I had to write and thank you once again Capt. Jose. The guys in my precinct are already tired of hearing how much fun Connor and I had on our fishing trip. We still have a hard time convincing all the guys that it actually happened! I have to admit if I didn’t experience it myself I wouldn’t believe me either. Growing up Connor and I always knew we wanted to be NYPD officers we have been friends for over 20 years. When the time came for our 10th anniversary on the force we knew we wanted to do something special. Little did we know that the decision to charter a fishing trip in Costa Rica would lead to the lifetime memories we now have. As a native New Yorker there isn’t much that surprises or amazes me, I have seen it all. Or at least I thought I did.
I didn’t know what to expect from a charter fishing trip since I have never experienced one. Connor and I didn’t consider ourselves anglers at all. We would have been happy catching a fish or two downing a couple of beers and getting our story straight in case we skunked. Walking up to that 17’ Boston Whaler calmed us both down and sparked our imaginations. As I’m sure you remember we could not get rid of the ear to ear grin after setting off. That Boston Whaler sure did inject a bit of childish optimism in both Connor and I. I have to admit I may have even imagined catching an actual whale if only for a second.
Neither Connor nor I have ever seen a roosterfish before and was excited to match wills against such a strong predator. Boy was I surprised after a less than an hour of arriving at our destination and Connor hooked one. As surprised as I was at the speed of our first contact it was nothing compared to the strength at which that fish pulled! I thought the boat was moving backwards! The first fish battled with Connor for what seemed like hours before finally conceding defeat and joining us on the boat. Shortly after Connors epic struggle when I hooked the second Rooster little did I know what I was in store for.
Fighting with that Rooster made me feel like a man. A primal urge deep inside me was being satisfied with every powerful pull from that incredible animal. The rush I got from battling that fish made chasing a suspect through the streets of New York seem like grade school recess. Realizing the fish was 90 pounds made me understand that we are the strangers in their element. Being a 220 pound fit police officer still didn’t give me the tools to overpower a 90 pound fish. The battle lasted a few hours and they seemed to fly by in what seemed like only minutes.
I was devastated when we got him next to the boat and he bolted away. The devastation and defeat I felt almost brought me to tears. How that Rooster weighing about a third of what I weigh still had enough energy to escape is beyond me. Capt Jose I have to admit if it weren’t for your calm and patience in that situation I would not have continued. Thank you for not letting me concede defeat and keeping me focused on the positive. I tell the boys at work that you reminded me of Vince Lombardi mixed with a Navy Capt.
Although I did not hook another fish I would have given the trip a ten out of ten. Little did I know the excitement would continue up until the last moment. Connor hooked his second Rooster of the day and once again the battle began. I have to ask, what do you feed the fish out there? They were biting and fighting like you paid them, incredible. The day wound down and as the sun started to set, Connor landed his second fish and life felt great. What happened on the way back to shore can only be summed up with one word, miraculous.
Your words of encouragement and calm confident demeanor helped me forget about the sting of losing that whopper earlier in the day. I must admit though I was still feeling for my loss, I must have felt like Capt Ahab losing what I consider my white whale. Thank you for letting me sit at the bow alone with my thoughts on our way back to shore. I still can’t believe what happened on our way back. Seeing that sail from that Rooster breach the water just ahead of the boat didn’t prepare me for what happened next. As the sun set and the dusk started to settle that sail disappeared into those deep blue waters I thought about grabbing a harpoon and going in after him.
Just as I was about to settle in for my final beer before shore that 90 pound monster of a Rooster tail exploded out of the water and landed right on the bow next to me… I was in shock, I wanted to shout and jump up and down but I couldn’t I was just in awe of what had happened. I could hear Connor shouting and clamoring towards the bow as I snapped out of it and jumped on the beast. The next thing I remember was you calmly and quietly approach the monster and pull the straightened hook from its mouth. If I didn’t know better I would say you planned that the whole time.
To this day I believe you have an intrinsic connection to the sea and its inhabitants. Again I would like to thank you from deep down Capt Jose. The sea smiles on you and all who meet you and of that I am convinced. Call it Karma or justice but for the fish that got away to offer himself back to me was just incredible. I will be back for more as soon as I can, and although I don’t expect the same events to unfold. I do believe that with you and the rest of the Angry Marlin crew I will no doubt come back with an incredible experience and at least one trophy.
My wife, kids and eventual grandkids may get tired of my stories about that day but I assure you I won’t. Again thank you from the bottom of my heart I will definitely be back for more soon!
Your Friend of the Sea,
Sgt Mike Calibri. NYPD.