| Meet the Captains - The Vargas Clan |
By Ed Kunze
When we are out on the ocean and searching for fish, a common question always seems to arise. Do we communicate by radio with the other boats to find the fish? Apparently, in certain areas of the US and Canada, in order to protect certain “secret” spots, misleading information is given over the radio. My answer is “Yes, we always communicate - and the information had better be correct, because someone’s brother, cousin, or friend of the family is going to be real upset if the information given out is misleading.”
This is especially true with the Vargas family. When the Zihuatanejo fleet puts out our average 20 boats a day for fishing charters, it seems that almost half of the fleet will have a Vargas at the helm. And, they are all great fishermen. It would take a full season of Another Day in Paradise to do an individual article on each one. Let it suffice to say there is not one single person in the family who is not deserving of individual recognition for their fishing accomplishments. Who are they? - 1) Alfredo- Captain and owner/captain of the Whisky I. A big bear of a man. Quiet, yet quick to smile. At 47 years old, he is he don of the family. 2) Armando (“Toro”)- brother and owner/captain of the Nautilius. 3) Javier- brother and owner/captain of the Marlin Azul. 4) Marco Antonio- brother and owner/captain of the Mako boat. 5) Jose (“Runda”)- nephew and owner/captain of the La Bamba 6) Alejandro – son of Alfredo and owner / captain of the Esturion. 7) Jessica- daughter of Armando and the only woman skipper/deckhand in the Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo area.
The older brothers all got their start 33 years ago when Alfredo was 14. He got a job cleaning and maintaining the only 4 sport fishing boats that were here at the time. They were owned and chartered out through the Hotel Catalina. These four 25 foot wooden cruisers were made right here in Zihuatanejo. High tech sport fishers they were not. Alfredo told me the stories of how the old Ford Model “A” engines had to be hand cranked to get started. The fishing was good however, and by the time Alfredo was 20, he was able to buy his first panga. Now, the family has 7 boats. Their story is one of success against long odds, but they made it.
Their accomplishments are incredible. When you fish on a daily basis, in a world class region such as we have here, opportunities arise. For instance, consider the 1,000 pound plus black marlin Javier caught while at the helm of the Marlin Azul. Ask Alfredo how many big tuna over 200 pounds or big blue marlin he has caught. He cannot tell you. It is not that he is trying to keep a secret, it is just that there are so many, he cannot remember them all.
Quality boats, gear and service is what it is all about. This is a lesson the older brothers learned years ago. Combined, they must have enough tackle and spare parts to fill a warehouse. Their dedication to the client, with repeat clients being the backbone of their business, ensures them an excellent backlog for next season, long before the current season is over. Another advantage to fishing with a Vargas at the helm, is the ability to get you anything your preference demands. If you want to fish exclusively with light tackle, between the family, there will be enough quality gear to make your charter look like a light tackle convention. If you want to target a specific species, someone in the family will have the right boat and the expertise to do exactly what you want. The Vargas family moor their boats and depart from the municipal pier. Between them, you can get anything your charter needs. From large groups, to a large cruiser for several people, and on down to the best equipped pangas in the area. If you just want a relaxing day on the water or if you want to be a serious contender in a major tournament, they can do it all.
Of interesting note: Alfredo is pulling the Whisky I out of the water after the May International Sailfish Tournament and giving her a new paint job and a new name. She will become the Esturion II. This gives Alfredo and his son three different boats, and all named Esturion. The Esturion I remains the panga run by Alejandro. The II will be the large cruiser, and the III is a panga especially set up for chasing the big tuna. With its 80hp four stroke engine, it is perfect for two clients to make the 40 to 50 mile run for the giant tuna. The Vargas clan is a family that grew up fishing together, and being they are a very close knit family, you will be getting more than just a day on the water with a boat and a crew. You will be getting a good portion of the expertise of the entire fleet here in Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo. Contact the family and their boats through www.fintastic.com and look up “Zihuatanejo Captains and Owners”
The author, Ed Kunze, is a charter boat captain himself and writes this column from his own expertise and personal knowledge of the captains and their boats. He lives in Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo year round and can be reached at 554-4876 or ixtapa@travel.com.mx
For more information on Capt Ed and his boats go to www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com or http://www.zihuatanejo.net/seaandsand/construction.html
April 2002
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