Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

After doing what I considered considerable research on the best time to go hunting for Tuna in Puerto Vallarta Mexico, I arrived there with my normal partner, the Mexican locals call “Oso” (the Bear), and Randy Weston, President of the Los Angeles Fathomiers. We had scheduled a three day dive and our hopes were high!! Actually this little piece could have been entitled “The Good and the Bad” and you’ll soon understand why. Once at the hotel which is located in Nuevo Vallarta (New Puerto Vallarta) we called our charter and made arrangements to meet the boat basically out the back door of the hotel. Leaving for the diving grounds in the dark the next morning it was a 36 mile smashing cruise to La Corbetena. This is a place many tuna over 250lbs have been taken and as far as I’m concerned the best place to spend your time unless you like spending the day riding in a boat. La Corbetena is actually a rock projecting from the sea, surrounded by an area having many sea mounts with some coming to within 60 feet of the surface. The current IUSA World Record Tuna (353 pounds) and Black Marlin (467 pounds) have been taken here. Another bone crushing 20 miles out is El Banco where the “cow” tuna are said to roam. Dropping in here we saw nothing but dirty water and a blue void. Oso managed a skinny Wahoo that at a glance looked like a Needlefish. Trying way too hard and spending way too much time we made a run for Corbetena, but the wind was blowing and we had to head in. The next morning off we are off a little smarter and hop in at La Corbetena. Holy smokes!! I see two tuna on the bottom and can’t catch them and see three on the surface while I’m on the bottom!! Five tuna in two minutes!!! This is going to be an “epic day!!!” This is when things turn ugly…. Long story short we never see a “high spot” again. Nor does anyone see any fish.

Worse News!! It’s an epic day alright ...”epic” as in… never to be forgotten!! The crew on the boat hook a 100 pound tuna while fishing and the boat drifts or is moved to better fight the fish and ends up totally out of sight!!! For about an hour and half we are in the middle of the ocean bobbing around looking for “eaters”. Occasionally another charter boat will see our flags and come by and ask “what the hell are you doing here??” They ask us if we want a ride and we stick it out floating in the blue looking for our boat. Finally when almost all the boats have left the area our boat finds us and takes us home. Somehow no one got a black eye or stabbed and the crew is still very unhappy when we tell them we want a divorce. Here’s the good part!! At the hotel our savior Sebastian has heard we are in town and during a run to the airport he stops by to say hello. Sebastian has a panga outfit is less than an hour boat run to Corbetena. Sebastian is a “Rock Star” looking kid with an entourage of females, all 10’s, looking for his autograph. The timing is such that he actually helps me (the old guy) carry my gear up the numerous flights of stairs to our room. We have a drink and it’s not long before we’re all rolling on the floor with laughter (its great to be alive!!). We agree to take a taxi to his place in the dark of the morning and leave all our belongings in a shed at his place while we dive. Next morning we hit the convenience store for “stuff” for lunch and arrive at his place jumping in a panga that goes directly to “the spot”. The boat crew Steven and Poppa are totally in tune with spearfishing. We are dropped up current and hit “the spot” every time. When I think I need them I look up and they are already responding. We see fish and “life” all day and Randy scores with two tuna in the 140lb class. Oso missed a couple but was happy he got the chance. I was happy using my first UW camera and my attempt at making a video. That’s all a guy can really ask for!! That night Sebastian took us to a restaurant next door to his place and they prepared the tuna a hundred different ways. Joining us were the boat crew Steven and Poppa, and Sebastian’s brother Nicholas. White clothed tables on the beach, a little musical group, great Margaritas, and one of the best meals of my life.