Call her ‘Girl Harvey’ as Theresa’s overboard with a marlin.
Safely managing the marlin near the boat before Theresa splashes in!
A cooperative dorado, then sadly gaffed onto the boat.
Diving in and dooooowwwwwn offshore with a pod of dolphin!
Reprinted here from a past season. Long as I can remember, I’ve wanted to do it. My curiosity about what’s happening under there is so intense that I simply must slip overboard into the endless deep blue sea and swim with game fish. I remember once, likely eight years ago, the first time I tried. We were on a wide open dorado bite, far enough away from land that the Baja was gone from sight. The motor was off and the anglers were having their way with a fury of goldbluegreen flashing dorado and the fish bag was bulging. With my Captain’s attentions occupied, I discreetly grabbed my fins, mask and snorkel. I went unnoticed as I quietly put one leg over the stern of the boat with a tip toe taking my weight on the swim platform. Perfect. I was sneaking out of the boat when hands the size of a steering wheel simply lifted me up, over, and back onto the deck as if I was a hapless bait fish. “No way, Thedesa, you not going in the agua. NO.” And this big, strong Captain of mine simply put an end to it. Since then, my desire to know, to see these fish swimming in their natural habitat has simply grown stronger.
My inspiration comes from my hero, Guy Harvey. If you’ve ever seen a sport fishing magazine, you’ve seen Guy Harvey. Celebrating 30 years of publishing, Marlin Magazine chose to use one of his paintings on the cover. Probably half of the ubiquitous open collared shirts most fishermen wear to dinner are a reflection of his artistic adaptation of game fish, as beautiful and magnificent as any of earth’s creatures. He’s my hero and I knew he must be going overboard to experience his models close up, first hand, in living color. Me too, me too, me too. And so…
With a more obliging crew that call me ‘Sirena’ (mermaid) because of my love of shore swimming and especially snorkeling and diving, last March was the first time I went overboard. We were offshore on a fast moving, endless school of flying mobulas, the manta rays that are so dense in population they create huge black clouds on the surface that are acres in size. Then in July on a flat calm Sunday morning we were slow trolling bridled bait in the East Cape’s bread basket a few miles offshore when a huge school of dolphin appeared portside. I squealed in delight and threw up my arms, pleading – now, now? Of course Captain Luis knew I wanted to get in, and high up in the bridge I saw his lips say ‘Porque no?” and splash I was in the water in a millisecond. Donning loooooooong dive fins and strong from a summer of swimming I tore across the surface mid-school. Under the surface it was a symphony of dolphin song – I simply will never forget the sound of their calling and the site of dolphin everywhere, below, to the sides, out front. In the water in July, you can actually see 100 to 150 feet deep. Dolphin are 8 – 10 feet long and at times they are so deep they appear pin sized. They move like missiles, silver streaks so damn fast first they’re there, then not. The school was full of babies and they collectively kept moving so fast they were streaming by. No way could I keep up, so as I dove down hard and fast, maybe 20 feet deep and bam – they stopped. Six big dolphin and 3 babies schooled around and made circle after tight circle around me – that was it! I needed to really get in and get down. Out of breath as I hit the surface I saw Luis was watching me and pointing and laughing as he could see them circling me. Holy deep blue sea, I thought, call me ‘Girl Harvey’!
Swimming with game fish was my goal and game fish were everywhere in November. I channeled my best ‘Girl’ Harvey personae and knew I was going to get in with a marlin. We were off the Lighthouse when we hooked up; I actually fought this fish and handed it off in the last few minutes to grab my gear, and a camera. Our strategy was to bring the marlin up on the stern for pictures, and then I would be poised when Luis and Adan eased the fish back into the water. It couldn’t have been better – when the fish was gently lowered in, there we were, with one of his big eyes looking straight into mine. No hook, no line, just a huge happy marlin back in the water making its way back to the deep blue. I was snapping pictures as fast as I could and wishing this wayfarer all the luck as he descended.
I was ecstatic. My husband, crew and friends too were thrilled and as soon as my wet feet hit the deck I was shouting ‘Dorado next!’ Favor was with us and as we wet the lure – bang – hook up! The question was how to keep from getting too close to the line, so I stayed closer to the boat as Adan lead the fish around. The 35-pound bull was calm, the hook just at the side of his mouth and the lure creating even more color on this adrenaline soaked, lit up fish. Everyone on board indulging me, we swam together for about ten minutes. I remain impressed with how unperturbed fish are by my presence; he would swim right to me and only be directed away by Adan. I peaked above the surface and realized the saddest part of the day was upon me. This obliging fish, that I had been so thrilled to swim with, was now going to be gaffed. I didn’t like this at all; from the water I asked them to release him – please please, he’s beautiful, he’s been marvelous with me, please, please. They were aghast at my question – NO WAY, he’s coming in the boat, and with deadly precision he was lanced and hauled from the water.
Another day, another dorado. This time I’m accompanied by my blonde goddess girlfriend Kym Meehan, a beautiful mermaid. Now I could photograph her with the fish, swimming together. The experience of watching the two of them interact, reaching together, separating, was incredible. Pleading for mercy found no sympathy, and the dorados that day again came on board.
I want to swim with more marlin. I definitely want to swim with big tuna. But before the warm waters return and bring more ‘Girl Harvey’ experiences, the whales are on their way and I’m getting in.
The World's Aquarium 