Early in the morning a large sailfish takes 1 line, spools it off, breaks it with almost dismissive contempt and we are only able to witness the fury of this being as it jumps and turns trying to release the embedded hook that is now all that is left of our ambition.
Later in the day a school of large mahi-mahi do the same. Concurrent strikes on our 2 rods come to nothing as these fish spool the line breaking them without effort. I have fished salmon but have never experienced this kind of power. After they have freed themselves, they both do a series of turning jumps as if to mock our efforts to make dinner of them.
Clearly, our rods and line are over matched so the solution is 150 pound test line run off Severance- no rod. We'll see.
March 15
A break from routine. Scott's birthday and the celebration begins shortly after my midnight watch.
But there is more. Later in the morning (approximately 5am) we cross the equator. In the darkness, Scott climbs to the swim grid, hits the water and swims across the line. Armando and I jump the line on board. As we pay our respects to Poseidon, the champagne flows and there is music.
Louis Armstrong sings “It's a wonderful world”, Bob Marley sings “Don't worry, everything is going to be alright” our ship mantra, John Lennon sings “Imagine” and then the blues takes over with John Lee Hooker.
A night for celebration and congratulations especially for Scott and Armando, who have been challenged at various legs of the journey that readers of previous entries can easily attest.
Next morning the wind collapses as ominous clouds surround Severance and out of the heavens a tropical storm unleashes a torrent of warm, fresh water. We all head for the fore deck, grab hold of a shroud and hold on through the deluge.
As it intensifies over the next half hour or so, I hear myself yelling with joy as the sensation of this ultra shower pressure washes the accumulated dirt, grime and sweat away. As quickly as it comes it goes, the winds pick up and Severance is underway again. What a sensation!
Suddenly there is a shout from Armando, our persistent fisherman. A very large mahi-mahi has taken the lure on the 150 pound test line and the battle is on.
It takes all 3 of us but the magnificent fish is landed. A brief celebration then the knives and beer come out and once again we eat sushimi with ginger, wasabi and soy until we can't. Later, the remainder is carefully cut up, bagged and refrigerated and we eat in bliss until there is no more.
Postscript: March 15th, Treasure Island, Florida
As the guys celebrate Scott’s birthday on the equator, Scott’s parents Bob & Marion, neighbors Kevin & Laurel and Harpo and I were also toasting the Birthday Boy.
Actually Birthday boys, since Scott and his older brother Lewis share the same birthday. My nephew Christopher was also born on March 15th (my apologies, Chris, for leaving you off the cake), so now you know the true meaning of “Beware the Ides of March!!”.
Happy Birthday Scott, Lewis, and Christopher!!
Posted by Danny
P.s. by Diane
1 comment:
Hi Danny,
Googled you and found this blog. Great travel stories. I used your name in my semi-autographical novel, A Credit To Your Race, which you can find at any major distributor or bookstore--Amazon.ca, Chapters etc. I was remembering back to when we were teenagers in the fifties walking around the dark streets of Newton looking for something to do. You were a very good person all the years I knew you.
Truman
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