Fishing Day on Lake Gatun
I woke up early today after a night of not-so-restful sleep. It never quite turned into deep sleep, just that drifting, half-awake state. By morning I was up and moving, making breakfast and coffee with Marti’s Miele coffee maker — the best part of the early start.
By 6:30 I met up with my fellow five fishermen — or pescadores — mostly folks from The Villages in Florida. A good crew, easy conversation, and plenty of anticipation for the day ahead on the water.
We had a solid half day of fishing on Lake Gatun. Our targets were peacock bass and snook. The peacock bass cooperated nicely; the snook definitely did not. Still, plenty of action, tropical scenery, and that familiar rhythm of cast, retrieve, repeat, in a jungle setting.
After fishing, we stopped at Magoo’s for fish tacos. The owner, Carlos, was incredibly friendly and easygoing. We got to talking about tacos, and I shared the story of their origins: fish tacos are widely believed to have originated in Ensenada, Baja California, when local fishermen began batter-frying fresh fish and serving it in tortillas with cabbage, crema, and salsa. The style caught on in the 1980s and eventually spread worldwide — knowledge I picked up firsthand on my surf trips to Baja.
Meanwhile, Rebecca spent the day in her childhood home, walking her old haunts and soaking in familiar memories, and topped it off with a manicure.
Dinner was later with the Dolans at Makoto, a downtown restaurant, seated outside on a patio facing the skyscrapers of the city. Warm air, lights rising over the skyline, and great company with Eddie and Carson made for the perfect end to the day.
An early morning, good fishing, tacos, city lights, and friends — not a bad way to spend a day.
No comments:
Post a Comment