Report submitted by 'Doug'
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Tamerindo Beach
Offshore Report
Pacific Coast, Costa Rica
July 12th, 2004
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My wife and I had booked a vacation thru an agent and it was
to include all aspects of the trip from Canopy Tours to Volcano Tours so
when I asked my wife what kind of fishing we were going to be doing she wasn't
sure.. so I think to myself... Fishing + Costa Rica ..who cares its bound
to be great. We get up about 6 and take a taxi from our resort to the beach
where we are greeted by 2 young guys that walk us to the waters edge where
a small skiff awaits us... we start out into the little protected area where
all the boats are anchored and there she is..
What a beauty she is the "Talking Fish" at 38' by about 12'
My wife and I had plenty of room to dance. The Captain greets us and turns
out he is Randy Wilson a well known Billfish angler with a talent for catch
and release... this is gona be great I tell myself while trying to not let
the drool become noticeable. Randy Wilson published an article in the Feb
04 issue of Saltwater Sportsman titled " Catch to Release". The Capt asks
what we want to fish for and I tell him I could go for just about anything
from Marlin to Roosterfish..he smiles. I guess catching rooster fish in a
boat like that is like shooting rabbit with a bazooka. So we peel out. Here
is a shot back at the beach and the weather is looking kinda iffy but that
was par for the 2 weeks from what I could tell.
After getting about 3 miles out we began to drag some Ballyhoo
and started catching some Bonita but they called them skipjacks.. I guess
things are different down there. I asked if they were the kind that were
bloody or the Atlantic kind you could eat and they laughed so there you have
it...lol.. they were cat food. Or should I say BAIT!
Didn't take long either once we got a couple Bonita out the
bills were sniffing the air..what a sight and immediately I scream FISH!!!
. My wife looks at me and I say Better get your fish..and she just about
tramples me.. what a woman. The 2 deckhands slapped a belt on her and began
to coach. She worked that fish like a pro.
Here she is with her first Sailfish. The Captain said it was
just over 150#..what a beautiful creature.We didn't tag it but achieved a
wonderful release.
Well ok so now its my turn...the fishing gets kinda quiet for
about 45 minutes.. I was starting to replay previous skunking over and over
in my mind.. suddenly the Captain yells look at the Dolphins.. Im looking
to the teasers and then realize he really meant Dolphins.. Spinner Dolphins
to be exact. Within minutes our lines are exploding every which way. Those
Reels were just screaming... Erika and I each get a rod and the fights are
on.. WOOOHOOOO Yellow Fin Tuna and lots of them. After that awesome Sailfish
it didn't take long and Erika was moving to the chair... We didn't know it
at the time but she was about 5 weeks pregnant that day.. what a trooper.
I know I married a keeper..
The Captain had told me earlier in the morning that Yellow Fin
are not as common that far south and when you do find them they aren't usually
the fat ones.. I want going to complain most of these were about 40# - 50#
and they all taste the same with a little Soy Sauce and Wasabi. This is what
they all looked like.
Here is a good shot of the colors when they first hit the deck.
Well after about 12 of them things Erika and I were just about
wiped out. I did have one thing going in the back of my mind and I was beginning
to think I wasn't gona get my first Billfish.. and then suddenly BAM!!! Fish
On.. Fish On.. My wife snapped this picture just before I yelled Fish Off
:-(
Then yet another 4 lost fish.. I swear I was gona cry.. So I
break my cardinal rule and go grab a beer from the ice chest.. and that did
it. I looked out and saw 2 Bills neck and neck after my Ballyhoo... I run
over as the fastest one takes a bait freelined by one of the deck hands and
the reel just explodes and the fight is on. I was so whooped at that point
and yet scared to death it was gona spit the hook at me. My wife comforts
me with " I didn't have any problem with mine" Gee thanks dear... It was
a real show as my Sailfish makes his way in. I choose not to bring him into
the boat because of the time he had already been on the line. I didn't want
to kill him... just shoot a picture. So here she is.
What a magical day or rather a magical 2 weeks in Costa Rica. I saw
Monkeys, Huge Iguanas, Active Volcanoes, Rock Snapper, Huge Eels, a Sea Snake,
Turtles and the list goes on...
Final fish count was:
16 Bonita or Skipjack
12 Yellow Fin Tuna
7 Sailfish (2) boated & (5) spit the hook meaning no break offs..I was
very pleased.
- Erika & Doug Beaumont, TX.
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