DON’T MESS WITH MAMA!

« DIALED-in-on-DOLLARS! Originally published the week of June 15, 2011 in Western Outdoor News

DON’T MESS WITH MAMA!

June 25, 2011 by riplipboy

More and more of the gals are on the water...AND THEY CAN FISH!

DON’T MESS WITH MAMA!

Originally Published the Week of June 28, in Western Outdoor News

We cautiously approached
Larry’s panga from a distance. He and his wife Laura are a great retired couple
who love to fish. Today, they were
fishing just south of Cerralvo
Island. As we got closer, it was clear
that Laura was on a huge tuna.

She was sitting on the little triangular deck at the
bow…essentially “on the floor.”
Her butt on the deck… feet forward and braced up against the inside of
the gunwale which, at the bow, was only about 8 inches high. Like the position the anchor-person assumes
at the tail-end of a tug-of-war-rope! Rod triple-bent in her straining hands with
the tip almost touching the water. It
was evident that the heavy 22-foot fiberglass panga was slowing being towed by
the massive fish.

But, all was not well.

She was pulling for all she was worth in the bow. Grimacing with effort. Lips pursed.
Arms locked with knuckles just barely above the rim of the
gunwales. She seemed to be
“glaring” at hubby, Larry. And
not because of sun or sweat in her eyes.

Larry’s at the opposite end… in the stern. Fumbling with his own rod and limp line in
the water and not even paying attention
to the epic event at the bow. Disinterested. Distracted.
Like he didn’t even care that his wife might be on the biggest fish of
both their lives. Ho-hum…

What’s wrong with this picture?

As we pulled up closer, I shouted out, “Nice fish,
Laura! Are you OK? Do you need help?” (I was wondering why Larry wasn’t giving much
support).

“Larry, do you need a hand? Want me to jump
aboard?”

He looked at me and just shrugged. “Ask HER if she needs help…” he
said dismissively gesturing with his head towards his wife at the other end of
the panga. He didn’t even look back at
her.

Whoa…

I looked at Laura.
She looked up and hissed through gritted teeth.

” I told him if
he comes anywhere near MY fish, I’d kick his butt! He’s trying to coach
me. He wants me to hand off the rod to
him! He won’t shut up! Make him leave me alone! This is MY fish! If I’m going to lose it, I
don’t need HIS help! And I’d appreciate it if you’d move your own panga away
too so my fish doesn’t get tangled!”

YEOW!!!

I looked at Larry. He
looked at me. Rolled his eyes and looked
at the blazing Baja heavens.

I laughed. How could
I not? We literally “tippy-toed” our panga backwards out of the
way. Even the two panga captains
(stifling grins) knew when to just shut-up and get out’ve the way!

Laura the SHE-ANGLER had spoken and unless we wanted a can ‘o’ whupass unleashed
on us, it was best to get as far away from ground-zero as possible.

I loved it! I am WOMAN hear me GROWL! See me FISH! I don’t need no help!

I’m seeing it and loving it more and more. In the old days,
Baja fishing was a testosterone laden bacchanalian “fishing fiesta” of sun, beer, and fishing. An all-guy-man-love- beach party. (“I
love my fish brothers!”)

Not so much anymore.
Not only are we seeing more wives, girlfriends, sisters and mom’s coming
down, but these ladies don’t just wait for you to tie their knots and bait
their hooks.

They’ll elbow you down the rail. They’ll be the first to grab that rod if the
clicker suddenly goes off and pull it out’ve the holder. Too slow. YOU
lose! They don’t need to be rescued. They have no intention of handing off the rod
to you so don’t ask and they’ll only listen to your coaching (nagging) to a
degree. So get outta their way!

And they usually look pretty cute doing it too!

Personally, I love having them on my boats. They’re quick learners. They listen. They have patience. Unlike so many of us guys
that try to brutalize and bulldozer our fish into submission, the ladies
finesse their fish. Poco-a-poco! They smile alot
and aren’t so grumpy if they lose a fish (“I was gonna release it anyway
because it was noble and cute!”) or if the fish aren’t biting…

“Oh look at the dolphins! This is the BEST day
ever!”

Just don’t get in the way when they’re down in the trenches!
They’re good. They’re getting
better. You know it’s true and we’re all
having more fun because of it. Mama
means business!

Oh, Laura got her fish.
Larry could not have been prouder!

____________________________________

Jonathan Roldan has been writing the Baja Column in Western
Outdoor News since 2004. Along with his
wife, Jill, they own and run the Tailhunter International Fishing Fleet in La
Paz, Baja, Mexico www.tailhunter-international.com. They also run their Tailhunter Restaurant Bar
on the famous La Paz malecon waterfront.
If you’d like to contact him directly, his e-mail is riplipboy@tailhunter-international.com or drop by the restaurant to say hi!

Jonathan Roldan’s

Tailhunter International

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Website: www.tailhunter-international.com

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