Dave with Sam
November 20
Day 3 of our trip to the Marquesas: Up at 6:45 to watch the sunrise. We washed down the deck, and made a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, coffee and toast. John took dog Sam ashore for a bathroom break. Sam fishes too and keeps an eagle dog eye out for tarpon. Charlie threw a line from the boat and jumped a tarpon. Dave caught a nice mangrove snapper… and we lost another lure. Damn braid line is not working! But, every day is a good one when you’re fishing! Pulled anchor and headed due north of the Marquesas to night anchorage at Boca Grande. The engine is off and we sailed!
November 21
Vic Barothy
Another beautiful morning. It rained last night, which was a good wash-down for the boat. Took a walk ashore to give Sammy some shore legs. Lots of drift wood and fine sand, and I went for a swim. Three days into our trip we were getting kind of funky so I took a freshwater shower & had a shave.
We pulled anchor at 10:15 and headed out to Hawks Channel. Charlie trolling a feather bait. Depth about 15-20 ft. so we turned toward deeper water for bigger fish. Ballast Key was on the port side, water color started changing from the turquoise of shallow waters to the deep blue of the Gulfstream. It was a good swell and we saw a sailfish off the starboard bow. It was a beautiful fish to watch but not one we could go for since we were doing strictly light tackle. But, the site of that sailfish – wow. It was something else.
In the early afternoon we turned ENE back toward Key West. Slowed down to troll for mackerel off the Key West marina. Birds were everywhere. Guess they know their meal tickets in the boats that head back to shore. The fishing was great on this trip but it was also a catalyst for reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones.
Dave, John and Charles
John Duke
