| Meet the Captains - Captain Orlando Hernandez Aguilera |
It is 4:30 and several hours before the sun rises red over the Sierra Madres. As his wife wishes him good luck, Orlando quietly leaves his house near the airport and heads in the direction of Zihuatanejo. A half an hour later finds Orlando Hernandez Aquilera in the panga Tequila and getting ready for another day of fishing. There is cut bait to be sewn on the hooks and live bait needs to be bought and put in the live well. Ice for the ice chest, and an inventory of the sodas and drinking water needs to be done. Rods are to be put in the rocket launchers. Swivels are retied for each new day. And finally, he hopes to have time to get a cup of coffee and a roll before the clients arrive.
Today’s client is Gordon Krantz. When our editor, Catherine, called me and asked whom I would recommend for her father to fish with, I immediately suggested Orlando. Orlando and the Tequila were ready when Gordon arrived at the municipal pier at 6:30. By gray light they had cleared Zihuatanejo Bay and were heading South to the Barra Pototsi area for roosterfish.
“I have been fishing with Orlando for 4 years now, and even though we do not always get a lot of fish, few captains get more. Even fewer work as hard as Orlando to find the fish and give you a great day on the water.”
Scott McKane, New Jersey
Weaving a panga in and out of the surf line, trying to entice a 30 pound plus roosterfish to take the live bait offering is not exactly an easy way to make a living. As the waves make their unobstructed way to the beach, there is more than one big roller trying to get the name “Tequila” plastered all over its face. After a few hours of this, the fish just do not want to cooperate. It is time to change tactics. Heading out to sea at half throttle, they are off to find a sailfish and hopefully a nice dorado for dinner.
The fishing we have had the last couple of weeks has been on the slow side for all species. The water is getting cooler and the current has pushed the blue water from the entrance of the Bay to out about 6 miles. This is ideal for the tuna and big marlin, but the sailfish and dorado have been just passing through on their way to search for warmer climes. A lot of boats are not even getting a strike.
“The fishing has been so crazy lately, this morning I caught a 40 pound dorado inside the Bay. Tomorrow, I am going offshore 12 miles to look for roosterfish”
Orlando Hernandez (Feb., 2003)
When the day was over and they returned to the pier, the final tally was only one nice dorado. What did Gordon have to say about a trip with a disappointing catch? “It was a fantastic day on the water, next time we will get my rooster.”
Orlando is probably the best of only two or three captains here who really understands the concept of teasing a billfish or dorado to the boat for the fly fishing angler.
P.J. Cunningham, Idaho
Captain Orlando was one of the very first people I met when I moved to Zihuatanejo 5 years ago. With his easy going manner, excellent English, and a great sense of humor, we fast became good friends. In fact, I was essentially adopted by the entire Hernandez clan. Orlando’s Dad, Gordo, is the actual owner of the Tequila, but it is a family affair. When Gordo stopped the hectic life of fishing, Orlando took over. And, hectic it is. Orlando left the house this morning at 4:30, got the boat ready, and then fished all day. After he cleaned the boat, fueled up for tomorrow’s trip, and stowed all the gear away, he got home at 5:00 in the evening. Try doing that for 22 days straight without a single day off. See if you can still maintain a sense of humor and treat every new client like they are your long lost friend. Orlando can and does do that, and to top it off, he is a great fisherman.
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
For more information on Captain Ed and his boats go to www.sportfishing-ixtapa.com or www.zihuatanejo.net/seaandsand
February 2003
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