Found at: http://www.anguillaguide.com/article/articleprint/4551/-1/140/
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Yellow Tuna, Dolphin And Juvenile Wahoo: Sold Before The Boat Reached The Dock
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Last week readers will remember that Guilford Gumbs, Superior Supply, is a celebrated patron of Patrick-caught fresh fish and coincidently was standing on the dock when he arrived from a day of fishing. As such, elite wine merchant Gumbs was pressed into service for the picture that displayed a portion of the catch.
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Guilford and Patrick
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The catch story is intriguing because typical efforts proved worthless and the fickle finger of fate generously interceded. The weather was cooperative even through rain storms were pervasive. Trolling many miles of The Anguilla Bank went without a strike and grew monotonous after hours without a fish. Then Patrick noticed inside the bank a jumbled up fish trap line with floats that created a small shade for the fish. There, five nice sized Dolphin fish were caught in quick succession along with the juvenile Wahoo using cut bait on several hand lines. Great fun as the fishing action was quick and active. Soon, however, they ceased to take the bait. The catch was disappointing as the goal was Yellowfin tuna due to fine dining restaurant demand.
Then, out in the deep water past or outside The Anguilla Bank, Patrick noticed some surface disturbance and was stirred to move toward that action. Motoring easterly at higher than normal trolling speed and before reaching the spot, a big “something” jumps on the bait. The reel screams out “big fish” as the sport fishing reels are engineered to make noise when fish are hooked. And as might be expected the louder the noise the bigger the fish. Instantaneously reflexive, Patrick pulls back the throttle however the reel kept producing cataclysmic clatter. Finally, following several hundred feet of played out line; the fish was stopped and slowly and deliberately fought into submission. Fortuitously, the fish at the bait end of the line was an impressive 50 pound Yellowfin tuna. The Yellowfin was painstakingly preserved following sashimi grade techniques and methods along with the small Wahoo.
The real (not reel) stories are the buyers of the fish and Anguilla extraordinary West Indies fine dining. Paradise Cove had dibs on the full-bodied Yellowfin tuna even though a spotter obviously reported Patrick’s arrival into the harbor before reaching the pier. Mystifyingly, Patrick received two sequential restaurant phone calls beginning at the very instance upon entering Island Harbor hoping to purchase Patrick-caught fish.
Madeariman beach side café, Shoal Bay East, took two Dolphin fish and with the substantial remainder going to Paradise Cove Resort, West End. The islander insider secret is of course dining at Paradise Cove as they typically serve both Yellowfin tuna and Dolphin along with other Caribbean fish species. Notwithstanding the fresh fish dining regulars, Frankie Hughes and Guilford Gumbs, Paradise Cove is preparing and serving notable quantities of expertly prepared fresh fish.
Intriguingly, the juvenile Wahoo was especially saved for Carrie Bogar, Veya Restaurant, Sandy Ground, because of her multifaceted creative abilities with ultra fine grades of fish. Veya Restaurant is relatively new to the Anguilla dining scene and Carrie is rapidly being recognized as a celebrated and talked about culinary talent. Of the recently prepared juvenile Wahoo, she said, “This is the most beautiful fish I have ever cooked, eaten, served. The texture is perfect for sashimi and served it as an appetizer three ways: ceviche with citrus and red onion, Carpaccio with mint, cilantro and cucumber and sashimi with sweet potato and soy-sesame dipping sauce.” Wow!