12/18/24-Wednesday-Day 12 “Fishing Success At Last!”

We spend the morning once again watching the water from atop our cliffside camp and this time we get to see a couple of sting rays taking flight, leaping high above the surface before splashing back down in a spectacular fashion. After breakfast and coffee Josh, Darci, and Hannah take off on a hike to a nearby beach while the rest of us hang back at camp to enjoy the slow morning catching up on a bit of work and writing. 

As the afternoon rolls around I once again grab my spear and return to the water. I decided this time to check out a section of rocks just below our campsite and immediately notice an improvement in water clarity over yesterday. With the improved visibility I spot a couple of Cabria hiding among the rocks but they manage to elude me. Soon after, I look to my right and notice a school of what seems to be 50+ Rooster Fish swimming all around me. I take quite a number of unsuccessful shots with my spear before finally sticking one. Remembering yesterday’s disappointment in losing the Hog Fish, I quickly pin the fish to the sea floor so as to let it tire itself out a bit before bringing it to the surface to dispatch it. By this time Josh has joined me in the water and has managed to take a couple small fish as well. As I exit the water Mark is heading out to snorkel and I offer him my spear. Not 10 minutes later he manages to spear his first fish ever, and it’s a Rooster Fish as well!

After cleaning each of our catches on the rocky beach we put them in a salt brine to soak for a couple of hours before frying them for dinner. Apparently most gringos do not like the “fishy” taste of the Rooster Fish but I myself quite enjoy them. Though certainly not my first choice of fish, I won’t hesitate to take one, especially if the options are few and far between. In the evening hours we get a bit more star gazing in before watching another moon rise, after which we all pack it in for the evening.