The Story of the Mahi Mahi

This is the story of the one that got away. It started in the Bahamas where we were novices at fishing from a sailboat. Eric had just sent a line out and before he could turn his back, "Splang!!!", the line went tight.

Ok, but first let's start with the whole fishing story. We, meaning Eric and Jens, had researched tips for fishing at sea. We tried several things which seemed to bring a certain level of success, but we were losing more lures than we were catching fish. After consulting with a guy at a marine shop, we started using slightly smaller lures and using a bungee cord as a spring to let us know when we got a hit. This also gives the line a little slack so it is less likely to snap. That worked pretty well and we started catching some nice Spanish Mackerel and Tuna. We even caught a Barracuda but they are not recommended eating, so we released it back to the water.

Well, that Splang meant we had caught a big one. And sure enough, we did. A gorgeous four foot Mahi Mahi (also known as a dolphin fish). Such excitement and I of course needed a photo. I got a couple of good shots and then just as Eric and Jens were lifting it over the rail to bring it into the boat, it gave a might shake and got away. What a shame. But at least I had a photo...at least I thought so. But that is exactly when my Nikon acted up and wouldn't you know it, I couldn't download the photo. All evidence of this great catch was gone.

We have been hoping for another Mahi Mahi since then. But Jens seemed to have lost his fishing mojo and we haven't been catching much fish since we left the coast of Ecuador. We had caught a small Mahi Mahi a while back, but it was very small and we released it back into the water.

So anyhow, we had pretty much given up fishing altogether but the other day, as Jens was cleaning out one of our many storage bins, he came across a new lure we didn't know we had. He dubbed it the Lucky Lure in hopes it would live up to its name and as we set sail for Rarotonga he decided it was time to catch some fish.

After the second day of fishing, we heard that wonderful sound again. Splang!!! And wouldn't you know it, a beautiful Mahi Mahi. Three feet long, shimmering blue and yellow. We thought this time we would be more prepared having learned from our past experience. Instead of lifting the fish over the rail, Jens reels it in close to the boat, puts the gaffer hook through it and opens the side rail so he just has to lift it up onto the deck. By some strange fate, this guy too did a one, two and flew off the gaffer hook. In a blink of an eye It was gone, just like Eric's fish. Dang.

But we didn't give up and today was a repeat performance from yesterday. At around the same time of day as well. But this time, our beautiful 3 foot catch made it to the deck and less than two hours later, the filets were in a frying pan for lunch. Delicious.

PS: I stopped taking photos until the catch was safely on board, and this time we were so excited I didn't have time to get my camera. So you'll just have to take my word on the size of the fish. :)