Tales from the Edge: Life Through Fishing

By Jordan Rash

I awaken in a panic and glance at my watch; 3:30 a.m. – 90 minutes before my alarm is set to go off. I take a deep breath and settle back into my pillow, listening to the sound of the breeze and the waves of the Pacific Ocean below. I struggle to sleep; I am too excited knowing that soon I will be miles offshore in search of tuna, mahi, and other tropical deep sea fish species.

The 5 a.m. alarm is a blessing. I jump out of bed, slipping out the bedroom door to dress so as to not disturb my wife further. My kids sleep on pull-outs next to me while I pull on my UV-protective clothing, eat a concha, and pack up the dry bag. I duck outside and make my way to the resort lobby to find the bellman asleep in a folding chair.
I greet him in Spanish and request a taxi.

“¿A dónde vas?”
“La Cruz de Huanacaxtle,” I reply.

I load into the passenger seat of the taxi and enjoy a short, quiet drive to the marina. Upon my arrival, I step onto the dimly lit pier and squint through the darkness in search of my guide. After a brief search, I see a figure carrying a load of heavy fishing rods over his shoulder. In a hushed