The Perfect Night Storm for Tropical Salt Water Fishing

We’re Going Where?

“It’s better if you wear some sneakers”, Orlando said.

“Wear sneakers to where?” I was puzzled looking out into a pitch-black December night while seasonal storm rains pounded the roof like an angry mob.

“We’re going fishing”, he matter-of-factly responded.

“In THIS!” I snapped back incredulously.

“It’s the best time to go”

Photo: Orlando demonstrates his cast net form

The Wettest Region in the World
Three seconds after I stepped off of the porch into the rain I was soaked through to the skin. The Pacific coast Choco region of Colombia is one of the wettest areas in the world according to the Guinness Book of Records. With more than 30 feet – that’s right feet – of rain accumulation per year. That’s enough to reach from the ground up to a building’s fourth floor. Probably only Noah has consistently seen rains like these.

It was so black out that I could just barely make out my locally-born-and-raised fishing buddy and guide just a few steps in front of me. A woven straw basket, called a “motete”, was slung over one shoulder. A six-foot diameter cast net, called an “atarraya” was draped over the other. My Baltimore Orioles baseball cap kept the chords of liquid from directly battering my eyes and face.

Forcing our way through sheets of water from the bamboo-walled house towards the crashing surf less than 200 yards away, we watched as bolts of lightning at sea lit our way. I felt the warm waters of the Pacific Ocean swell and surge around my calves. We had walked right into the ocean.

“Take this basket and wait here” Orlando yelled above the roar of the rain and pounding surf.

Cast Thy Net Upon the Waters
Steeling himself against the torrents from above and the salt water swells, he cast the net just in front of him. With effort, he now pulled the net’s tie line to close and draw the net back in. I moved in closer. A flash of lightning lit up the net as it seemingly “boiled” in the receding surf.

“Help me to get it up and dump it.” He hardly had to ask.

It took the both of us to lift the writhing mass and empty the dozens of fish into the basket. Less than a dozen casts later we had so many fish in the basket it took us both to half drag, half carry it back to the house. An hour passed as we sorted the more than 100 fish of eight or so different species.

It had been a perfect night storm for tropical salt water fishing.

p.s. Speaking of night fishing, check out this cool night fishing video at:http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=cDTKCZur1vM


Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. Want to know more about salt and fresh water fishing in the tropics? Visit: http://whittlewadeandhook.blogspot.com/ Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content, articles or photos, images and graphics for your fishing / outdoor blog, newsletter, e-zine or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and information mailing list? Contact the author at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com/

Salt Water Tropical Fishing in a Pristine Barrel

A Short Wait
Flipping a short cast of mo more than 20 feet or so, my cut bait tipped lead head jig sank smoothly for a few seconds before a fish grabbed it. On light tackle I laughed and “played” with the pan-sized denizen of the not-so-deep for a bit before finally flipping the multi-hued trigger fish over the boat’s gunnels.

“Man that was quick” my local guide quipped.

“Nothing here, huh?” I teased as this time my rod suddenly banged the gunnels, jerked sharply downwards by an obvious friend or relative of the first fish.

“What’s That?”
I was the one who had insisted on a brief stop at this site. We’d been motoring north along the Pacific coast of Colombia’s Choco region. The rustic fishing village of Jurubida, where we were based, lay some 45 minutes behind us when I’d spotted a pristine sight. There it was; a two-meter wide fresh water stream flowing over a five meter high rock face before plummeting into the azure blue sea. Surrounded by emerald-green tropical rain forest, the sparkling “chorro” was situated in a tiny cove just visible from the small boat traffic channel we ran northward in.

“What’s that?” I’d asked, pointing landwards the tiny-looking waterfall.

“Just some little stream of rain water, I think” my guide responded without luster.

“Pull over there and let me take a look.”

“Why?” His response came in a more curios tone as he swung the 16-foot hand-crafted wooden launch to starboard.

A Closer Look
Up close it was even prettier. The brackish pool into which the torrent plunged was a clear dark blue. This was a good sign that it was at least 20 to 25 feet or more in depth.

“This looks like a good spot for some panfish” I translated into the best Spanish I could.

“Here?” My guide was surprised. “I don’t think there’s anything here” he continued.

I asked to “try out” the spot for 15 minutes or so. If there was no action, we’d move on and I’d have at least some memories of a beautiful spot along the coastal rain forest.

My Trusty Guide Was Wrong
One after another they came into the boat. All pan-sized, but attractive and unique in their shapes and colorings; Clown fish, Parrot fish, Trigger fish, spots, stripes and brilliant red fish with bright baby-blue eyes.

Even my trusty guide tried his hand at hooking a few, laughing with delight almost the whole time. We shipped anchor and resumed our voyage northward after about an hour or so. But that spot was about the closest I’ve ever come to catching fish in a barrel. And man let me tell you, it sure was a lot of fun.


Larry M. Lynch is an English language teaching and learning expert author and university professor in Cali, Colombia. Now YOU too can live your dreams in paradise, find romance, high adventure and get paid while travelling for free. Want to know more about salt and fresh water fishing in the tropics? Visit: http://whittlewadeandhook.blogspot.com/ Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content, articles or photos, images and graphics for your fishing / outdoor blog, newsletter, e-zine or website? Have a question, request, or want to receive more information or to be added to his articles and information mailing list? Contact the author at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com/