When Carol and I planned our vacation for the summer of 1985 we decided to spend the first week in Puerto Vallarta and the second week in Cancun. We had been vacationing for the previous four years in Cancun and I wanted to introduce Randy to fishing for Dorado. One of the attractions for choosing Puerto Vallarta as our destination was its location on the Pacific coast of Mexico and their year round Dorado fishing season.
After weeks of preparation, the Saturday of our trip dawned. Our carry-on baggage and fishing gear was loaded into a friend’s car and off to Tijuana airport we went. For the first time we were flying Mexican airlines for this trip.
When we arrived at the airport we bid goodbye to our friend and got on line for check-in. We waited patiently amidst the other travelers comprised of a diverse mixture of native Mexicans and American tourists. The time for the flight came and went. Everyone wondered what happened as to why none of us were processed for checked in. Soon we learned that the flight was cancelled and the next flight to Puerto Vallarta would be Sunday at eight in the morning.
With no other choice but to return home till the next morning, we rented a car and went back home for the night.
I didn’t trust the information we got, so I set the alarm for five in the morning.
At the sound of the alarm, I roused Carol and Randy, repacked the rental car and headed back to the Tijuana airport. With little traffic that early on a Sunday morning, we made it to the airport in a little more than half an hour.
I returned the car and we walked into the airport lugging our six carry-on bags at a quarter to six. A man wearing what appeared to be an official airline uniform asked if we were going to Puerto Vallarta.
I replied, “Yes.”
Somewhat agitated, he told us to hurry and run as he pointed the way.
“Run to the gate! Your plane leaves in ten minutes,” he said.
We raced down the corridor to the gate, handed over our tickets and scrambled onto the plane. We were surprised to find three seats together and room for all our carry-on bags near the front of the plane. I was thankful for my thoughts the night before that got us up so early because the original time we were given for the flight was two hours later. I wondered about all our fellow travelers from the day before and what they would find when they returned to the airport at eight that morning. Would they miss yet another flight?
As soon as we were seated, the door was closed and we were advised to buckle up and get ready for take-off. Finally we were on our way to Puerto Vallarta, a little stressed but thankful we made the flight on time.
As soon as we were airborne, my thoughts returned to anticipating the two weeks of vacation ahead of us. The flight was uneventful and we arrived early morning in Puerto Vallarta. A taxi ferried us to our resort where we checked in. We went to our room and quickly unpacked. Once we donned our bathing suits we immediately took advantage of the beautiful hot humid weather at the resort. We spent the first half hour exploring the grounds and amenities together as a family. It didn’t take long for Randy to ask me to accompany him in his quest to find a fishing spot.
While Carol found a comfortable lounge chair at the pool, Randy and I set out to explore the area in search for fishing opportunities. We soon found that the main marina was just a short walk from the resort. The marina offered Randy ample space to fish from the docks, but he was not going to catch any Dorado there. It was going to take a hired boat to reach the fishing grounds that would yield the fighting Dorado.
One of the most sought after saltwater fish that avid fishermen hope to catch at least once in their life is the Dolphin fish, also known as Mahi-Mahi and Dorado. The attraction to this fish aside from its vivid colors and unusual shape is its extraordinary fight. Mahi-Mahi means ‘Very Strong” in Hawaiian. The name is apropos because it’s a voracious fighter when hooked in spite of its size. Dorado will break water leaping, thrashing and dancing six feet above the surface of the water. The battle experienced by the angler is exciting and thrilling especially for a young boy. Randy being an avid fisherman, I wanted him to experience the thrill of catching a Dorado.
We returned to the resort where Randy gathered his fishing gear and off we went back to the marina. This became Randy’s daily venture walking the few short blocks from our resort to the boat marina. There he fished till he had to come back for lunch and dinner.
Each day I joined Randy at the marina. I left Carol to sunbathe at the beach or pool. On the second day, I walked down the dock and found some fishing boats for charter. I inquired as to the cost of a fishing trip into the Pacific specifically for Dorado. I was told it was $300 for the day. This was a little outside our budget so I was quite disappointed. I hoped that maybe something would present itself to allow Randy to get his shot at landing a Dorado.
Later that day a man strolled down the docks with his two boys. He stopped and asked me if I knew where he could charter a fishing boat. He too wanted to take his two boys out for a day of fishing. I directed him to the people who gave me the $300 quote. Soon he returned, and offered up a plan to take the boys out fishing and split the cost of the charter. I agreed and we set a date for the following morning.
The next morning the five of us arrived at the marina. We agreed that the boys would do all the fishing. The older of the two boys was Randy’s age and the two immediately got acquainted. The younger lad was a bit shy, but soon the three of them were talking fishing with an air of excited anticipation in their voices.
After the deckhands completed their preparations we left the dock and headed out to sea. After about forty-five minutes we were in the ocean. The swells caused the boat to rock considerably. The rocking of the boat as it negotiated the swells did not affect Randy since he had a lot of experience with ocean fishing. But apparently the other boys were not used to this and promptly became sea sick. They found a place where they could lay down in obvious misery.
The boat slowed down to trolling speed and the deckhand began to bait the hooks on two trolling rigs. Once the rigs were in the water, the real waiting began. We agreed before we left the dock that the boys would rotate taking in the catch. The older of the two boys would take the first hook-up, Randy the second and the youngest boy the third.
A few minutes into the initial troll there was a hook-up. But the older boy was too sick so Randy took the fighting chair as the deckhand handed him the rod. Randy caught the first fish. It was a real fighter, like nothing Randy had ever landed before. It jumped and danced on the water, flailing and flashing its brilliant green and blue colors in the sunlight. The deckhand kept near Randy, coaching him to keep the line taut.
Each time Randy was able to reel in a few yards of line, the fish would break water and pull out more line against the drag of the reel. Back and forth went the battle between Randy and the fighting Dorado. As he fought against the powerful fish, I got my camera and caught Randy’s thrill and excitement beaming from his face.
After Randy landed that first fish, the deckhand once more baited the lines and began the troll again. Each time there was a hook-up the other two boys were given a chance to bring one in, but time after time they were so sea sick they relinquished their turn to Randy. They were just too miserable to take the rod. So Randy caught the second, third and fourth fish.
After a while there was another hook-up and they were giving the rod to Randy again when he went over and encouraged the older boy to take it instead. Reluctantly he got up and hopped in the chair and fought the fish till it was landed. That was the only fish he caught all day. The younger boy was just too sick, so after Randy landed a another Dorado, we headed back to the docks early.
It was thrilling watching Randy’s sheer delight fighting the Dorado. More importantly was the sense of pride I felt for Randy as I watched him encouraging the other boy to fight through his misery and experience the thrill of landing this fighting fish.
Turning Points
This experience revealed a number of turning points. Firstly, I felt bound by a financial limitation. The appearance of a stranger with a financial solution taught me that sometimes our perceived obstacles are merely “obstacle illusions”. Solutions can be just “around the corner”. I acknowledge and am grateful that God brought that stranger to our rescue and made the experience possible.
Secondly, Randy revealed how boldly acting on one’s compassion for others can bring that someone a hoped for joy that appeared to be impossible. Sacrifice for others is a part of our character that enhances our own experiences as well as that of others. Randy’s active compassion for his new found friends surely touched them as it did Randy and me.
COPYRIGHT © 2014 ALLAN E. MUSTERER