(802) MUSIC AND ME (July 17, 2014) HOW DID ROBERTO CATCH A 4-FOOT EEL WHILE ON DUTY AS MUSICIAN

 In 2011, Roberto Hernandez was on duty as musician at Breeze Bar of Palau Royal Resort. When the last guests left, the bartender Ronald Cinco threw to the ocean the leftover chicken wing which is V-shaped.

A moray eel saw and smelled it and come out of his 'rock hideout' and start eating the chicken wing. The chicken wing is too big for the eel to eat while half of its body is still inside that's why it needs to get out of his turf.

Roberto get his 30-pound line with 2 medium size hooks attached to it which he is using to catch mackerel, cattle fish, white snapper and other reef fishes.

Eels are very strong when they are inside their 'rock hideout. This time, it's out of his turf. Roberto put down the line with 2 hooks and in its first pull, the hooks penetrated to the eel's body.

It's a struggle for the eel as the line grasp and wrap it more. Roberto get a momentum to pull the eel out of water. With a strong pull, he was able to pull it next to a round table with 4 chairs.

Roberto is ready to hit the eel with the leg of the rattan chair but Mildred Cielo, the cashier, told him that she has an extra stick from an old mop handle.

Roberto push the eel to the side where there are gravels and hit the eel repeatedly until only the tail is moving. He put it in a blue plastic bag and into another red plastic bag.

Then he called at Pentecostal Missionary Church of Christ (4th Watch) Palau locale. Only Bro. Rolly Adducul was there as the others are at the airport to pick Pastor Andy Pabelico up from Guam.

When Roberto told Bro. Rolly that he caught a 4-foot eel and he will bring it to church tomorrow so that Pastor Andy can cook it, he didn't believe Roberto and said, "HOW CAN YOU CATCH AN EEL WHEN YOU ARE ON DUTY AS MUSICIAN THERE AT PALAU ROYAL RESORT?"

"You will believe me when I bring the eel there tomorrow," Roberto assured Bro. Rolly.

Roberto showed the eel to others that are watching TV at Lounge. It's still alive and moving (the tail part). He put it in the freezer.

Two years later, Avyson Kurt, Recreation Department staff, had a smaller eel he is trying to catch with Russian guests watching. Although smaller, half of its body is still in its hideout and the smaller eel got away.

Avyson said he will use a spear gun next time. 

A few weeks ago (Sept. 2014), security personnel Wilfred got the same size of eel that Roberto caught using the smaller hooks and 30-pound line. The eel is also not out all the way from its hideout. The line was snapped likewise.

Somehow, it affects Wilfred and he's silent and frustrated for a few hours. Jovy Rodriguez, the bartender, said to him, "MOVE ON, WILFRED!"

Avyson Kurt, right, a Recreation staff at Palau Royal Resort, had a photo session with Roberto Hernandez in 2009 after Roberto came back from representing Palau in 2009 Oceania Zonal Chess Championship. Sad to say, Avyson passed away on New Year's Day of 2014 from stab wounds.
                       MAY YOUR SOUL REST IN PEACE AND WE WILL MISS YOU! 
                                    (Photo by Roberto Hernandez -- Taken by Jaime Guevarra)



Source: Chess And Music (Perfect Combination)
             The Beginning of Chess In Palau
             By Roberto Hernandez
             October 2014
             To be published as a book in the future