February Fishing Report

The month of February hosted the 2002 Winter Olympic Games and there was much excitement, even here in sleepy Puerto Vallarta. New sports are incorporated into the Games each year and for us, the most snow that we have seen in ages is a raspado (Snow Cone) so we were fascinated by the snowboarding, acrobatic skiing and the rest. Phil has decided to approach the Olympic Committee and attempt to have fishing included in the 2004 Summer Games. Let's face it, fishing is more athletic than curling. Just imagine the possibilities? Marks for technical achievement in the fighting chair? Artistic merit for fly casting? Best distance for surfcasting, or Phil's favorite, the number of casts that one can make with a Ranger Lure before losing it. Can you visualize an electronic screen displaying 5.6's and 5.8's for fish gaffing?

Maybe a Fishing Triathlon? Three hours of surfcasting heavy gear at Los Carreyeros, an overland run to Marina Vallarta carrying all fishing gear and finally a race to Corbeteñia for some big game billfish. Doesn't this sound like every fisherman's dream of a lifetime? And then on the Olympic Podium we are so accustomed to the typical physique of an amazingly attractive European Athlete, the toothy smile of someone who has lived on greens for the past 10 years? Let's break protocol and give a gold medal to a 60-year-old beer swilling deep-sea fisherman with a cigar in his mouth. (Okay, okay, not all fishermen are beer swillers and most of them do not smoke cigars, I am just trying to get my point across) Maybe Puerto Vallarta should bid for a Summer Games somewhere down the road. The traffic problem would be horrific but at least we could insure that our hotel rooms are filled in the low season.

Okay, this month we may have reached new heights in 'Tacky' but all in good fun and when the Black Marlin and Giant Yellowfin Tuna are back we promise to be totally serious once again.