuda that snatched Erin's fish!

Look at those teeth!

Erin caught another piece of barracuda bait, and a whole fish eventually. After trolling, the boat shifted course and we set off for a private island to try our hand at fly fishing. 

Mom took off snorkelling while the rest of us practised our fly casting technique. I think I was okay at it! No one got hooked or whacked. Success!

The main target of our fly fishing were bone fish. Although not good eating, the bone fish is supposed to be among the feistiest of fish, even rivalling the strength of a tuna. Despite our guide's best efforts (hand catching and skewering a crab), we couldn't entice a bone fish to bite. 

We had 4 mackerel and a big great barracuda to show for our efforts. Back at the Chabil Mar resort, the kitchen staff did an AMAZING job preparing our catch. We had the mackerel tempura battered and lightly fried and the barracuda grilled with avocado papaya salsa. I found barracuda to be a white and meatier fish, like swordfish.

Some people do not eat fish...

We enjoyed our last meal and last hours in Belize out on a palapa on the pier. Fresh caught fish, ocean breeze, full moon and family. What a way to end a spectacular trip.