19/04/2025
It was my birthday, and my wife had cooked up a surprise. She arranged for the local fishermen to pick me up at dawn so I could spend the whole day working exactly the way they do. As you can see, we’re in a single‑engine RIB, so everything has to go right—normally I’d recommend two engines in case one fails. We ended up staying out for a little over nine hours. The crew kept asking if I wanted to head back, but I knew this was their livelihood, so I said we’d stick it out. I wanted to earn their respect.
The swells were massive at times, and in a boat this small it takes only two or three hours before your sense of balance is completely shot—you can guess the rest. Those who know, know. Our housekeeper and property guard, Joao, once tried to become a fisherman himself but quit after a single trip. I have nothing but respect for anyone who can spend an entire day on the ocean in what’s basically a dinghy and keep fishing. (Yes, we can arrange big, air‑conditioned boats, but if you’re after a truly authentic adventure and a memory for life, this is the way to go. 😉)
Anyway, here’s one of today’s catches—a tuna, probably a bluefin, pulled straight from the Indian Ocean.
Tip: bring your own water and a few snacks. My wife forgot to pack any for me, and some sunscreen wouldn’t have hurt either. Just saying! 😂
