They thought this first day would be a good introduction to the wives, who had never understood the attraction. Everything taken into consideration the decision was to head towards Gordo Banks, up the Sea of Cortez and towards the warmer (78 degree) blue water and try for the Marlin. It was a 90 minute run to get to the general area the Marlin had been holding in and as soon as Juan and Manual saw the first tailing fish they slowed the "Fly Hooker" and tossed out a live Caballito in the hope that the Marlin was hungry.

This first fish wasn't having anything to do with the live bait and they set out the lure spread. What a wonderful day! Almost as soon as the lures were set out the crew spotted more tailing Marlin and were soon tossing live baits again! In a very short time Juan had a nice Striped Marlin estimated at 110 pounds hooked up on the Shimano TLD 25 loaded with 40lb. test Ande.

Birthday boy Chuck was assigned the honor of getting the first fish to the boat or the ignominy of losing the first fish, whichever should happen. The birthday luck must have been with him because after a fight lasting about 30 minutes and consisting of three separate and very powerful runs combined with an astonishing series of headshaking, whitewater throwing, tailwalking exhibitions he was able to bring a tired fish, his first Marlin, to the side of the boat for a release!

After a series of congratulatory handslaps the search began again and it was not a difficult one. Within 10 minutes of the lures being set another Marlin showed itself, this time in the lure spread. The first indicator was the sound of an outrigger clip snapping, then the line making the clicker on the reel scream as the line left the reel!

This time it was Kevin's turn in the chair. Chuck and Dede began clearing the other lines as Juan settled Kevin into the chair and Teresa took up position as camerawoman on the bridge. This fish was hooked up on a Shimano TLD50 II loaded with Ande 80lb. A very old, almost ancient, extremely ugly lure belonging to Manual was the connection between Kevin and the fish. With the help of the two-speed reel and the 80lb line, along with a bit of experience with large fish, Kevin was able to bring this 100lb Striped Marlin to the boat within 10 minutes, still full of energy. This made for an extremely busy boatside de-hooking session for Juan, but the fish swam away, ready to offer battle to the next angler lucky enough to catch him. With both the guys now having hooked and released their fish, and with the chance to see the process and technique first hand, it was the ladies turn! The "Fly Hooker" was in the right area for sure because within 5 minutes of getting underway another Marlin was spotted tailing.

This fish was assigned to Dede since Teresa said she didn't want to reel one in. Manual brought the boat alongside and down sun of the Marlin as Juan tossed the live bait out. This fish was a bit larger than the other two and showed no hesitation about inhaling the Caballito!

With Dede already in the chair Juan handed off the rod to her and stayed by her side to coach her through the process of catching her first Marlin. Approximately 90 minutes later and after many blistering runs (and blistered fingers!) Dede was able to bring this exhausted fish to the side of the boat for release. Even though Dede pleaded many times during the fight for someone to take over for her, she persevered. On her own and with only some coaching (along with a lot of good humored teasing about the amount of time it was taking!) Dede was able to bring to the side of the boat the fish that was to turn out to be the largest of the trip. Juan and Manual estimated its weight as near 180lbs!

After high five's, low five's and a round of Pacifico Cervezas being opened and passed around the lures were set out again! Come on guys, we have four anglers on the boat, the least we can do is try and catch four Marlin, right?! Teresa was next on the list, and as seemed to be the case in the area they were fishing, it was no time at all before another Striped Marlin appeared in the lures.

This fish seemed to be a shopper, checking the lures out without being hungry, but as Manual slowed the boat so Juan could send back a live bait the fish changed it's mind and ate the "Mean Joe Green" lure on the short rod. Teresa had seen the problems and heard the pleas of Dede while she worked on her fish and decided at that moment that the perfect birthday gift for her husband-to-be would be the chance to catch two Marlin!

Since you, the reader, understand the type of fisherman Chuck is already due to my description at the beginning of this story, it should come as no surprise that not a second was wasted between offering him the assignment and him accepting it! This Marlin was hooked on 40lb test line on a TLD25. Having the experience of fighting the first Marlin so recently ingrained, Chuck's muscles remembered the technique he had learned and he was able to bring his second birthday fish to the boat in about 20 minutes.

Everyone had now had the chance to catch a Marlin (even Teresa!) and the day was getting along. Juan and Manual informed the anglers that it was time to stop fishing and ready themselves for the 2-hour run back to the Marina. The tired muscles and sun-warmed skin helped encourage everyone to respond that it seemed a reasonable thing to do. Visions of the shower at the room, the pool and bar waiting back there may have had something to do with the willingness to return, or it may have been the knowledge that they had finally fulfilled a dream, and had another chance to do it the day after the wedding!

Whatever the reason, the cruise home was comfortable and passed by quickly. About 20 minutes before the "Fly Hooker" entered the Marina Juan called Mary and let her know the ETA. Mary and I met the boat as it pulled into slip E-19 and gave thumbs-ups to Chuck, Kevin, Teresa and Dede! Unfortunately we only carry two Marlin flags on the boat so they were flying, along with a sailfish flag (hey, it's a billfish!) and the release flag. What a beautiful day and what a wonderful present to receive!

I will make a long story short for those of you who are wondering how the fishing was on Chuck and Kevin's second trip on the "Fly Hooker".

They returned to the same area, about 35 miles out this time and without Manual. July 2nd was Election Day here in Mexico and Manual had poll duty so Juan's brother, Juan was along. Two captains, both named Juan, two anglers, two days of fishing... All right! Two Marlin! The action was a bit slower than on Friday (or Saturday, when they also caught four Marlin!) but that was not for lack of targets. Juan reported that they had a chance to toss bait to 10 other fish that would not eat and saw others that they could not get to.

No fish appeared in the lures this day and one of the Marlin that ate a bait ended up dying while still out about 50 yards. For those of you who have had this happen, you know the drill, tighten the drag and let the captain work the boat and plane the fish up. This fish ended up in the boat after a long process, including some handlining. We hate it when this happens, but at least the fish does not go to waste, Juan and Juan passed out chunks of Marlin to neighbors and friends in need!

Well, that was quite the adventure for Kevin and Chuck, along with Dede and Teresa! Chuck swears that as soon as he has finished paying off the rock on Teresa's finger, he is coming back to fish the "Fly Hooker" with Juan and Manual again! He might even invite Kevin along, as long as he keeps off the newlywed jokes! And maybe (just maybe) Teresa will buy him a new reel for his birthday! (If she does, guess what her anniversary gift will be? Hahaha!!)

Thanks folks, I hope you enjoyed the story about the birthday/wedding trip, I know I enjoyed writing about it!

Until next time, Tight Lines from George & Mary and the crew of "Fly Hooker" Sportfishing!
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