Hemingway Adventure

Havana, Cuba (seventh day)

I notice straightaway that there has been a major change since Hemingway fished here. This is the age of tag and release. Not only is it not necessary to kill the marlin to score points, you actually get fewer points if you do kill one.

So there are plenty of pennants but no one hoisting dead marlin up on the weighing post and posing for a photo as Ernie loved to do.

I approach an American boat with two fluttering white pennants and introduce myself.

'I'm from the BBC.'

Instant recognition. 'Ah yes!' says the skipper, shaking my hand warmly. 'The Bahamas Billfish Championship.'

In the world of deep-sea fishing, the BBC means only one thing. They're a friendly crew and lead the competition after two days. They're happy to play host to us tomorrow, but they warn us to be on time. The starting gun goes off at nine sharp.

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PALIN'S GUIDES

Series: Hemingway Adventure
Chapter: Havana, Cuba (seventh day)
Country/sea: Cuba
Place: Havana
Book page no: 223

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Havana, Cuba