The precious motors are always detached and hauled up the hill for safekeeping. That's what those guys at the left are doing. The folks heading down the hill carry sacks and buckets and coolers for the fish they will buy.
It had been a good night. There was pargo for sale --that's red snapper-- for a pricey 60 cordobas per pound, or $2.25. I bought two fish, or three pounds' worth. Also sardines. I have seen tempting recipes for fresh sardines, so I bought a half-dozen for 60 cordobas. There was a good haul of my favorite, corvina --sea bass. It looks nothing like any bass I've ever seen, but it is delicious. My 2.5-pounder cost $3.75.
And just outside the door? One of Casares' dozens of free-range piggies, looking for her own breakfast!
8 Aug. postscript: Grilled the sardines, after scaling, beheading, butterflying, and de-boning. Still too many bones to eat comfortably. Sardines=delicious. Worth the trouble? I'll stick to canned in future.
T., Do they only fish once a day in the morning? How early do they go out? Are there any guys fishing later in the day, as I seem to recall on the W. coast of Mex.?
ReplyDeleteIt depends, t. For the morning market, which opens around 6:30 a.m., the boats have been out since as early as 8 p.m. the previous night. I often see the faint lights from the fishermen out on the water. They fish with lines and nets. The snook fishermen bring in their catch around 9:30 in the morning, I'm told. I don't know when they go out -- perhaps very early-- to fish in the estuaries where rivers empty into the ocean. And then there are lobstermen, who go out in the morning and dive to catch their prey -- of which I have tasted none thus far. They use air compressors and long hoses to stay under for long periods.They sell out of their houses, a few of which have been pointed out to me in La Boquita. But I have not ventured in on my own yet. It's a long trek, with no guarantee of any lobster on offer. The restaurants grab what's available.
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