Pakula PFT in El Salvador 2004
Not the usual fishing trip.

Part 1     Part 2     Part 3     Part 4

Part 4

The heat haze had lifted overnight, at 6.30am the morning was cool with no wind. The crews were still groggy after the previous late night, Marko and JC smiled as they stowed their gear. Paco, as usual had already been up for some time and was wide awake and raring to go. Within seconds we were out of there. The inlet was a postcard, perfect bright light, the palm fronds frozen in the still air. Even Sandy-ita’s motors whispered as we headed for the wide shallow inlet. We had a new crew member for the day. Young Javier, one of Javier’s (Paco’s sons) mates. He wanted to catch a Blue Marlin as he was another local angler tired of catching sailfish.

Once we cleared the inlet a glass sea lay before us as Sandy-ita came to life and ripped up the ocean at her 27 knot cruise as she headed way beyond the horizon in a effort to get away from those pesky Vela. After some 40 miles the boat slowed as we approached one of Paco’s marks, one of those earthquake epicentres!!. Then area was full of good fishy signs: current lines, dolphins, birds working, tuna and small bait were widely spread hitting the surface possibly after the tiny flying fish. Good sign for sails!!!

The Chair Bent Butt 80’s were set with 12 and 14inch lures set for youg Javiers Blue. Within minutes there was a bill behind the short rigger, then long rigger, and then behind all the others. Long spindly bills! Yep, yet again a pack of sails over 40 miles offshore. There were lures flying everywhere!! The sails eventually gave up trying to get hooked on 11/0 and 12/0 hooks and dissolved back into the sea. Paco of course trolled out of there as quickly as possible!!

As the day progressed the wind didn’t come up, not even a breeze to cool us in the humid heat. Blue Marlin didn’t show for us or any of the other boats. The Radio alerted us to a hot Mahi Bite. We got there just after the last one was landed by the other boat, of course it was Lalo on El Capitain!! Good on him! He’d caught lots of them, a couple of decent ones and the rest tiny.

I’m not sure if we saw 30 or 40 sails, but it was enough to keep the deck busy enough. A few hooked up on the heavy gear but all fell of after varying fight times. Paco and the other locals seemed pleased that they didn’t have to deal with green Sails at the boat, though the 80’s do seem to knock them about pretty quickly, possibly they can’t swim fast enough to get enough oxygen or something like that. Maybe it was just the heat and humidity getting to them as well. Perhaps they too were in ‘Hammock Mode’.

To say the day was a dud is missing the point. It wasn’t. To be that far away from home with new friends was a good a way of spending the day. Kind of like a hammock in the sea. Young Javier didn’t get his Blue, but at least they’ll both be a bit bigger and stronger when they meet.

The day stayed mirror, the trip home simply a rewind of the trip out. The bait schools were still rippling the surface, birds diving, turtles lazing and dolphins playing. The excitement grew on the way in as the news that a troop of (young) Russian dancing girls were doing a show at the resort that night. The boys may still catch something before the day is out!

The waterfront of the resort was being transformed into an outdoor theatre as we arrived. A large table was set for those connected to the PFT and their families.

However, before getting showered and dressed for dinner, what seems to be the traditional playing with and re-rigging lures took place. It seems that everyone gets involved in this nightly / daily / hourly event. Paco, Marko and JC had rigging bits and lures covering several of the waterside bars tables covered in gear. I even git in on the act re-rigging the few small lures I had with me with single 7691s and slightly heavier leaders. The thought of Blue’s grabbing lures rigged with 100lb leader and fine 10/0’s on 80lb rods did send shivers down the spine. Great on 8,10, and even 15kg, but not 80. I’ve never had a reasonable success rate using single hook rigs, never beating 30% but thought I’d give it a go and use the set up of drag and release of those recommendations read in articles and on the web.

As the darkness grew the table filled with happy faces and bottles of Rum and other assorted refreshments and plenty of good food from the buffet. I actually have no idea who caught what. The fact is they were all in a good mood, not much else mattered. Even though the music played by a local group was very loud the conversation flowed until the Russian girls appeared and for some reason the conversation stopped. Perhaps Marko or JC can better take the story of the rest of the night from here as they both looked very tired the next day! (Only kidding!!

Things were quiet for everyone. The birds, dolphins and other life were dozing. We did find the Sails and had numerous shots that didn’t hook-up. Time to change back to the light gauge twin hook rigs which soon had me on the rod connected to one of the smallest Sails they had seen in El Salvador. It still put up a great show. The continual aerobatics of sails on light tackle is hard to beat. This one was small, but still did its best. Before long it was boat side for some quick photos before being sent back on its way.

The early afternoon saw the ocean dwellers start to stir. Bait schools started flicking, birds started working and the dolphins started feeding, no longer leaving to come and surf the bow waves.

 There are few things as pleasurable as being on the rod playing these fish that are almost designed for sports fishing.

It played tough, jumping, diving deep then screaming over the surface. As with all the fish Paco handled the boat smoothly. Those on board although not having fished before acted like a well oiled team.

The fish was once again handled easily boat side and quickly released back to join its mates. I enjoyed being the angler as I hadn’t picked up a rod in battle for some 2 or 3 years. It was like riding a bicycle, once you’ve learnt to fall off, it comes back pretty easily.

It was a short day; Paco had to get back home early so we started the troll home. We set the Blue Marlin lures, Paco trying a bunch of his collection. Still no Blues for any of the boats.

The mood on the boat throughout all the miles was relaxed and pleasant. Everyone got on really well. Jo was still in relaxed mode, loving the time out. Marko and JC got on very well forming a friendship that I’m sure will last many years. Javier, the older, was in charge on the deck making sure everyone had enough to eat and drink. Paco was at peace with the world up in the tower of the Sany-ita. He loves being on the boat and driving her.

As soon as the gear was brought in and the motors revved to cruise the mood changed. Everyone realised the fishing in the PFT was over and that we had shared some very special time together. Time you cannot plan, a rare few days out of many years enjoying the sport that brought us together from around the world. There is now way of explaining it in words as it has nothing to do with the fish, except without the hope of catching them it would not have happened.

The evening’s farewells were sad. JC, Don Fito, Norman, Lalo and many others were on their way back home. Though there were some language barriers the friendships made were solid ones.

Jo, Marko and I, the only ones left at the resort spent a pleasant evening at the waterfront restaurant turning in early to recuperate after a tiring few days.

Paco returned to pick us up in the morning, taking Marko back to the airport to catch his fight back to Mexico to face his wife who he only informed of his trip as he left several days earlier.

We continued with Paco to San Salvador staying at the immaculate President Hotel. This is where the PFT San Salvador story ends. Paco continued to look after us for the rest of our stay showing us through most of his small country. We toured Mayan ruins, wonderful country, coastal areas, and got to the top of a volcano to mention just a few of the highlights. We ate at many beautiful restaurants, one spectacular one on a cliff top overlooking the coast. The food and service was consistently first class. Marco (with a C) took us to several restaurants that were also first class including one at the country club that was world class.

This was no ordinary holiday. Paco had planned this down to every last detail. Jo and I are certainly grateful for the hospitality and can only hope to have the chance to try and repay them all when they visit Australia. Though I doubt that anything can come close to the time we had at the PFT El Salvador 2004.

Muchas gracias mi amigo Don Francisco.

END
Link to more images of the El Salvador Trip