Flying Fish

024We have seen many sea creatures on our journey.  Countless dolphins (common and bottlenose), sea turtles (green and hawksbill), orcas, manta rays, remoras, whales, nurse sharks, barracuda and scores of tropical fish. Ever-present have been flying fish.  These little guys are amazing.  Full grown they are about 8 inches long and have elongated side fins that they use to “fly” just above the water.  They can cover an amazing amount of ground (er…water) in a single flight.  I have mistaken them for low-flying birds many times.  On overnight passages it’s common for us to “catch” few of these guys on the boat.  Benevento passes by mid-flight and smack – they are suddenly on our deck.  It’s Dante’s job to throw these guys back in the water in the morning.

While at anchor in the Bahamas one night, I was just nodding off to sleep in the forward berth when I heard a “thwack” followed by a furious “flap, flap, flap, flap, flap, flap”.  I  could not imagine what the sound could be coming from but I jumped out of bed and saw that there was a flying fish flapping furiously on our leather settee!  It seems the fish had somehow flown straight into a 4” x 6” porthole only to land *inside* the boat.

After shrieking like a girl (despite the fact that I am a hunter), I grabbed some paper towels, picked up the fish (which was disconcertingly warm and writhing) and chucked the fish from whence it came.  Scales and the smell of fish were everywhere.   What are the chances of that?

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