As a longtime recreational angler, Production Manager Vince Weirick chose to spend his five-year Trip of a Lifetime on a large fishing boat in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador with close friend and co-worker Quality Assurance Engineer II Ethan Butler and two friends from outside of work.
Floating in the ocean at 1,000 meters deep and lifted by waves over 20 feet tall, Vince and his friends set out to catch themselves a blue marlin. With the species averaging in weight between 500 and 1,000 pounds, the group was prepared for tough battle.
They had a few chances to catch one. Once, the fish missed the bait entirely and came up out of the water close to the boat. Another one grabbed a teaser lure instead of the baited hook. But in the end, they didn’t manage to hook one.
“It’s kind of like a Hail Mary,” said Vince. “You fish for five days and hope to catch one, maybe even two, but that’s just how it is. Your chances aren’t great.”
Despite this, the group caught plenty of other fish during their excursion, including a 60-pound yellowfin tuna on the second day. An hour later, they were eating fresh tuna for lunch prepared right on the boat.
And they found success during the two days they spent fishing for striped marlin, catching five of the smaller species.
Outside of fishing, Vince and his friends made time to explore the infamous volcanic archipelago, known for its diverse plant and animal populations unique to the islands, with sanctioned guides to lead them to each location.
He was amazed by the sheer amount of animal life all around him. He saw the world’s largest tortoises walking down the street, sea lions lounging on the beach, penguins chasing baitfish, blue footed booby birds diving for fish and the famous marine iguanas that swam beneath the waves to eat algae off the rocks.
“Growing up, I saw the Galapagos Islands on National Geographic and thought it looked so unreal, like one big marine wildlife sanctuary,” Vince said. “But there’s so much wildlife everywhere you look. It was like taking a step back in time.”
The group participated in a 360-tour excursion that stopped in four different locations around San Cristóbal Island, one for birdwatching and the other three for snorkeling.
On that trip, Vince had more close encounters with the majestic marine life populating the islands waters. During the final stop, while swimming between the two large rocky protrusions that make up Kicker Rock, he observed an octopus, schools of various fish species like snappers and angel fish, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles and hammerhead sharks.
“Having a hammerhead swim up to you there isn’t as frightening as you’d think,” he said. “There, they have scalloped hammerheads which are very, very docile.”
Kicker Rock is also a popular diving location for tourists, and although Vince isn’t currently a certified diver, he’s looking forward to returning one day to dive deeper into that amazing underwater world.
“I’ve been fortunate to work for some great organizations in the past, but Arthrex blows them out of the water!” said Vince. “I cannot say enough great things about the incredible people I work with and the amazing opportunities that benefit not only me but also my family. I cannot be more thankful to be a part of this amazing company!”
For every five years of employment with Arthrex, employees are eligible for a company-paid Trip of a Lifetime to recognize their dedication. Look for more Trip of a Lifetime highlights on the Arthrex Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn pages.