Sat Fishing

We went out with a local fishing outside the reef. Was a very slow day, fishing wise, or I should say landing the fishing wise. I had what the locals thought must have been a huge grouper, as it bent the pole I had in to a "J". It went into the coral, where my 17 pound line was no match.

Speaking of poles, Arlen, another guy from Wichita went out with us. He jumped on at the last minute, and didn't have a pole. The locals here rarely use a pole, most use a hand reel.

By hand reel, we are talking about anything that you can line fishing line around. From a Belikin (beer) bottle, up to a spool that you would by fishing line on, all the way up to a bigger reel that you can slip over your arm.

No more broken tips of fishing poles if you fish like the locals!



Arlen caught this on a hand line, he had quite the fight.

Arlen stood back and let the locals land this guy, a black tipped reef shark, I believe.

A quick shot for the camera, then back in the water.

Overall, fishing here wasn't very good, but I did do better doing some reef fishing later on. Reef fishing is were you wade out in the water, as deep as you feel you want to.

My first exposure to this was water just above the waist, now I have been in water that was up to my shoulders, and you had to hold your arms above your shoulders to keep your pole out of water.

I was pretty innovative with holding the pole in my mouth to bait, and placing the butt of the pole in my shirt pocket to remove fish. No place for a camera when fishing like this.

Weds Bikin' and Snorklin'

Started off the day beachbikin' to our friends place 1.5 miles north early this morning. I was going to go fishing, but ended up just snorkeling. Saw a huge grouper, a few green morays. I spent an hour or so, then came back to the villa.

I had such a good time, I loaded up the camera, grabbed Dana and Dave, and we headed back. The sun was out and it was a great day, we had a great time. Still learning how this little camera works, but for my second time in the water with it, I was pleased so far. Whadda think?

I ended up swiming all the way to the reef and beyond, then returned back to the beach, and rode back to the villa.

All in all, I think I hit about 6 miles on the bike and 3 hours or so snorkling. I gotta tell ya, I think I like thsi physical activity much better than riding the bike trails and walking in Kansas!



Grey Angel on the Reef




Damel (I think) next to some coral.

The Reef!

(updated)

Yesterday, I headed out to the barrier reef in a small kayak.

It's a short (long if it is blowing like yesterday) trip from the pier here.

The conditions were not to favorable, but I really wanted to dive. I loaded up all of my gear, and off I went.

Two strokes forward and the waves and wind, pushing me back about a stroke. No way to really measure it, but it is sure it's true, or at least what it felt like.

Not sure how long it took me to get to the reef, as time kinda stands still on this journey. Once I arrived at the inside edge reef, I was just a few feet away from outside of the reef.

Today the waves were wild, here again difficult to measure when you are in a small kayak, but guessing 6-10 feet. Let's just say, I knew I was one wave away from capsizing.

I kinda planned for that, as I had all of my gear lashed and tied in. Still was really hoping it didn't happen.

Where I was I could look out of my tiny little kayak and see the purple sea fans waving in under the waves, as if saying:

come one in....

The waters fine....

Then I did it. to be continued.

If you want me to continue, leave a comment, I'd like to hear from everyone that is reading the blog... otherwise, I'll return to Paradise, and enjoy my days here...

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Ok, a few readers out there,,, good! Now back to the kayak. I was at the end of the reef, looking for a place to dive, I could look overboard and see under the water, fish, corals sea fans, etc. All very inviting.

All would be there for me another day. I opted out of this dive because the conditions were not favorable. I started my long journey back, disappointed that I didn't dive, but safe.

Back at the palapa, grabbed a Belikin and watched the waves crashing in at the reef, just about 500 yards away.

The sea tempted me, but I escaped unscathed.