Dolphins like to swim with the vessel. They like it more when we are sailing fast, than they group together around the bow.

We have seen whales, three times, around Bahia Balena, the Pacific coast of Mexico, one time south of Antigua, and once south of Isla Margarita, there they were feeding on sardines.

Sharks we've seen more often. Hammerheads around the Galapagos. As well in the Pacific around Sala y Gomez and Cocos Island. In the Caribbean around Aruba, Islas las Aves, and Los Testigos.
We have never met any aggressive shark











Eating fish is healthy, makes you strong and makes you live long. Furthermore fish has a great taste and there are many delicious ways to cook it. For these reasons we often go fishing.Our favorite fish is the TUNA. Cut in small clean slices and served with horseradish (wasabi) pickled ginger and soyasauce this raw tuna is called SHASHIMI in Japan. A TUNA right away cleaned and served like this at the aft deck is an almost religious happening. Wait a little while and there will not be much left over of the entire fish.
See this right photo, this TUNA did not make it to a decent cooking pot at all. Fishing, I mean trawling lines with lures behind the boat when sailing,is relaxing till you have a strike. Than the stress begins. The Shimano 80 reels have 900 yards of 80 lbs test nylon. Keep tension on the line without breaking it.

 

Right see the over 17 kilo tuna that Lennert and I caught south of Great Inagua (Bahamas) in may 2003

 

Next to trawling lures 25-40 meters behind the boat, you could go spear fishing in coastal waters. This is one of the hardest ways to fish. You literally snorkel down and go look for fish under rocks and in holes. Every minute have to go up to take a breath and start again. Below see the catch of my life. With my MARES STEN air gun I shot a NASSAU GROUPER
of over 19 kilos. (Punta Cardon - Venezuela - October 2000). When opening its mouth causing a current and the poor little fish simple flow inside.
Right we see a male dorade on the lure. This hunter is a fighter. Make sure he´s tired before trying to bring him on deck. This one Niko and I caught underway to Isla Margarita, September 2003. Dorade feeds on flying fish.

Left see Emile Westrate. Goes kayaking in open sea, trawling a lure behind and comes back with this big BARACUDA (Las Aves 2001)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Right, the famous SNAPPER with the little black dot on its back. When fresh is nice juicy and good for barbeque on the beach. (Las Aves 2002, with the spear gun)

 

 

Left
Wahoo 17 kilo caught by Ron and Aart coming from Punto Fijo in November 2004
The famous and expensive Leroy the LOBSTER grows
very slow, needs many years to get to a real size but
unfortunately Leroy is interesting for the culinary freaks.
Dolphins can do a lot of good to seafarers, so they bring you the luck that you need when you're out at sea in that different and often dangerous environment. Meeting dolphins relaxes, it's like a blessing in the house of a good god, one can feel the protection.