The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary - Bequia

January 27th, 2015
We set off around 9am to walk to the other side of Bequia to The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.  Fellow cruisers Bruce and Gina joined us.  It's 3.8 kilometer each way with some hills.  EACH WAY!

We were 2/3 of the way there when Bruce spotted an old guy throwing a casting net in the bay below.  We detoured off the road, down through the hillside to watch.  The old guy chatted a few mins with us as he prepared for his next throw.  He worked his way out into the water and then just waited and watched.  After 4 mins or so, he tossed the net.  He ended up getting a pretty good haul of small little fish.  Bruce was very excited and helped him dump them into an already full bin of fish. Then the old guy said "Ok.  That is enough.  I have to go.  I go to my sanctuary now.  I am the turtle guy."  Wow!  We told him that we were coming to see him.  He explained that the fish he caught today would feed the turtles for two days.  He fishes each morning like this.

Wait.... you're saying "Turtles eat fish?"  I know.  We said the same thing.  Brother King explained that this species does - Hawksbill.  Who knew....but then that is one of the reasons we are out exploring -to learning.

When we arrived at the sanctuary, Brother King was busy filling the various tanks.  Each morning they drain and then refill the tanks.  We visited with him as he worked, learning more.  He is a bit of a cantankerous old guy but his heart is in the right place.  

He basically takes the newly hatched turtles and raises them until they are 5-7 years old and then releases them back into the ocean.  The chances of a baby turtle making it are very low.  This gives them a fighting chance.  It is Brother King's passion and lifes work for many years.  It's just want he does.  The small fee we each paid to enter the turtle sanctuary helps a little.  

If you want to read more, you can The Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary.

Bequia Music Fest 2015

Sorry we have been missing in action on the blog.  We have been on the lovely island of Bequia at the annual Bequia Music Fest.  Look for a blog posting on Tom's Music Corner tab soon.  Four days and late nights of music, plus catching up with old cruising friends,and making new cruising friends.....whew!  But we are fully recovered with new adventures to share so stay tuned for new blog postings coming soon.

Fishing report

Handline trolling behind s/v Honey Ryder

January 18, 2015

Prior to cruising, we have not been fishing people.  Tom did some as a kid but other than that, we know very little about fishing.  We did a little last year which mainly consisted of dragging (trolling) a line out the back of s/v Honey Ryder for three days on our passage down to the Caribbean.  While other boats in the rally reported each morning with excitement the fish they had caught, we had nothing to report.  Argh!  

We are determined to change that this season and become fishing people.   Correction - fish catching people.  We bought a book to assist us - "Cruisers Handbook of Fishing" which we have both read several times.  Tom has talked to many cruisers about gear and techniques.  He purchased lures, hooks, sinkers, etc....and in one case found a rod....while in scuba class.  It had not been on the bottom long so he cleaned it up and now it works just fine.  He has also made two hand lines for trolling.

Results to date -

Trinidad to Grenada -      Honey Ryder = 0  fish =1

Grenada to Carriacou -   Honey Ryder = 0  fish = 1

Carriacou to Union -      Honey Ryder = 0  Fish = 3  we had 2 lines out AND the rod

Union Island -                 Honey Ryder = 1  Fish = 0  we bought a tuna so it really doesn't count

Tom has also started visiting with the locals about fishing.  Who better to know than the local fisherman, right?  He even showed Sweet Deal (the guy we bought a tuna from) his hand line for trolling behind Honey Ryder.  Sweet Deal nodded in approval but immediately said "Get rid of da wire.  De fish da see it."  Ah.....clever fish.  

We have not tried fishing since Union Island because of the Tobago Cays Marine Park so no fishing.  This also includes Mayreau.  But look out fishes.  We are coming for you.  We are headed to Bequia soon and we will be fishing the whole way.  

Can you see it?

Update - 

Tobago Cays to Bequia -    Honey Ryder = -3  fish = 3 

We lost one off the rod plus the hook and then caught not one but two barracuda.  Yes, I know they can be good eats but only the smaller ones since the larger ones can carry ciguatera (toxins).  Since we are new to fishing, we don't really know what is small and big, so we didn't keep either.  Plus we really didn't want to mess with a barracuda (mean fish with teeth) as our first "landed, gutted, prepped and eaten fish".  The important thing here is that we Tom caught two fish.

Fish on