ISLA MUJERES
Hotel Vistalmar 12th Annual
Barracuda Bash 2007 

Left Click on the above picture of the T-Shirt or this text to see the front of the T-Shirt and pictures of the sponsors.

******EXTRA EXTRA READ ALL ABOUT IT
LATE BREAKING NEWS ******
"The next Barracuda Bash will be held on JANUARY 23rd and 24th, 2008."
Make plans to be there and and join in on the fun.
Be a part of the celebrated tradition of the Barracuda Bash on Isla Mujeres.

Left click here to make sure you can be there for the 13th Barracuda Bash
Be there in the last half of Jan 2008

The Barracuda Bash is a "Hand-line" fishing contest. Not sure what hand-line fishing is, click on this link and I will try to explain what hand-line fishing is.

It's the First Day and
everyone is sure they will win the Big Prize.

Not a cloud in the sky. The water is as calm as can be.
The sun feels good on your face and they all just can't wait
to get out there and catch the Biggest Barracuda ever.

We always like to get a group,
picture of all the contestants. It brings everyone together and
gives you a good idea of just how many are participating.
It is also a good chance to chat with the other contestants.

As you may or may not be able to see from the pictures,
we had a hard time getting their attention after we
put them all together. 

I think they had something else besides the picture
on their minds. 

The Barracuda Bash is a "hand-line" fishing contest.
I do not know if there is a formal definition for hand-line fishing but this is how I like to explain it.

To put it simply, you do not sit in front of a tripod as you do with ice fishing
and you do not use a fishing pole, you hold on to the line with your two hands.
You troll along on the Caribbean Sea under the warm sun,
drinking your favorite cold beverage waiting for the
Barracuda to take the bait and then the fun starts.
You bring the fish out of the ocean into the boat by
pulling it in with one hand then the other.
This is the way the people of Isla Mujeres have always fished.

The Mexican fishermen use either cut inner tubes slipped over the ponting finger and
the pinky finger or a pair of snug fitting gloves to protect their hands.

I recommend buying at least one pair, preferably two pairs, of snug fitting gloves
that will handle the water. This will help protect your hands and
you will have an extra pair in case you lose one glove on the water.

I use a pair of cotten gloves that have the palms coated with latex.
You can buy these at most any hardware/lawn care store in the US.

Yes it is a challenge but that is what makes it fun.
See you there.

Now for some reason it was alot easier to get the crew
to pose for a group shot then it was for the contestants.

Left click on the above picture
or this link to see more of the
Captains and first mates.

Everyone is waiting for
the call to boards the boats

Mean while Gardy and Bill and Jack are
talking about fishing lures and who is going
to catch the biggest barracuda

Left click on this link
or on the above pictures to see pictures of the first morning of the Bash.

People usually carry their fish by
grabbing them from the "outside" but
Jim here has found a "different" way
of carring his catch, or at least part of it,
up to the weighing station.

Nice catch Jim. 

The Party after the fishing.

Left click on this link or on the above picture
to see the Bash winners receiving their
awards and more of the party after.

Left Click on this link if you wish to see
more of the Fiesta Pictures

Left click on this text
to go to the Last Page and see even more
pictures of people at the Vistalmar.

The Sponsors

A montage of people and places both past and present

Left click on this text
to go to the Last Page and see even more
pictures of people at the Bash and the party after.

If you have any comments on the web page
click on this text to send me an e-mail
I would be glad to hear from you.