FWI Day 6: Saline Bay and the Lion Hunt

The wind was almost dead on Thursday so the Captain fired up the engines and we "motored" from Gustavia harbor to Saline Bay on the west side of the island, we anchored the boat and spent the entire day (and night) playing in the surf, kayaking around the bay, snorkeling for hours, sitting on the beach, hiking around the beach, climbing (and stealing) coconuts (despite the no trespassing sign--much to the frustration and anger of the french resident) and cracking them open and tasting them, and generally just watching a couple dozen nude (presumably European) beach goers. And as usual, the captain and Elena his assistant kept us well fed with breakfast, lunch and dinner on the yacht.

As night fall approached, Jason drew on his experience catching lobster at night and Wes, Jason and Reid set out on a lobster hunt.  Matt accompanied them in the sea kayak as their "support boat."  Armed with lights, gloves and a spear gun, the hunters canvased the reef and rocks near the cliffs about 100 yards from our boat.  They did not find any lobster, but they found a poisonous Lion Fish and abandoned their lobster hunt, to attempt to kill the Lion Fish, which is a danger to other fish.  With one shot Jason killed the fish and hauled it back triumphantly to the boat to the concerned wives who had been watching the lights of their husbands as they turned the corner around the point it the rocks and disappeared into the moonless night.