looking for a phone numbwer for Big Al's Swordfish Safari in ixtapa
mexico (actually in a nearby town called Zihuantineo---don't know
actual spelling).  Owners name is Al Jennings, formerly of Salem
Oregon

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Request for Question Clarification by ericynot-ga on 19 Oct 2002 12:06 PDT

Well, a swing and a miss for me. Looked all over, found nothing
pertinent. I have an email inquiry out requesting help, but no
assurance there.

How long has it been since you heard the name of this restaurant? Do
you know Al Jennings personally? Have you had recent contact with him?
Have you been to the restaurant and know where it's located?

I searched all the area and towns in and near Zihuatanejo (that is the
correct spelling) and turned up nothing, so any additional information
you could provide might be of help.

ericnot-ga

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Clarification of Question by fatjack-ga on 19 Oct 2002 13:44 PDT

Aloha and thanks for your best efforts...  Big Al's Swordfish Safari
is a fishing charter boat service---I think he oversaw maybe 20 or so
fishing boats (I think mostly for swordfish, marlin, etc) and while he
didn't own the boats he booked charters...  I do know Al personally,
but it's been maybe 12-14 years since I've seen him...  Several
friends flew down to see him from Oregon maybe 8 years ago or so and
his business was thriving at that time---a friend visiting me in
Hawai'i has a flyer back in Oregon with presumable an address or
contact number at that point in time, so that may be helpful down the
road...  Basically, no one has had contact with Al for eight years or
so, and am not sure that he is still in business or whatever...  He is
a very colorful character so if a contact person exists in Zihuatenejo
then we might get lucky...  Thanks again

Well, the time has come to admit defeat. But first, let me thank you
for the timely reminder not to assume things without clarification or
qualification. I do think "Swordfish Safari" would make a pretty good
restaurant name, but I'm embarassed to have wasted time looking for
such a non-existent establishment. Ah, well ...

Now to Big Al. I'm afraid your friend has moved on, either
geographically or metaphysically. I can find no trace of him in Zihua.
I found a Big Al
DMC in Puerto Vallarta, but an email exchange determined it to be a
different "Big Al". I also tried posting to a Zihua messageboard and
inquiring of an active Zihua charter boat service, and got zero
response in both cases. Evidently there is no Big Al business
currently operating in that area, and, from the paucity of response,
probably hasn't been for some time - otherwise, someone probably would
have responded to my queries. I still have an unanswered, reposted
email floating around out there, so if anything comes of that, I'll
let you know, but I'm not hopeful.

Sorry fatjack. We gave it shot.

ericynot-ga

Received an email response over the weekend from a charter captain
who's workded the Zihua area since 1997, and he hadn't ever heard of
Big Al. He also said he thought the name Swordfish Safari was strange
since there aren't any swordfish living in the area although they are
found further north in the Mazatlan area.