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/

How To Take Fishing Photos You Can Publish Or Sell: On Location What Images to Shoot?

On Location, What Images to Shoot?

On location at a salt water or fresh water fishing site, a range of images from close ups to scenic overviews will be useful. Try shooting at different angles and from different heights. Take portraits, group and individual shots of un-posed people. Photograph the food, facilities, products and people. Keep an eye out for splashes of color, interesting scenes, unusual clothing or situations. Don’t forget to get close-ups and images of species indigenous to your particular region. Remember the fish head in a bucket I posted earlier? Look for dynamic visual imagery that “grabs” your eye like that.

Inquiring minds want to know
In your enquiries to editors, if you offer a selection of photos and graphics, you’re going to start getting much more of the editor’s attention. Don’t send any photos yet, just mention that they’re available. You’ll know what format the publication uses from reading the Photographer’s Guidelines. Usually six or eight photos should do it. That means if you have around a dozen items available to send in for review and approval, you have an excellent chance of making the pitch sell. My first few months doing this more than tripled my success rate without changing anything else.

How, what and where
A Google search for “fishing magazines” will yield hundreds of titles and website locations. Go to their websites and look under photographer guidelines for more info on how and where to submit your pictures. Stop by a local newsstand or two for copies of fishing, outdoor and sports magazines you can contact for your area. Don’t forget the local and regional newspapers either. Some other Google – searchable themes include:

• Fishing publications both online and print
• Outdoor magazines, periodicals and websites
• vacation magazines, newsletters and websites
• travel websites, online and print publications
• blogs on fishing, nature, vacation travel and the outdoors
• e-zines from sporting goods suppliers and fishing, outdoor and travel specialists
• newsletters and web-content on fishing and any related themes
• websites for any fishing, nature, outdoor or related topic

If you need a virtual “kick-in-the-pants” to get you going in the right direction or have an additional question, please feel free to e-mail me.

So get out there and start taking a few shots with your next fishing trip already in mind. Dogs bark, birds fly, and fishermen fish – and offer their photos (and articles) to their local newspapers and favorite fishing, nature, outdoor and travel magazines for extra income. It’s what we do, right?


Prof. 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. Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content or articles for your 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/

Traveling by Boat in South America? Read this First!

Are you going to a South American destination that requires travel by local or regional boats? Then you’d better think twice or prepare really well. Along Colombia’s Pacific coast, as an example, for an ocean voyage of from several hours up to more than two days, you may well be obligated to take a boat on which there are not only NO creature comforts but also NO:

• Life vests or life preservers
• Life boats
• Toilets
• Chairs or seats
• Potable water
• interior lighting at night
• meals or food

More Caveats
There is likely to be poor ventilation and frequently passengers get seasick with no recourse or sanitation facilities of any kind. There might not be any reliable protection from elements like the broiling sun, cold, wind-swept rain or splashing waves, either. You could also be subjected to noxious fumes from cargo such as combustibles, solvents and other chemicals. We won't even go into animal "products" from livestock being transported. Yipes!

Photo: Forward cargo space for passengers and freight. Where’re you gonna sit?

Cargo Boats?
The cargo boat on which you’ll sail will likely have no night running lights, be poorly maintained, and have an uneducated, untrained crew who must work literally around the clock. The job of two or more crew members is to stand in nearly calf-deep water in the cargo hold of the vessel and manually bail water leaking in from the multitudinous cracks and loose seams in the wooden hull. As usual, the vessel will be dangerously overloaded. During vacation and holiday seasons, it’ll be overloaded with cargo and overcrowded.

Packed Like Sardines
For example, one ship, licensed to carry eight to ten passengers routinely crams more than 100 passengers aboard under conditions resembling those depicted during the transport of slaves during the slave trade. Many other passenger-carrying vessels aren’t licensed for passengers at all. Registering sea-going vessels as “cargo boats only” relieves boat owners of any responsibility for providing even the barest of humane conditions. Boats sail past armada inspection craft – without being inspected. Captains and crew just “hide” passengers inside and out of sight until they’re well away from the port (and the armada). Travelers are simply viewed as an “extra money” commodity with no consideration whatsoever as to comfort. Forget the idea of “pleasure” entirely. You can pretty much also forget English-speaking officials, captains or crew members.

No Alternatives
So why, you might ask, do travelers continue to put up with such archaic, unsanitary and perilous-at-best conditions that would be considered inhumane by any standards in the world? Simple. It’s because there are no alternatives. Cargo boat owners and captains are given “Carte Blanche” to revel in greed treating paying customers like cattle – or worse.

Yes, there are government regulations that mandate PFDs, life boats, sanitary facilities, having a potable water supply, ship to shore UHF / VHF radios and a satellite transceiver. Other essential equipment for ocean-going vessels including boats that ply the coastal waters from Panama to Peru include such items as night running lights after sunset, which can be as early as 4:30 pm, a compass, GPS locator and regular maintenance certificates in addition to crew and trip logs.

In the 1300 kilometers from Colombia’s southern region coastal city of Tumaco to Jurado, the northernmost port along Colombia’s Pacific coast, the sinking of fishing, cargo and passenger vessels with the resulting loss of life are all too common. During the past several months, a wave of sea-going vessel disappearances has stunned and dismayed populations of coastal communities in Colombia. We all grieve for these senseless deaths resulting from ignorance, apathy and avarice.

Think Twice or Prepare Well
So if you’re going to a South American destination along the Pacific coast that requires travel by local or regional boat, you’d better think twice or prepare really well.


Prof. 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. 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 Fishermen: More of How to Fly at the Beach

Get up, get active, and take to the skies. The usual old favorite beach activities are always loads of fun which is why they’re still popular. But in my last post we talked about flying at the beach. Flying kites, even fishing kites, that is. Still flying you can use other air-borne paraphernalia to extract maximum pleasure from a beach resort trip or vacation. Here’s more on how.

Model airplane photo: http://www.hobby-lobby.com/images/hla020.jpg

Fly a Model Airplane
Another popular beach front activity is flying a paper, balsa wood or model airplane. With wide open spaces and light to still breezes, virtually any design will soar like an albatross. If you fly paper designs then losing one won’t break your heart. Balsa wood or Styrofoam planes fly well in beach breezes too, just remember it’s possible to “lose” your craft to a stray or persistent breeze going the “wrong” way. Options for planes abound in Hobby shops, Toy stores, book stores, and of course, the internet. Radio-controlled model airplanes are a possibility too. Again, just be sure to check local regulations. To learn more about making paper airplanes check out these sites.

• www.paperairplanes.co.uk/ Alex's paper airplanes Cobra Paper Airplane the Planes - This is an index listing all the paper airplanes currently on the site ranked by how easy they are to make

• http://www.wannalearn.com/Just_for_Fun/Making_Paper_Airplanes/ Just for Fun: Making Paper Airplanes

• http://www.cdli.ca/CITE/paper.htm This page lists some of the best Web sites on how to make and fly paper airplanes.

• http://www.exploratorium.edu/exploring/paper/airplanes.html T he most amazing thing about a paper airplane is that all you need to make one is a sheet of paper—nothing more.

• http://paperplane.org/ Ken Blackburn, web site to share what he knows about paper airplanes. He holds the Guinness record for time aloft for paper airplanes.


So don’t just go to the beach and lay there like a fish out of water. Yes you can always go salt water fishing, but you can also take to the water or better yet, take to the skies. You’ll never look at a beach resort vacation the same again.


Prof. 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. 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/

How to Fly at the Beach

The beach isn’t just for kids and teenagers
Of course, as we said, the beach isn’t just for kids and teenagers. All the family can enjoy the shore provided there aren’t “elbow-to-elbow” tourists. You can also do more than just get a tan (or a sunburn). Get up, get active, and take to the skies. The usual old favorites are always fun which is why they’re still popular. For some suggestions on alternative beach front vacation activities see the article entitled “Unique Things to Do at the Beach”. Here are suggestions to consider for taking your beach time into the air.

Photo: Frazier Jones fishing kites at: http://www.fishingkites.co.nz/images/kitellimage/frazerjones.jpg

Fly a kite
Kite-flying is such a natural beach front activity that they are sold on or near many beaches. Mornings and late afternoons to evening there are usually good sea breezes along most beaches. But why wait until you get there to try your hand? You can comfortably bring one of your own and have a much different (or much better) kite than everyone else. You’ll also know how to launch and fly your own kite with a bit of practice before hand. It can also make for a good conversation generator. If you’re a kite-flying novice, check out these websites for more information and even plans for building and flying your own.

• http://www.skratch-pad.com/kites/make.html Have ever wanted to build a kite? Well, here is a simple kite you can make your self!

• http://www.aloha.net/~bigwind/20kidskites.html These are the complete time tested instructions to get 20 kids making their own kites and flying them in 20 minutes.

• http://www.planemath.com/activities/flykite/kiteplans.html

• http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/diamond/ Make a kite from BBQ skewers and White Kitchen tidy bag, with perhaps a bread bag cut into a long streamer for a tail.

• http://www.ehow.com/how_1288_make-kite.html How to make a kite. While kites are inexpensive to buy, making one adds to the fun. You'll be especially proud when your diamond-shaped creation takes to the sky.

• http://www.2020site.org/kite/ This site is about Kites - how to build kites, and includes plans for kites. Kite flying has been a popular hobby for hundreds of years and has evolved from the diamond figure and long tail the Victorian children enjoyed.

• http://scsc.essortment.com/howtobuilda_rlrf.htm Kites are fun for young and old alike. You can build your own kite, or help your kids build one by reading this article!

• http://www.cit.gu.edu.au/~anthony/kites/panflute/ The Panflute is a soft kite (no sticks) made of 7 connected windsock like tubes or cells. It has a good wind range and flies at an angle of 30-40 degrees. It flies with a side-to-side sway, or wobble, making this kite very pleasant to look at in the sky, particularly with a long ribbon tail, or other decoration. The kite is a great for families. It can be stuffed in a bag, and flown on the beach. Bury the handle in the sand and leave flying to mark your picnic spot.

So don’t just go to the beach and lay there like a fish out of water. Yes you can always go salt water fishing, but you can also take to the water or better yet, take to the skies. You’ll never look at a beach resort vacation the same again.


Prof. 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. 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/

Preparing Piranha: Adventuresome Eating Colombian Amazon Style

Piranha: Deadly and Delicious
Say, how do you like your Piranha prepared? Not sure? Then follow these two easy-to-prepare recipes and be ready the next time you're fresh water fishing in Amazon River or Orinoco River tributaries. These can be found in the six South American countries of: Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Venezuela and Peru. Since I live and work mostly in Colombia, a Piranha family variety called Cachama is a regular staple on our table at home. They grow up to 15 pounds in size but are better eating at around a pound to a pound and a half. I like mine a little bigger than that though. What? You thought these were "little" fish? Yeah, they are - in the movies. Be sure to check out the video versions of these recipe preparations online at my YouTube site. The YouTube address is: http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5KMeJeVearM

Fried Piranha (Colombia)

Ingredients:
A medium-sized whole Piranha for each serving
2 or 3 cloves of garlic
salt and pepper
sprig of fresh parsley
whole lemon or lime
1 or 2 whole ripe tomatoes, sliced
small quantity of seasoned flour or corn meal

Directions:

Clean and scale the fish thoroughly. Make a series of diagonal cuts along both sides of the fish from top to belly. Crush the garlic cloves and mix with the salt and a little pepper. Rub this mixture into the cuts along the sides of the fish. (see YouTube video) Wrap with a damp banana leaf (or a moistened paper towel). Allow to marinate for 30 minutes to an hour. Some Colombian cooks leave refrigerated overnight. Heat some fresh cooking oil to a high temperature in a large frying pan. Sprinkle the marinated fish lightly with seasoned flour or corn meal. Fry golden brown on each side, turning the fish carefully after browning. Serve hot garnished with sliced tomato and fresh lemon or lime juice squeezed over the fish.

Grilling Piranha Amazon Style

Grilling fresh-caught fish on an open fire is always a tasty way to enjoy a fresh catch. Use a whole cleaned and scaled fish, rub it lightly with oil, season it with salt and pepper or other available spices, then place it on a grill, about 4 – 6 inches from the heat. In the wild you can use a framework of small twigs and shaved saplings to position the fish over the fire. Cover the fish with a banana leaf (or foil), and cook until the fish is brown on the underside, approximately 6 - 8 minutes. Turn the fish carefully and continue until the flesh near the bone is (check with the tip of a small knife or long fork), in approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Smaller fish usually work best using this method, especially in the jungle.
Modifying these procedures slightly will allow you to adapt them for use with a barbeque grill. If you haven’t already, be sure to read the article post; “Piranha: Deadly and Delicious” which is online at: http//whittlewadeandhook.blogspot.com/under November 2005. So, as we say in Spanish, “Buen Provecho!”

Prof. 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. Need professional, original salt or fresh water fishing related content, articles or photos, graphics and images 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/