TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online
The Search For EL DORADO
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: May 16, 2008
Maybe there really is a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Or at least some gigantic, golden fish. And for a team of anglers from Tampa, the spectacular dorado fishing off the coast of Cancun two weeks ago was definitely the golden end of the rainbow. Dorado is Spanish for golden, and also for dolphin - the peacock of the sea.
Tampa attorney Steve Yerrid, aboard his 65-foot Viking "Justice" with captain Frank Perri and old pals Jim Zambito and Bob McDonaugh - all also of Tampa - visited the waters out of Puerto Aventuras, a sportfishing destination that is drawing anglers from around the world. Minimal fishing pressure and deep water close to shore makes for great blue-water action, and the anglers found all they wanted.
During several days of fishing, the anglers caught and released a blue marlin, eight sailfish, a 40-pound wahoo, and a lot of dolphin averaging 25 pounds each. But they saved the best for last.
"We were trolling naked ballyhoo on the outriggers and a couple of lures in the spread, and we hooked up three cow dorado. As we started to get them near the boat, we could see a big bull swimming with them," Yerrid said. (Bull, or male, dolphin are distinguished from the cows, or females, by their blunt forehead.)
"I grabbed a spinning rod with a ballyhoo and threw it about 20 feet from the transom. The bull immediately rushed in and made the hit," Yerrid said. "He then took off on five greyhound leaps, and then a vertical skyrocket, just an amazing sight, all lit up in neon blue."
Dolphin, like several blue-water species, have the capability of changing their skin color almost instantly, creating a neon glow when seen in sunlight.
"While the three smaller dolphin were being boated, my fish took off on a tremendous run, maybe 250 yards of line off the 400-yard spool of 30-pound-test," Yerrid said. "Once we had the other fish under control we were able to start backing down on my fish, and the fight began in earnest."
Forty minutes later, Yerrid was still slugging it out with the fish, now a brilliant gold.
"When he came up and flashed in the sun, it looked like a gold mine down there. I loosened up the drag as the fish came close - this is the point where a lot of big fish are lost, and I didn't want to give him a chance to break the line," Yerrid said.
Though most fish are released aboard Steve's boat, this one looked like it could be record-class, and the anglers decided to keep it. The mate sank the gaff, and with a mighty heave pulled the giant over the transom.
"We tried weighing it on our 50-pound scale, and it bottomed out with a lot of fish still on deck," Yerrid said.
Back at the docks, they borrowed a 100-pound scale. The weight was 63 pounds, the length 71 inches - truly the dorado of a lifetime.
The fish turned out not to be a record on 30-pound tackle, but it was by far Steve's best dolphin, and also the best caught out of Puerto Aventuras.
"The fillets fed the crews and guests of four sportfish boats at the docks, and we still had plenty left over," Yerrid said. "I always hate to kill a great gamefish, but we know this species grows really fast and this fish was probably near the end of his natural lifespan."
Returning to Tampa last week, Yerrid ran into a small problem when he called local taxidermist Bo Reed to inquire about a mount to memorialize the catch. Most saltwater fish these days are mounted using fiberglass molds.
"He had plenty of dolphin molds, but the biggest one he had was about a foot too short," Yerrid said. "Of course, that's the kind of problem I like to have."
YOU CAN GO
Offshore fishing out of Puerto Aventuras is prime from mid-March through June. The resort is located south of Cancun and Playa del Carmen in the Yucatan Peninsula, on Mexico's Caribbean coast. A passport is now required for travel into Mexico. For details on travel and fishing at Port Aventuras, visit www.puertoaventuras.com.
TBO.com - Tampa Bay Online Member Agreement | Privacy Statement | Work With Us
Post a comment
(Requires free registration.)
* Keep it clean
* Respect others
* Don't hate
* Don't use language you wouldn't use with your mom
* Use "Report Inappropriate Comments" link when necessary
* See Member Agreement for details