July eBook pages 1-91 (16.1 MB) - Latitude 38

Outboard Engine Owners:
WE UNDERSTAND
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Page 56 • Latitude 38 • July, 2010
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COURTESY MESHACH
LETTERS
weight of a bit over 75 pounds.
As a competitive diver for 14+ years with the Long Beach
Neptunes, the oldest free-diving organization in the United
States, and someone who dislikes being called a liar, I was
loath to submit the fi sh to the club with a questionable weight.
So I chose the lower number. In hindsight, I should have gotten
accurate measurements of the fi sh so I could have used
a formula to verify the weight. I personally believe that the
fi sh was much larger than 75 lbs — perhaps even over 100
lbs. In any event, it sure was a grand fi sh and a great day.
For those who are curious, I took the fi sh near Roca Corbetena,
which is about 15 miles offshore of Punta Mita, which
many people know is at the tip of Banderas Bay, Mexico. I
was diving with Thor, his friend Michael who was visiting
from Hawaii, and their young boys, Tristan, Sasha and Max.
While at Tenancatita Bay months earlier, Thor and I had
hatched the plan to do a "boys'
trip" to Roca Corbetena right
after the Banderas Bay Regatta,
as Michael, who is also a keen
breath-hold spearfisherman,
would have a few days before
returning home. I suggested Corbetena,
as I'd dived it on several
times, and knew it to be a good
spot for pelagics.
Thor agreed to skipper and
I agreed to guide, so after the
post-regatta party, we took off at
Ethan's prized pargo likely
weighed more than 75 lbs.
4 a.m. from Paradise Marina. We
arrived at the rock mid-morning,
and found light wind and seas.
It was perfect. Our quarry of
choice was yellow fi n tuna, and
we started out diving a couple of high spots. Michael and I
were in the water, while Thor ran the boat 'live', shuttling us
up-current each time we drifted through. We found bait, but
no tuna or other game fi sh, so we decided to drift to the rock
itself. This was much more interesting, as there was good
visibility and lots of bait, as well as large jacks, cabrilla and
wahoo. Despite several sightings of the latter, I was unable
to get close enough to take one.
After several trips past the rock, and with the boys itching
to get back to Punta Mita to do some surfi ng, Thor and I
agreed to one last pass. I was gliding down off a ledge at about
45 feet when a school of 100+/- pargo breezed by unaware
below me. I lined up on the largest shoulder I saw and fi red,
hitting the fi sh centerline behind the dorsal fi n. When that
happened, it was off to the races. Happily for me, the fi sh
ran deep. After much huffi ng and puffi ng, I was able horse
him up before he found a hole to hide in. The kids, fi shermen
all, went nuts when I swam the fi sh back to the boat. As for
me, I was simply pleased to pull off the hat trick in such fi ne
style!
My thanks to Thor — for the ride and for running the
boat.
Ethan Smith
Eyoni, Ovni 36
Ya Ta Hey, NM / Currently at Santa Rosalia, BCS
Readers — We asked Ethan for some information about
diving for fi sh in Mexico. He responded as follows:
"As far as I know, shooting fi sh using scuba gear is illegal
in Mexico. But as you probably know, that depends on whom
you ask and when.