How to catch a mackerel

We have circled the coral reef over and over. “Time to move to new place,” says Jale. “Reel in.”

Marguarite has about half her line in when she gets a strike. “Oh!” she says, looking at me.

“Keep reeling,” I tell her.

“You take it,” she says, thrusting the pole towards me.

“No, it’s your fish. Just keep reeling.”

Jale slows the boat. Katie gets her line in this time. Marguarite stops reeling. “I think I lost it,” she says.

“Keep reeling!” says Jale. “Keep reeling!”

Marguarite reels a bit, stops. Looks at me. “Is it gone?”

It’s there, I tell her. Keep reeling.

She starts reeling again. The fish starts taking the line out. Jale jumps down and tightens the drag on her reel. “Reel in!” he says. “Faster!”

Marguarite looks at me. “It’s heavy,” she says. “My arms are getting tired.” She stops to take a breath. Jale instructs her to keep reeling.

Marguarite reels and reels. Katie gets her camera. Finally the fish is at the boat’s side. Jale gaffs it and brings it on board. It’s bleeding like crazy.

“What is it?” asks Marguarite.

“Mackerel,” says Jale.

“Can you eat it?”

“Yes, of course,” says Jale. “Very good to eat.”

But the fish won’t die. Jale takes his knife and stabs the mackerel behind the eye. Marguarite makes a face of disgust. Katie bends over and takes a picture. I grab my camera and tell Marguarite to hold the fish up in front of her. She keeps it at a distance. Not wanting to get blood on her white top and blue sari. I take the photo. Jale removes the hook.

“Well, we have our fish,” says Katie. “Should we go back?”

After all, we’ve been out here for at least an hour.