The good fight included a great fishing challenge
Instead of writing about the acid in my stomach following the indictment of an anti-conservation Illinois governor, I chose to travel another road today.
I recently finished reading another of Mike Rivkin's books. This one really left its mark on me. It's titled "Angling and War, The Collision of Big-Game Fishing and WWII."
Because my late father was an island-hopping U.S. Army sergeant, my misspent youth was enveloped in WWII lore.
I opened Irv's crumbling footlocker and found the item he had given me well over 50 years ago. Tucked in between a tunic, medals and various documents, I found his jungle fishing outfit he carried with him in the South Pacific.
One must understand that combat soldiers and Marines usually travel very light. When they're in battle, water and food are very precious commodities.
It was only after various battles were finished and certain areas were secured from a battle-hardened enemy that portable kitchens were erected so both fighting men and support crews could have some hot meals.
But, in reality, fresh food was generally scarce. Logistics back then were nowhere near what they are today for military personnel.
Anyway, Irv related to me how he and his men would survive on the typical Army meals, the infamous and horribly inadequate C-Rations. C-Rats (as they were aptly called) could turn the stomach of even the most hardened veteran.
Irv and his platoon decided to befriend local natives, and after some trinket swapping, the men were taken to a lagoon to find fresh fish for their meals. Irv and a few other NCOs used their hand lines and makeshift lures to tempt the lagoon fish to strike. And they did.
But the entire process was arduous, and with a broiling sun beating down on the men, the task became quite difficult because of severe sunburn.
It was then Irv decided to forgo this traditional method and try something more expeditious.
Hand grenades were dropped over the sides of the dugout canoes, and in a manner of minutes, dozens of fish floated to the surface after the grenades exploded.
One of his men even went back to shore to grab a satchel charge. That too was tossed into the crystal clear waters with spectacular results.
The men and natives gathered enough fresh fish to feed a platoon of famished men.
The hand line was later used when food supplies became more prevalent, and the food gathering task was relegated to recreational fishing.
Rivkin's book talks about WWII survival kits, which included fishing gear; famous correspondents who covered the war effort; and interesting details about how various stateside industries geared up to supply fishing line and parachute cord to fighting units.
But it's the pictures and artwork that practically brought me to tears. There was a constant lump in my throat as I read the pages.
And then I found the tattered and faded pictures of Irv and his men holding fish up for the Kodak camera (which I still have to this day).
The footlocker is destined for the trash hauler, but the uniforms, medals and memories, along with the fishing kit, will occupy a special place in my home.
Published by Silverfish Press, Mike Rivkin's book is a wonderful addition to your library.
Mexico sees sport fishing's value
Illinois tourism officials could learn a few things from Mexico.
A recently released economic study - commissioned by The Billfish Foundation (TBF) on the billion-dollar-plus annual impact sport fishing brings to Mexico's greater Cabo San Lucas/Los Cabos region - has caught the keen attention and responsive actions of two of Mexico's senators.
Citing TBF's research on the value of sport fishing to the economy of Baja California Sur and all of Mexico, Senators Luis Coppola Joffroy and Humberto Andrade Quezada have placed upon the floor of the Mexican Senate an ambitious effort to utilize sport fishing as an economic development tool for all of coastal Mexico.
Of immediate importance is a proposal to amend Mexico's national fisheries law to specifically state that marlins, sailfish, swordfish, rooster fish and dorado are to be used exclusively for sport fishing and that these species may not be sold, even if taken as by-catch by commercial fisheries.
Recent attempts by Mexico's fisheries agency, CONAPESCA, to establish liberal by-catch allowances for billfish, dorado and other species have drawn sharp criticism from sportfishing and conservation organizations.
"Once passed into law this clarifying language should prevent bureaucrats in CONAPESCA from ever again tampering with Mexico's historically profound sportfishing conservation regime," said Dr. Russell Nelson, TBF's chief scientist.
The action was based off the comprehensive 126-page research study conducted in 2007 and 2008 to estimate the dollars, jobs and tax revenues created by anglers focusing on Baja Sur's "sport fishing triangle" showing the enormous effect sportfishing tourism brings to the area.
The region includes the Los Cabos communities of East Cape, San Jose del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas, all once small fishing locales.
In recent years the region has become a major North American tourist destination driven heavily by its world-class striped marlin fishery.
In turn sport fishing has also become a major provider of jobs - over 24,000 - and has brought a huge revenue stream of dollars into Mexico's economy.
<p class="factboxheadblack">Fishing report</p> <p class="News">With up and down temperatures in our area, one should exercise caution when venturing out for a day of ice fishing.</p> <p class="News"><b>Fox Chain:</b> Look to the out-of-the-way back channels for action right now. The T-Channel off Pistakee Lake has been very good for nice bluegill and crappie action. The main lake areas are treacherous right now and mostly open.</p> <p class="News"><b>Lake Michigan:</b> If you can brave the weather, Navy Pier in Chicago could bring you some decent perch action.</p> <p class="News">• Mike Jackson's radio program can be heard 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.</p>