So there I am, floating around Koh Kham fishing. I seem to do this more and more.
A friend of mine grew up here and as a girl, she recalls the excellent fishing at Koh Kham. One night when she and her brother were out fishing she casually dipped her toes in the water as she did on many other outings. Her brother was pulling in a fish and there was some action in the water. She watched as half a fish came into the boat and quickly pulled her foot out. They never knew if it was a barracuda or a shark.
I actually have a jack on board and there has been plenty of action. The current is moving and I am constantly readjusting position to stay close to the current without getting pushed onto the rocks. I check over my shoulder frequently to keep an eye on the swell that is rolling in.
It's interesting how one minute you are floating along tossing a line at the rocks and the next you are back-paddling with decisiveness as a big rolling wave wants to lift you up and deposit you on the rocks. It happens quickly. Compound that with a fish on the line and it can get interesting.
I reel in my line and shoulder check, when out of the corner of my eye I see motion and hear a big WHACK! As I turn, an eagle ray lands and hits the water's surface with an equally resounding WHACK! National Geographic moment, for sure.
This is also the place where I ran into nine sea otters recently. I think the family arrived not long after the tsunami and I have seen them swimming about the island over the years. Last year, I saw them in front of Hippy Bar in Buffalo Bay and counted seven. There appear to be two smaller ones this year - I assume the kids - and the adults watch my kayak closely all the while calling amongst themselves in high pitched otter-talk. I tell them: "don't worry little friend, I am not here to harm you." I am not sure if they understand Tim-talk.
This is also where I watched a fishing boat pull in a hug net full of sardines. A couple dozen crewmen bring in the net, singing as they go, and haul the catch into a large wash basin. They boil them right there on the boat.
The beauty abounds: the ocean, the jungle, the sky. Sunset the other day had a rainbow.
And to cap it all off, on Nov 16th, a pod of approximately 9 to 12 dolphins sauntered along the beach at sunset.
