Baxters in Cozumel: The Jamie Baxters Visit

Jamie B, Kelley, and Cody came down last week for their annual early December visit. Every year they have more fun, as friendships grow and Cody finds more and more cool things to do. This year we got out on the water a few times, along with the normal hanging out at Blue Angel Resort swimming, snorkeling and, of course, drinking a few beers! First, we fished with Edwin on his small panga boat a couple of times. First day, we trolled and got nothing! The next time was an all day outing down south to Punta Sur and Cielo, Jamie B and Cody landed a huge 45 pound wahoo! What a magnificent fish! We actually had 3 strikes at about the same time but only hooked one. It took about 30 minutes to land it and did it put up a fight! Cody tried to reel it in, but didn't have the strength. We bottom fished off Punta Sur and caught trigger fish, grunts, and a yellow tail snapper. Pretty hard to get skunked bottom fishing there. We motored back to Cielo where we got off the boat and swam. The fish went to Edwin's family restaurant, El Ferito (The Little Lighthouse) around and we got a huge fresh fish dinner! Most of the wahoo is residing in the restaurant's freezer for other dinners. After dinner several generations of our families played Mexican bingo which is like American bingo but with pictures instead of lettered numbers like B6. The best evening, so much laughter and making fun.

Two days later we were back on Rita's boat, the Albatros, for a day trip along with a group of a dozen others to snorkel, swim and paddleboard at Cielo and Cardona Reef . Cardona is deeper with lots of pretty corral and fish. Cielo is shallow, has a huge population of starfish and is perfect for wading. Kelley got up immediately on the paddleboard and Cody paddled around with ease. He went from being tentative about the water to diving headfirst off of the boat several times. Cody got to drive the boat back to the marina under the watchful eyes of Jamie B and Captain Pedro. He was in heaven.

We also did the usual trips to the grocery store, the shore where Cody netted small minnows and crabs, and, of course, did a bit of shopping. Kelly gave us 2 wine glasses that she bought down here last year and she bought us a matching vase this year. Jamie B muled down fishing stuff as well as scuba stuff. Cody brought down homework which was pretty much ignored! Thank you Baxters for spending your vacation with us and for your kp duty! We love you all and look forward to next December at a huge beach house, Villa Debra, where the whole family will converge next year. Yippee!

This piece of oceanfront is now called Cody's Shore.