Tag: Explorer

August 30, 2012

Our new friend Ross Boyce is a world beating angler who comes to us from Brisbane, Australia. His email to us was so good that we’ve decided to reproduce it verbatim:

Great day yesterday, although nearly didn’t get to go. Overnight Wednesday we had the obligatory thunderstorm but with the loudest and most continuous thunder I have heard in my life and the most intense rain here for quite a number of years in such a short time; so much so the bridge on the road to Playa Garza had water over the top of the railings. (In actual fact it was to the top, approximately 4 feet over the road.)
 
Left at 7.30 but because of the rain, the foreshore water was brown and full of debris for about a mile out or more which precluded us from any bottom fishing. So headed for about the 12-14 mile mark out to sea where the swell was varying from 6 to 10 feet. Absolutely no action for trolling from 8.30 to 11.00; by this time we were about 18 –20 mile out then Wham!

Absolutely full of action for the next 2 .5 hours – a total of 6 sailfish caught and released including two double hook ups!!! Huge adrenaline rush.

Carlos (deck hand) and Captain David were brilliant and professional in the execution of boat work, gear rigging and handling of the fish during the capture and release. GREAT JOB….


 
During the past 2 years I have charter fished on the Great Barrier Reef, other parts of Australia, King fish at Tairua East Coast of New Zealand, Yellow Fin Tuna at Key West Florida, and on this vacation Salmon at Quadra Island, British Columbia before coming to Nosara and can I assure you the operation here is First Class!


 
Further heavy rain and thunder are expected in the next 24 hours..so will have to wait on the weather for the next charter.
The last picture indicates 5 fingers of the number of fish; but my camera battery ran out..bugger.


 
Ross Boyce
Manly, Brisbane Australia
currently in Nosara..August 31st

August 22, 2012

Although some big swells tore through the area this last week, the Explorer found a break in the weather on August 22 and delivered an outstanding trip for clients Buff and Melanie Hendricks from New Smryna Beach, FL. They scored two nice Pacific Sailfish releases and tabled one of the biggest Dorados of the season.

Let’s have Mr. Hendricks’ take on the action: “We fish out of Ponce Inlet often, so the short ride to large fish was terrific. We were very comfortable with Captain David and  Carlos and felt we were in excellent hands.”

“The fishing was superb, (just look at the size of the Dorado) and you can count on us doing it again.”

 

Melanie had this note to add: “Captain David and Carlos are a great team! We were very impressed and had a great trip!”

August 17, 2012

It was an awesome pleasure to welcome two of our best old friends to the Explorer for an unforgettable day of billfish action. Greg Saig and Tommy Rady are co-founders of Salt Life and have been surfing and fishing around Costa Rica for as long as we can remember.

r

They booked Captain David and Mate Carlos for a half-day afternoon trip on the Explorer and hooked up their first Sailfish just after 1 pm.

Greg and TR followed up this release with two more mighty Pacific Sailfish releases plus they had a battle with a big Blue Marlin. They didn’t best that beast, but still a three-Sailfish release day is none to shabby.

This water looks so good that it is hard to believe that in a week we will be pulling the boats for the off-season. Conditions were that of a tranquil lake out in the Pacific Ocean on this day.

July 22, 2012

Our new friends Terrance and Brittney are back in Nosara and scheduled a nice half day trip with our buddy Jeff Grosshandler and Captain David on the Explorer. It was a day filled with action with nice catches of Ponpano and Cierro Mackerel.

Jeff made a new friend on the casting platform and Brittney seemingly couldn’t wait for this tasty Cierro Mackerel to hit the sushi tray.

It was a great trip with lots of fresh filets to go around. Three different species should make this week one of delicacies and decadence for this newly-engaged NY couple.

July 18, 2012

Craig Sutton, Jr. came to Nosara to celebrate his birthday with his new fiancee Erica and found some time to get on the water with Captain David on the Explorer. With Carlos serving over on the Wanderer, it was up to Craig to function as angler and first mate for the unstoppable Super panga.

After missing on an early strike, the team recovered with a Double Header Sailfish release around 10:30am. Craig had to fight the first fish from a stationary boat as Captain David cleared the lines with one hand and hooked the second fish with his other hand.

“I’ve caught a lot a Sailfish, but this was the first one that talked to me,” Craig later commented. “He covered 25 feet in a single jump and it was all I could do to keep the line from falling into the water.”

After a quick release shot Craig billed the second fish; though not the behemoth of the first one, you can tell from the strain on Craig’s face that this fish was also a serious beast.

Like any good future husband, Craig also stopped to pick up dinner on the way home in the form of this nice 15lbs. Bluefin Tuna. 

July 16, 2012

Hall of Famer Morgan Trible has brought along a very special guest for a week of fishing in Costa Rica: His father Mr. Richard Harris!

They joined Captain David on the Explorer for their first fishing foray and the unstoppable Super Panga delivered the goods! They knocked out a few big Jack Crevelles and caught a very tasty Ponpano.

The highlight of the trip was a 35lbs. Rooster fish release, a first for both Morgan and Rick.

They also lost a gigantic Cuberra Snapper on a topwater plug; usually these beasts don’t come up to the surface and the fact that this one did is a good sign. Morgan and Richard have more trips planned this week so keep an eye on these monster anglers. 

July 15, 2012

Clients Nicholas Jaros and Ian Milligan booked the unstoppable Explorer for a hybrid inshore/offshore half day trip. We are stoked to report that both phases were very productive.

This Sailfish release was timestamped at 10:35am and is proof that our billfish bite is consistent in the hours of 10am and 1pm. Nice release by local legend Marcos Bala who was assisting Captain David as the mate on this trip.

Later in the trip they scored this excellent-tasting Mullet Snapper. A close cousin of both the Cuberra Snapper and the Atlantic Red Snapper, these tasty morsels yield a flaky white meat that literally melts in your mouth.

This specimen is just the right size at around 25lbs.; any bigger and the quality of the meat declines. Great work by the anglers and crew of the Explorer on a well-rounded day of fishing.

July 7, 2012

Our new friend Charles Mark Perdue joined Captain David and Mate Carlos on the famous Explorer for a 3/4 day trip, however the action was so intense that he extended his trip to a full day once they got out to the fishing grounds.

We’ll let Mr. Perdue tell the story:

“Craig, thanks again!!  Fishing with your group was the highlight of my brother’s trip to Costa Rica. Two of my brother’s caught a Sailfish and one caught a small Dorado.  My Brother-in-Law caught a sail as well.  What was great about the experience, is my 3 brothers had never been off-shore fishing except in a big party boat.  So, needless to say…they were really excited when they got to land sailfish!.”

“David and Carlos, were very good and patient.  We stayed out longer….we were having so much fun. I may be down again the week before X-mas and if so, I will book another day or two with you guys.”