Early Monday morning, May 11, three Smith brothers of Island Harbour were off to finding a fish delicacy for the island’s fish lovers. Waiting on land to receive the call that jacks were found was Sam Webster, and at approximately 10: 30 am the call was made.

Mikey and Sam throwing net overboard

“Hello, yea, ok, meet mi on di wharf. Yea, uh goin’ meet ya on di wharf and den we goin fuh di net,” Sam shouted back.

Preparation was made and a small group of seven, Justa Duncan, John Fabian, Monica Reid, Roger, Vern and Trivon Smith and Sam Webster set off from Anguilla for the morning’s sightings.

Justa and Roger tying net

Upon arrival on the scene Justa, Roger, Trivon and Vern geared up for the day’s adventure and jumped off the Try Hard in search of finding the exact location of the jacks to be rounded-up. “Jacks ahoy.” The upraised hands of Justa and Trivon indicated the pool of jacks. With that, those aboard the fishing vessel immediately began to set the net (main net) around the jacks. This was easily done.

Tuck net being inserted inside main net

Anchors tied to rope, and rope tied to buoys, were thrown overboard to be tied to the net to keep the net in position. Then the hard part began. Sam, in control of the Try Hard, and Mikey took every instruction they got from the swimmers in order to make the net smaller. Pulling the western side to the east (not overlapping) by tying the net several times, resulted in reducing its size and scope.
When the main net had become small enough to trap the fish inside, a tuck net was inserted to draw up the fish in small amounts. At the bottom of the ocean with oxygen tanks (scuba diving), and making sure the net was not tangled or opening, was Trivon while Justa and Vern pulled the tuck net around the jacks. With this done, and both ends of the tuck net tied to the boat, the foot lines were drawn together to form a pouch and Mikey, Roger and Sam pulled the fish into the boat while Justa portioned them to be easily pulled aboard. This was beautifully done while a turtle swam around on the outside of the main net.

Mikey, Roger and Sam with jacks to boat

Fish aboard, more work to be done! Mikey and Vern called out but they were sea sick, so it was Justa, Monica and Sam to pull in the main net. This was a task as it took quite a while to get done with little sea creatures stinging here and there, Roger and Trivon clearing the net and then, in close proximity of the net, appeared what was believed to have been a black fin shark.

Vern looks on as jacks are pulled in boat

Seven crew members and the day’s catch were headed for the Island Harbour pier through rough seas when a funny sound was heard. One prop went bad. With one engine working we slowly made it home.

L-RL: The Crew: Trivon, Sam, Monica, Roger, Vern, (Keith Harrigan Selling jacks) and Mikey

It takes a listening ear and a radio tuned to 97.7 FM, Upbeat Radio, to know when and where the fresh catch of the day is available. While at sea a call was made to Upbeat Radio and by the time we got to the pier it was crowded with jack lovers to whom the jacks were sold.

By Monica Reid

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