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| Arrowsmith Banks, 23 miles out L Lock photo |
Isla Mujeres, just a few minutes away by passenger ferry from the tourist mecca of Cancun, was settled generations ago by the Maya fishermen and their
families.
The fishing culture is still prevalent on the island.
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| Winter residents - fishing off the dock |
There’s fish to catch: You can go fishing with
friends, or charter a boat from an islander, or sit on a dock, or stand on the
shoreline to catch your finny dinner.
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| A good spot to enjoy the day |
Charter boats, big and shiny, or small and humble, are docked at the
wharves - their knowledgeable captains waiting to take folks out on the ocean
for a day charter, or as participants in an organized fishing tournament.
Unless you are prone to seasickness, it’s a great
way to get some sun, have a bit of fun, and exercise your muscles while hauling
in the tasty treats.
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| Islander diving for dinner |
Some of our island friends free-dive to depths of eighty or more feet to
spear a meal.
The level of physical fitness required for this activity is
astounding.
We are the sit-on-a-boat kind of fishing people, and then only
rarely.
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| School of fish |
Fish
to swim with: Tug on a pair of fins and add a mask
and snorkel, or pull on the full diving gear ensemble, and you can cavort with
your finny friends along the world’s second-longest barrier reef.
With
sixty-five species of stony coral, 350 varieties of
mollusks, and 500 types of fish, the reef is a bio-diverse universe.
Depending on which section of the reef you
explore, you might find inhabitants such as moray eels, scorpion fish, crabs,
lobsters, shrimps, groupers, grunts, oceanic triggerfish, angelfish, and the
multi-coloured parrotfish, as well as other creatures such as delicate seahorses.
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| Invasive Lionfish in a tank |
The red lionfish, originating in the
Indo-Pacific region, has recently appeared in the Caribbean
Sea, devouring many of the reef-cleaning species that maintain the health of
the coral.
There are annual cooking competitions along the Riviera Maya, featuring
lionfish cuisine to reduce the invasive population.
Although not fish, the reef
is host to playful dolphins, giant sea turtles, peaceful manatees, majestic
rays, and, in the summer months, the gentle whale sharks.
And fish to fry.
The beaches on the western
side of the island are strewn with small boats capable of holding five or six men
and a pile of nets.
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| Local fishermen repairing nets |
These tough little boats and their hardy owners supply the
island residents and tourists with tasty, fresh fish whenever possible.
When the
weather prevents the boats from leaving the harbour, the fishermen spend the
time cleaning nets or maintaining their boats, or shooting the breeze with
fellow fishermen at their co-ops, cooperativas,
located along the western shore of the island.
While calloused hands deftly
weave the bobbin of nylon yarn, mending rips and holes, there is laughter and
raunchy jokes. Beers are consumed, and insults are yelled at friends.
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| Waiting to go out |
Fish can be purchased directly from the cooperativas, to be prepared in your condo or apartment. The prices vary according to your
island status: born on the island, local, new resident, or visitor.
The ability
to speak Spanish also has some bearing on the prices. However, the fish is definitely
fresh when purchased directly from the fishermen.
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| Veradero Cuban Restaurante |
Come and enjoy a bit of paradise,
Cheers, Lynda, Lawrie, and Sparky
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