fishing

Pete took the opportunity yesterday to go fishing with Edward, our host, and his 9 year old son David. Inside the lagoon and in the passes, Parrot fish are the main catch. Outside the reef Mahi Mahi, tuna and other pelagic fish can be caught. The parrot fish are so abundant and easy to catch that they eat them 6 days a week for every meal and rely on them for an income. The fishing is managed so as to maintain the fish population. To catch enough for dinner, they use a King Neptune like spear with 3 barbs on the end. Edward speared 10 fish through the head with near perfect accuracy in about an hour. They throw the spear, chase after it, break the fish's neck while on the spear, take it off, gut it and put it in the boat. At home they fillet it. They eat the heads, clean off the bones and only toss the fins and skin. These parrot fish are about 18 inches long with enough meat for 2-3 family meals. They shared the fillets with us and the 3 other boats they are hosting. I fried it up like she told me, but it wasn't quite as good as hers. We'll have more for lunch today and then after lunch he's going out again to net enough to fill the freezer. He hopes to get 60-70 fish, for his family and to send with us when we go. Parrot fish are one of our favorite sights while snorkeling. Their bright turquoise and pink coloring dazzles and shimmers underwater. They bite off chunks of coral with their beak like mouths. The sound can be heard underwater near the reef. Pete tried to help with one fish and got his finger in it's mouth. The fishermen got a good laugh out of the rookie cruiser getting bit by a coral crunching fish.

Just now, Helen on Dolphins announced over the radio that a pod of whales is surfacing just south of the anchorage. A group of small whales were showing us their tales and flippers just a quarter mile away. We got a good look at the splashing and blowing, and a better look a the tales with the binoculars. Hopefully they will come closer. Yesterday a large sea turtle surfaced right beside the boat. Wildlife continues to be our favorite part of this trip.

Today we're invited to another lunch on the island and a beach bonfire for tonight. One of the other hosts is making drums for his families, so I'm going to see if I can buy one too. We're busy busy busy this week and having a really nice time. The trip to Tonga is looming over me, so that is the only dark spot. The weather is still very windy, but the sun is out, so we're hoping to get in a snorkel soon.

Better get myself organized for going to shore, Kellie