Bella Goes for the BIG Fish

We're goin' fishin'!

It was another day to go fishing in the Caribbean. Jim Larson, our houseguest, was the guy who put the trip together, and Captain Chito Guerrero was our most able guide. Ironically, Jim had booked the trip online from Texas, not knowing that Cpt. Chito ties up his boat, Bianca Michelle, at the dock in front of our house! Anyway, if you tend to be bored with fishing stories, just chill for a while, okay?


The sea had swells of about three feet, so it was a little rough as we headed toward Caye Caulker to the south. "A little rough" translates as, "I will not puke, I will not puke!" Chito took us to at least five places past Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley known for good fishing. At first. Early on, we caught four good-size snapper, but we switched to the heavy-duty reels and went for the big boys. And big boys they were! 

Tom with Strawberry Grouper

Jim with "Big Boy" Snapper

We didn't have a scale, and there's no sense bragging anyway, but Tom pulled up a beautiful strawberry grouper and Jim briought in a fine red snapper. With them and the little snapper, let's just say we have enough fish fillets in the refrigerator to eat for a week! (And let's get this out of the way: In the picture of the grouper, that's a distended air bladder, not an additional nose!)

Jim, who strongly resembles Ernest Hemingway in Hemingway's latter Key West days, is as close to a professional fisherman as you can be without making any money at it. Tom's only known skill is playing the piano, but at least he knows when to stay quiet. That's not a bad skill for fishing.

Dinner Is Served

The fishermen and their wives took Herman, the grouper, with them to Blue Water Grill this evening where he was magically transformed into the best fish dinner ever.  He was served grilled, pan fried, and blackened with a butter sauce, orange mango salsa, and/or a curry sauce accompanied with home-made bread, mashed potatoes or rice and fresh vegetables. (Jim ordered Key Lime pie for dessert, presumably in honor of Hemingway.)

Kim and Shelley

Dinner was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous, or so I'm told. Blue Water Grill is one of those uppity uppity restaurants that doesn't allow dogs, if you can believe that. Kim and Shelley were allowed at the restaurant, and they assured me that dinner was fabulous, fabulous, fabulous. Judging by the extremely small leftover portions, I believe them. 

By the way, Captain Chito is not available as a fishing guide for the next couple of weeks. He will be attending his daughter's graduation from the University of Wisconsin. She went on a lacrosse scholarship!

They call me fearless.

Y'all come visit. We'll fish and eat fish, and then maybe knock some lacrosse sticks together. You're gonna love Belize!

 

Bella Learns to Handle Fame

Dive Shop at Ramon's

News Flash! News Flash! Monday's (February 13th) two-hour episode of "The Bachelor 2012" was filmed in Belize! Check out the beautiful people going to the Mayan ruins and swimming with sharks. Just another day in Paradise!

Thanks for your many questions, faithful readers. It gives me insight into your interests, even though I am painfully aware that many of you, in regard to this blog, show the interest of college sophomores studying for required courses. Nevertheless, allow me to address some pressing concerns:

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. You think your parents can afford all that stuff? Get a clue.

No, Jane, barking does not help fishing, and no, I do not eat the bait. Golly, girl, the sardines were raw. I've tried sushi once, and, I assure you, only once. Also, no one has provided me with sunscreen. I understand there are groups of citizens who care abut things like that.

Construction Worker Points to Tool

As far as fishing lessons go, Shelley has already set appointments for Tom to take people fishing. That strikes me as odd since Tom doesn't even own a fishing pole. Speaking of lack of equipment, I'm reminded of a couple from England who were interested in building a house here. There was no lack of people telling them they could build the house, and, finally, the couple decided to give the job to a particularly enthusiastic young man. Then the man said, "Okay, now I need  some money up front so I can buy a hammer!"

As to your questions regarding my local fame, I have been giving some pawgraphs as well as the occasional high five. We were walking home just yesterday when some folks from Michigan, Tracy and Bob, gave us a ride. Although Bob's job is designing "automated flow" for clients such as Walmart (which paid $158 million to his company last year), his passion is driving his Harley motorcycle.Bob recently went on a bike ride with 154 other riders raising $10,000 to pay for heart surgery for a child in their hometown. 

Tracy insisted that I pose with them. Bob, judging by his embarrassed look, is hoping his biker buddies don't see this!  Thanks for the ride, guys.

Buddy

Here's a shout out to new follower "SJH" from Houston" and Buddy," a new reader from New York City who likes to read my San Pedro adventures from his office. He and his buddies want more information about the diving scene here. I'm trying to comply, but I can't get the darned regulator in my mouth. (And I thought taking a bath was a bummer.) Also, I haven't been able to catch up with our diving buddies Eric and Corrin who were going to tell me more about night dives.

Cloudy day in San Pedro. Awww!

Personals Column: Mandy, the email address you left us didn't go through. Will you give it to us again in a "comment"? Oh, what the heck, here's Shelley's email address: sfay5000@gmail.com. Now everybody knows.

It was a little overcast here today, and the temperature plunged to about 70 degrees. Don't worry, we're fine.



Y'all come visit. We'll give rides to other people on our Harley-like golf carts and wave to my admirers. You're gonna love Belize!

Bella Gets Ready to Move--Again

The time is getting short before we move to our new apartment on the beach. Located immediately next to the Belize Yacht Club, it is a spacious two-bedroom, two-bath fronting the coast. We learned yesterday (this is so amazingly cool) that both Madonna and Julia Roberts have stayed there, though not at the same time. Right there. Right in our apartment. How neat is that? 
(Hmmm, I suppose I just might sound as though I'm bragging. Sorry. Hehehehe!)

You can't play golf at neighboring Caye Chapel!

Next, a response to "the Mayor" who said I was begging for comments:  Bella doesn't sit, Bella doesn't roll over, and Bella doesn't beg!  My "entreaties" for comments were solely for the purpose of knowing there is someone out there who is reading my innermost thoughts.

Now, to answer the Mayor's question, Caye Chapel Golf Course is not open to the public. In fact, Caye Chapel Golf Course is closed to everyone. Doors closed. Shut down. Kaput! Personally, I don't play golf--the clubs are too big--but I understand your concerns, Mr. Mayor, for a golf course on the island. So buy property now before Tiger Woods starts building a golf course and land prices go up.

Earlier attempts by Tom baiting hooks.

The fishing trip with a real boat didn't pan out. The projected cost of gasoline kept rising, and soon we were back to abandoned-dock fishing one more time. Tom is a certifiable "queasy person," but he is now able to bait his own hook without noticeable discomfort. 

Tom still doesn't have a clue how to fish: currents, wind conditions, time of day, all goes right over his head, and pure luck is the only chance he has. No luck yesterday, and no fish were caught, at least not by Tom. Trey will be pleased to know that Tom only cut himself once with his giant, and extremely sharp, fishing knife. Also, the flip-flops worked extraordinarily well with the built-in beer bottle opener. Brilliant idea.

Not to worry. Everyone had a great time anyway. Fishing is exhausting work as any fisherman knows, so we tried not to pay attention to Shelley carrying on about how tired she was after she got off work.

In the evening we had a great meal at a friend's house overlooking the lagoon. The menu: chicken breasts stuffed with fresh spinach and cream cheese, white rice, baked eggplant, salad, and plantains. I stayed with the baked chicken, myself, but the others raved about the entire meal. 


Shout out to Kent, David, Amy, and Cheryl, our newest followers. The word is spreading! 


Y'all come visit. We'll fish and eat fantastic meals and talk about golf. You're gonna love Belize.