It’s the game that counts
IT IS a windy, clear afternoon on the Gulf of Mexico, 70 miles out from the Texas coast. The water is a dull grey, and choppy. The crew are dozing over plates of half-eaten mangoes. Suddenly, a rod bends. A good-sized sailfish punches out of the water, twists, spreads its cobalt sail fin and shoots back under. The fight is on. After 30 minutes of physical to and fro the sailfish kicks hard and snaps the line. A cheer goes up. Catching the fish seems almost incidental. Big-game fishing is all about the thrill of a screaming line as a big fish takes the hook. It is not about who wins, but about the fight.
This article appeared in the Culture section of the print edition under the headline “It’s the game that counts”
From the April 5th 1997 edition
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