Expert timing.
ULTIMATE FIGHTING
WHAT GOES THROUGH THE MIND DURING A THREE-HOUR TOUR UNDER FISH POWER?
JUST ASK HOWARD McKIM PHOTOS BY JOCK BRADLEY
W
ell into the fourth hour, my mind began to wander. Understandable enough. I had been towed, in my kayak, over 10 miles to sea by an an-
gry blue marlin, and the lengthy ordeal had taken its toll on both of us. Te fish and I were both fading, and which of us would tire first remained to be seen. My thoughts digressed to what had led up to this climactic moment. A group of professional kayak anglers and media crew were gathered in
Baja, Mexico, for the filming of the Heliconia Press production Kayak Fish- ing—Game On. We were to kayak fish the Sea of Cortez in search of big game. Well, be careful what you wish for. Tis is Jim Sammons’ normal stomping grounds, and as star of the movie,
we were there to explore his slice of heaven, at the Hotel Punta Colorada. Jim, as well as production manager Ken Whiting, special guest star Matt Moyer, and myself (lucky tag-along?) were the kayak anglers. Upon our arrival, a hurricane was about to hit just north of our loca-
tion, on the west coast of the peninsula. Although we were on the east side, doubts crept in as to whether we would be fishing much at all. It appeared that we would have a day or two before the high winds hit, so taking advan- tage of our window of opportunity, we were on the water before sunrise for the first day of fishing. Changes in weather oſten bring good fishing, and our thoughts raced with
the possibilities ahead. Two pangas (Mexican skiffs) were on hand for sup- port and to provide a base for the media crew. Heading into calm seas, we dropped the kayaks only four miles offshore, not far from the hotel. Each of us anglers began to slow troll a live bait, with no particular route. Tere are few thrills in kayak fishing like trolling a live bait in the open ocean where big game roam. Greater than the memory, greater than the deed, is the mo- ment of anticipation. Te lively baits kept our rod tips dancing as we paddled on, scanning the
horizon for signs of fish. Spotting a current break ahead, Jim and I began to troll along its outside edge. Current breaks look like a river of smoother water meandering across the surface, and they trap debris as well as bait fish in their path. Bigger fish tend to lie on its edges, darting in and out to grab the trapped smaller fish.
28 … KAYAK ANGLER summer/fall 2009
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