A Morning on the Water
We chartered a small fishing boat called the Yanet for a four-hour ride out of Yelapa—just the four of us: Ellen, Emma, Maya, and me, along with a two-man local crew who knew these waters like the back of their hands. It was one of those classic “let’s make a memory” decisions that comes with vacation territory—what I’d jokingly call forced family fun. And like most of those, it turned out to be something special.
The Yanet was nothing fancy—just your typical fishing boat for this part of Mexico. Functional, a little weathered, and perfect for the job. We pushed off around 8:00 a.m. into a calm Pacific morning. The water was smooth, the air was already warming up, and the mood was relaxed. The crew was friendly and easygoing, full of local knowledge, happy to answer questions or just let us be.
Fishing wasn’t exactly red-hot. Between all of us, we only caught two fish—a skipjack tuna and a mackerel, both reeled in by Ellen and me. Not exactly Hemingway-level action, but honestly, that didn’t matter. None of us are die-hard anglers. We were there for the experience, the quiet rhythm of the water, and a chance to do something different together.
About halfway through the trip, we pulled into a secluded beach known as Playa Nudista. Despite the name, we didn’t go for the scenery in that sense—we had no idea it had that kind of reputation. For us, it was just a stunning, empty stretch of sand with clear water, rocks, and jungle rising up behind us. The boat crew dropped us off and anchored out just a little ways from shore.
While we relaxed, swam, and shaded ourselves under the trees, the crew got to work on turning our humble catch into ceviche. They brought it ashore in a small cooler, prepped it right there—fresh fish chopped, soaked in lime, mixed with onion and cilantro, and served up with tostadas. Simple. Fresh. No fuss. And damn, it was good. I tried it with a little of the salsa they offered, but preferred it mild and zesty, letting the fish shine.
We took our time on the ride back to Yelapa, eating tostadas on the boat, laughing, talking, and just soaking it all in. The sun was high by then, and we were all a little sunbaked, salty, and content.
It wasn’t the most productive fishing trip by any measure, but it was exactly the kind of morning that makes a trip like this unforgettable. I’ve never been one to get excited about fishing, but I’d do that again in a heartbeat. That boat, that beach, that crew—and most of all, that shared moment with family—was worth every minute.
Sometimes the best memories come from the plans you weren’t totally sold on. And sometimes, even “forced family fun” sticks with you—in the best way. 😎