Costa Rica Sailfish Report

Reporting for the week of February 5th to the 9th

Water temp and Clarity
The water was extremely clear. I was amazed at how far I could see our hooked up fish when we were fighting them. There is know way of knowing for sure but I would guess that we could see well over 100 feet. The clarity explains how the sailfish see the teasers from so far away.

Weather Conditions
We had hot calm days with high temperatures in the mid 90s. The sun was extremely intense during the middle of the day. Almost every evening we had some welcome rain showers just before dark to cool off the day.

Hot Fly of the week
We used some home made tube flies that my friend Dan Ross tied. They were made using lots of pink and white hackle, or as my buddy Shawn said ” it looks like he used half a chicken to tie this thing”. The flies worked great but I must admit it seemed to me that presentation was more important than color. There is a lot of technique involved in hooking and fighting these fish.

Highlight of the week
We had several double hook ups but the highlight had to be when the huge Marlin chased and eventually grabbed my hundred pound Sailfish and tried to eat it! The whole time he was chasing my Sailfish the Captain was yelling, something wrong!! Something wrong! And then he yells Marlin! Marlin!! Marlin!!! About that time I see this huge Marlin come flying out of the water and grab my Sailfish!!! He looked like he was going a hundred miles an hour when he hit the Sailfish. He thrashed it around for a second or two and let go and took off. No one could believe what we had just seen. Our Captain had over thirty years of experience and this was the first time that he had ever seen a Marlin take a Sailfish. He said he had heard stories but he never really believed them, until now…

Quote of the week
Quote of the week has to go to Captain Bobby Mcguiness. When asked how big he thought the Marlin was that tried to eat my Sailfish he repied. “That was one big Marlin man, Maybe 1,500 or maybe bigger. Not many fish eat 100 plus pound Sailfish” By the way, since I have been home, I spoke with Bobby, and he just recently hooked five and landed a 900 pound Marlin in one day (not to mention all the sailfish).

Wildlife spotted
We saw lots of Frigates and Pelicans and other seas birds. Sea turtles and Porpoise and or Dolphins.

Photo of the week

Comments for the week
We really couldn’t have had a better time. The accommodations were great and the food was excellent. We had a lot of action and learned a lot and caught a bunch of fish. The visual of seeing the Sailfish lurking beneath the fly and then watching as it slashed at the fly with its bill was unbelievable.

I can’t wait to return. I am already planning a trip for next year. If you are interested in joining me - drop me a line.
Clint