This tilapia fish does not want to smile for the camera.

While corn and rice provides the people of Unión de Tula a rich source of carbohydrates in their diet, beef and pork are a major source of protein. Another less expensive and abundant source of healthy protein for the region is fish. Tilapia is the most easily harvested and a relatively cheap and source of meat food in this area of Mexico.

In our next adventure, Tito Meza takes us fishing at a local lake. We grab some beers and hop into the back of a stake bed truck. After only about a 20 minute drive east bound down the main road towards Guadalajara, we turn off in a small village and drive south on a dirt road. After only about 3 minutes through farmlands and grazing cattle we come upon a placid lake. From our vantage point, the land around the lake is flat and the lake's edge is marshy with thick patches of mud bordering it.

(unnamed) fisherman carries the net towards the lake. The net is fashioned from used fishing line, scrap metal weights and soft drink bottles.

We unload the truck, beers in one hand and nets in the other. The kids beat us out of the truck with excitement as if they no of the impending hunt about to begin. They run to a nearby tree and in the shade begin taking off their pants and changing into shorts. After the fishermen dawn their dirty worn out shorts, they began walking towards the lake. Following a dirt path, which quickly turns to mud, I realize the ground beneath me begins to soften with each step. As I look behind me, I see the dried out skeletal remains of a turtle and my 3 inch deep footsteps in the mud. I look even closer and notice the muddy footsteps behind me are filling up with water. We are standing in the marshy area around the shores of this lake. Water plants surround the shores of the lake and thrive in this half mud half water environment.

As I stand here, my feet have sunken about 5 inches into the mud and it is difficult to walk. I learn quickly that the mud plants beneath me have a root structure. Walking on top of the plants allows you to walk a bit further into the mud without sinking as much. My feet are now totally immersed in mud and in fear of falling damaging my camera, I refuse to walk any further. I am still about 75 yards from the shoreline of the lake.

Proud fishermen display their first catch of Tilapia for the day

Tito and friends continue trodging on towards the lake in knee deep mud. They finally reach the water and continue hiking through the swampy shores of the lake until reaching waste deep water. They lay out the net made of used fishing line in a line perpendicular to the lake shore. Using floats made of plastic soft drink bottles as floats the net is suspended from the surface down to the muddy bottom of the lake. Tito and others in the group walk parallel to the shore towards the net splashing the water with their hands in an effort

After about 1 hour of fishing, the group caught enough fish for a family fish fry the following night. The local cats were very happy with the catch as well.

to scare the invisible underwater prey towards and into the net. After about 5 minutes of walking fast through the mud and splashing water, the boys hold up the net to display their proud catch.

Just one dip of the net yielded about 7 pan sized fish. 10 minutes of fishing brought them enough fish to feed an entire family. It is said that Tilapia is such a durable fish able to survive the harshest conditions and still thrive that it may one day replace beef as the world's source of protein. After seeing the abundance of Tilapia in this unmaintained lake, I believe it.

The worse part...You catchem, you cleanem...

Soccoro Meza enjoys the fruit of Tito's labor at a recent family fish fry.