The biggest fear is a fishhook puncturing the inner tube that keeps them afloat far from shore. Then come sharks grabbing their catch and maybe biting their legs. And the current that threatens to pull them out to sea.
A small but growing number of people in the coastal town of La Guaira, just a few minutes from the capital of Caracas, have turned to the sea for substance since the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the Caribbean nation’s already miserable economy.
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The biggest fear is a fishhook puncturing the inner tube that keeps them afloat far from shore. Then come sharks grabbing their catch and maybe biting their legs. And the current that threatens to pull them out to sea.
Others who paddle out in small groups up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) from shore lost jobs in restaurants or shops catering to beachgoers.
The new coronavirus hit Venezuela in mid-March and the government ordered most businesses closed. The virus has steadily spread in the five months since. Officials say it's killed fewer than 300 and sickened roughly 31,000.
Almeida and Méndez, 40, consider themselves experienced after spending a couple months entering the water on inner tubes. They make plastic hand paddles and wear flippers on their feet to propel them into the Caribbean. They're quickly out of sight of those back on shore.
When they catch a fish, they pull it in slowly to see whether a shark is following. They avoid drawing them in too close.
They paddle back to shore against the currents. It’s tiring. Then they walk several miles home, barefoot and carrying their catch in a yellow, blue and red backpack the government gives schoolchildren. Their inner tube rests on one shoulder.
Associated Press writer Scott Smith contributed to this story from Caracas, Venezuela.
Bianca the cat eyes a string of fish caught by Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer by trade, that he caught in the open sea on his inner tube armed with a hook and line, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. The fishermen like Mendez face strong currents, sharks and the fear a fishhook could puncture their inner tube far from shore. But a day’s catch could feed their families for a week. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer, floats on his inner tube while open sea fishing in Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the risks, the fishermen on inner tubes say being at sea for several hours brings a calm. They're far from the struggles of life on land — the growing COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, hungry children and no work. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
A group of bricklayers by trade float on their inner tubes in fishing in the open sea to fish at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Venezuelans desperate to feed their families amid the coronavirus pandemic are heading out to the open sea on inner tubes armed with a hook and line. It’s a risk they’re forced to take as the nationwide lockdown paralyzes an already failing economy and eliminates their jobs in construction and restaurants. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
"If we had steady work, we wouldn't risk our lives out there," said Juan Carlos Almeida, who is accompanied by his fishing partner Eric Méndez. “We're bricklayers, but there's no construction.”
Edward Murat, 20, carries his inner tube to the beach for open sea fishing at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Survival during the new coronavirus pandemic has forced a small but growing number of people in the coastal town to turn to fishing the high sea on salvaged inner tubes. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Others who paddle out in small groups up to 5 miles (8 kilometers) from shore lost jobs in restaurants or shops catering to beachgoers.
All the beaches are closed, but the workers still have hungry children at home in their hillside barrios.
“If we don’t help ourselves and don’t go to work, who’s going to feed us?” said the 35-year-old Almeida. “Nobody.”
Jonny Gomez, a 22-year-old bricklayer by trade, returns from a day of open sea fishing on his inner tube, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the risks, the fishermen on inner tubes say being at sea for several hours brings a calm. They're far from the struggles of life on land — the growing COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, hungry children and no work. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
The new coronavirus hit Venezuela in mid-March and the government ordered most businesses closed. The virus has steadily spread in the five months since. Officials say it's killed fewer than 300 and sickened roughly 31,000.
The nation remains largely paralyzed and commercial flights have been grounded at the the nation's main airport in La Guaira. People have little hope life will return to normal anytime soon.
Newcomers to substance fishing stick close to the safety of La Guaira's pier, fearing the open seas.
Jonny Gomez, a 22-year-old bricklayer by trade, returns to shore after a day of open sea fishing on his inner tube, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Others like Gomez who paddle out in small groups up to brave the sea for a substance living, lost jobs in restaurants or shops catering to beach-goers due to shutdown measures related to COVID-19. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Almeida and Méndez, 40, consider themselves experienced after spending a couple months entering the water on inner tubes. They make plastic hand paddles and wear flippers on their feet to propel them into the Caribbean. They're quickly out of sight of those back on shore.
They wear their extra fishhooks in the brim of their hats — away from the rubber and ready to grab. They drop fishing lines from a spool baited with sardines.
The fishermen also bring rubber strips to improvise emergency patches just in case of an accidental puncture.
Bricklayers by trade, Jonny Gomez, 22, and Jean Carlos Almeida, 35, prepare to clean their catch of the day on the shore of Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. "If we had steady work, we wouldn't risk our lives out there," said Almeida, who is among a number of Venezuelans desperate to feed their families amid the new coronavirus pandemic are heading out to the open sea on inner tubes armed with a hook and line. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
When they catch a fish, they pull it in slowly to see whether a shark is following. They avoid drawing them in too close.
Despite the risks, the fishermen say being at sea for several hours brings a calm. They're far from the struggles of life on land — the growing coronavirus, economic crisis, hungry children and no work.
It's also where the big fish swim.
Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer by trade, prepares to clean a sunfish, part of his catch of the day, on the shore of Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. A small but growing number of people in the coastal town have turned to the sea for substance since the COVID-19 pandemic has shut down the Caribbean nation’s already failing economy. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
They paddle back to shore against the currents. It’s tiring. Then they walk several miles home, barefoot and carrying their catch in a yellow, blue and red backpack the government gives schoolchildren. Their inner tube rests on one shoulder.
This was a good day, and they pulled in enough fish to feed their families and share some with neighbors for a week. The rest they sell for a few dollars.
“If we can’t work, where do we go?” said Méndez, a husband and father with two children. “God gave us this — the sea. So we go fishing.”
A boy helps Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer by trade, with fish Mendez caught in the open sea on his inner tube armed with a hook and line, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Fishermen like Mendez face strong currents, sharks and the fear a fishhook could puncture their inner tube far from shore. But a day’s catch could feed their families for a week. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Associated Press writer Scott Smith contributed to this story from Caracas, Venezuela.
Jean Carlos Almeida, 35, and Eric Mendez, 40, return home after a day of open sea fishing on their inner tubes, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. "If we had steady work, we wouldn't risk our lives out there," said Almeida, who is accompanied by his fishing partner Mendez. “We're bricklayers, but there's no construction.” (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Bianca the cat eyes a string of fish caught by Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer by trade, that he caught in the open sea on his inner tube armed with a hook and line, at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. The fishermen like Mendez face strong currents, sharks and the fear a fishhook could puncture their inner tube far from shore. But a day’s catch could feed their families for a week. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
Eric Mendez, a 40-year-old bricklayer, floats on his inner tube while open sea fishing in Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020, amid the new coronavirus pandemic. Aside from the risks, the fishermen on inner tubes say being at sea for several hours brings a calm. They're far from the struggles of life on land — the growing COVID-19 pandemic, economic crisis, hungry children and no work. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)
A group of bricklayers by trade float on their inner tubes in fishing in the open sea to fish at Playa Escondida in La Guaira, Venezuela, Friday, Aug. 14, 2020. Venezuelans desperate to feed their families amid the coronavirus pandemic are heading out to the open sea on inner tubes armed with a hook and line. It’s a risk they’re forced to take as the nationwide lockdown paralyzes an already failing economy and eliminates their jobs in construction and restaurants. (AP PhotoMatias Delacroix)