Bobitos y Mas

The bobitos are relentless.

I don’t know if bobito is a Spanish word, a word used in Mexico, or simply a Kino slang phrase. But what it translates to is this: tiny evil fly that irritates beyond belief.

Bobitos, so I am told, originate on Isla Alcatraz, the island less than a mile offshore from where I live when here. The island is protected because gulls and boobies lay their eggs there, and seals frolic on the far side of the island. So, according to the story, an insecticide can’t be used there because of the birds and seals. Good move, I think.

But I am beginning to rethink.

Bobitos arrive in spring, late March or so. They usually hang around a month or two and then disappear. However, this is November 2nd, and they are thriving along the coast.

I just did a mile walk up the beach toward Kino Nuevo and was assaulted by these tiny bugs. They don’t bite. They simply assault and annoy. They go for eyes, insides of ears and nose, and armpits. But barring that, they will land anywhere on a human body. At one point, my right upper arm had over a dozen of them, and this was about four seconds after I’d swiped at the last batch.

Annoying as hell.

But, there was a wonderful plus to the beachwalk.

You all know I kind of like dead stuff. Not animals that have been hit by a car, but things that appear to have died a natural death. I make an exception for fish, though. When there’s a dead fish on the beach, it is often what’s left after someone’s dinner.

And today I made a wonderful find. A fish, maybe 14” long and 8” tall. It had been beautifully and perfectly filleted, so what was left was the top of its back, the bottom of its belly, its head, front fins, and tail.

Those parts that were left were beautiful. A turquoise blue. I’d never seen one like it. And the bobitos weren’t bothering it one whit.

I don’t know if its beautiful colors came to it in death or if it were lucky to have lived a life of beauty. Either way, though, I hope it was as delicious for someone as it was beautiful. Here it is.