I was on a boat in the ocean, fishing for Tuna and we were into a large school of fish. The deck hands were continuing to throw live Anchovies into the water to hold the fish by the boat. Birds were circling overhead and there were hook-ups all over the boat. I had just lost a fish when it happened. I re-baited with a nice fat Anchovy. As I cast the bait, the mother of all Pelicans grabbed it before it hit the water. This bird had the wingspan of a small airplane. It was peeling line like a tuna, but none of it was in the water. It’s like I had a turbo-charged kite. I tightened my drag and decided I should be able to get the bird close enough to release it unharmed, but that was MUCH easier said then done. It seemed the bird was flying in several different directions at the same time. The closer it came, the more angry and excited it got. It did not help that I had an 11′ fishing rod. With a rod that long it was difficult to get the pelican close enough to free it.

By this time most of the other passengers had reeled in their fish and the school was gone. We needed to relocate and find another school of fish. After all, we are supposed to be catching tuna, NOT PELICANS! I didn’t know so many people had caught pelican before, or so it seemed by all of the advice I was receiving. The calls were everything from, “shoot the bird” to “just cut it loose.” That is when I heard a distinct voice. It was rather high pitched and piercing. “No! You can’t hurt the bird. It’s protected!!!” As luck would have it, we had the International Queen of the Audubon Society on board. She claimed to be friends with, Senators, Congressmen and possibility The President of the United States. There would be no killing of this bird! In the meantime, I have this bird about 20′ away, which is franticly flying around like a car on a rollercoaster. I had no idea pelicans were so athletic and talented. It seemed to have the strength of a bull with the endurance of a marathon runner.

Finally a deckhand grabbed my line with gloved hands and tried to wrestle the bird closer. All the while this prehistoric Pelican is snapping its bill like a punch press. He was able to retrieve the bird and it was released unharmed.

As I turned to consume sustenance and drink from the boat’s galley, I was faced with an angry mob. I had fears of a swashbuckling encounter ending with my walking the plank. You see. I had interrupted fishing, a crime worthy of death, on the high seas. I am sure my demise would have been sudden if the boat’s captain had not stumbled out of the wheelhouse holding his sides, while laughing hysterically.

“That was the funniest thing I have ever seen”, he exclaimed. He said he had the whole thing on video and was planning on winning $100,000 on America’s Funniest Home Videos.

I eventually got some food and returned to fishing. I ended up with two Tuna, which are resting peacefully in my freezer. It was a great trip, but I hope I never hook another Pelican.

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC

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