That's My Story

FROM THE COCONUT TELEGRAPH

Originally published week of Nov. 13, 2006 Western Outdoor News

This week…bits and pieces I’ve scratched out on my tackle box that I wanted to pass onto you.

THE BAJA 1000 – The 39th running of one of the most grueling races kicks off this week. It starts in Ensenada Nov. 15th (Wednesday). The “survivors” who arrive on time Nov. 18th (Saturday) should be in La Paz. Believe me, the desert extracts a huge payment and a lot of teams and cars don’t make it or hobble in way after the fiesta is over, like being the last person in the Boston Marathon.

If you’re planning a spur-of-the-moment trip to any place along the race route and expect to find lodging…NOT! You’d better bring a sleeping bag because even many of the worst cucaracha places have been sold out for months let alone the nicer places along the route. Many rooms have been rented at a premium and have a waiting list to get in.

The old saying of “lead, follow or get outta the way!” is probably going to be really true as a record breaking 400 plus entries are expected from 11 countries and 35 states plus their teams and entourages. This is a major event. I haven’t decided what I’m doing yet. I’m either leaving town or I’m gonna get a lawn chair and an ice chest and watch from a hill far above the crowds, but it should be a lot of fun.

TROUBLES in PARADISE? – I don’t want to say it’s widespread, but several incidents at the airports have been reported enough that I’m gonna mention it. Something is smelling fishy at the Tijuana and Cabo airports.

Several anglers reported that at the Cabo airport, their ice chests were routinely searched and re-taped. No big whup. But then, when they got to their U.S. destinations, the ice chests were found to have been opened and fish either removed or, in at least one case, someone else’s fish was found in the ice chest! He packed gallon bags of dorado and found smaller bags of someone else’s tuna when he got home. A hocus-pocus-slight-of-hand-going on?

Also, at both the Cabo and the Tijuana airports, beware of the “heavy-finger-behind-the-counter” trick. The last several months, I’ve sent clients home with full ice chests that were weighed before they left for the airport. However, when the clients got to the airport to depart, their ice chests somehow “gained” weight by as much as 10 or even 20 pounds! Now, I don’t have the world’s most accurate scale, but it’s not THAT bad or that off.

The clients were then required to either pay an exorbitant overweight fee (one paid $6 extra per pound over) or were required to lighten the load and hand out bags of fish to airport employees who were only too happy to help.

Here’s the further rub. When I started hearing about this, I started to advise clients to tell the airline employee they had no cash and only credit cards to pay. Interestingly, many times the airlines folks would wave the ice chests through no problem. What? Only interested in cash? No paper trail? Hmmmmm…What happens to the cash that gets collected? Employee’s Christmas fund no doubt. Sure. Right. Always ask for a receipt.

I’m not saying this is widespread nor to I want to paint everyone with the same brush. Thousands of folks go through daily with nothing but good experiences. But keep an eye out.

PHOTO 1: Dr. Craig Petersen swims his giant yellowfin tuna to the surface unaware that he has a spearfishing world record in his hands. He was freediving/spearfishing off Puerta Vallarta.

PHOTO 2: Good thing Craig found a certified scale to weigh the monster 317 pound yellowfin tuna he speared.

THAT’S A LOT of SASHIME – Congratulations to Orange Co. CA chiropractor, Craig Petersen. Craig is one of the growing number of freediving bluewater hunters who have taken up spearfishing in Mexico’s fertile waters. Now, check this, it’s illegal to spearfish with tanks. These guys hold their breaths and dive to incredible depths to hunt. Try holding your own breath for even a minute in the pool. Guys like Craig, dive to 40, 50, 60 or more feet on a single breath of air and stay down for several minutes. Yes, divers do get killed doing this…

Craig was off Puerta Vallarta and popped a new spearfishing world record yellowfin tuna that ran 317 pounds on a certified scale.

“We were diving high spots around a rock about 25 miles out and making dives to about 50 ft and just hanging there for 30 seconds or so. Once in a blue moon a monster tuna will swim by. On this dive I had just leveled off at 50 ft when I saw him in the distance maybe 40 ft. from me. I quickly kicked hard to close the distance and was able to get about 20 feet away before the fish started to act like he didn’t want my company.”

“ I let the shaft fly and it found its mark a bit lower and further back than I would have liked and not as deep of penetration but I hoped the shot would hold. He pulled me around for at least 45 minutes. I think he died or was close to death as I could finally start to pull him up. As I got him to within 30 feet, I could see that the slip tip (detachable spear point) was toggled just under the skin! I decided I would try to grab him and point him up and swim up with him. I tied him off to the boat feeling great but thinking he was only 250 to 280. When we got him on board the captain said he was definitely over 300! WOOOHOOO! Luckily we found an IGFA certified scale and well… I am one happy camper.”

That’s my story. If you ever want to reach me, my e-mail is riplipboy@aol.com.