April 15, 2012

It is a true delight to welcome back Captain Don Dingman and his crew from Hook the Future for a week of fishing and fun. He has some great kids lined up for educational fishing excursions later in the week, but on Don’s first day he and the crew got themselves re-acquainted with the big Pacific Sailfish.

The first big Sailfish came early, just before 9am. Captain Don brought her home for a quick release and set her free.

With the ice broken, the Hook the Future team broke out the cool camera toys and shot some extremely awesome footage. When the second Sailfish came it at 11am, Captain Don strapped up the GoPro HD Headmounted camera and got up close and personal with this beauty.

As 1pm approached the bite intensified, and this time is was Rebecca’s turn to land a marine monster. She was apt on the reel and brought this big girl home in no time flat. Excellent fishing by this Jacksonville angler!

Around 4pm yet another big beast ripped up the spread and this time Conrad the cameraman got to step out from behind the lens and boat a beautiful beast. Rebecca subbed as camera operator and Captain Don coordinated the release of this fourth Sailfish of the day.

The fifth and final Sailfish of the trip came just before lines out at 5:20pm. This was the biggest fish of the day by far and gave Conrad the chance to break-in his new waterproof pole camera.

The fish obliged the camera by putting on a heck of a show on it’s way to a safe release.

Check out more videos from Captain Don and his personal account of this trip at the Official Salt Life Blog. Pura Vida!

April 12, 2012

Morgan Trible and Kenny Strickler have built reputations as the most consistent anglers in the area. Hailing from the hard fishing state of Virginia, these guys seem to post Hall of Fame-caliber results every time they hit the water.

On this, their third trip of the week, the boys had a pair of early afternoon Sailfish attack the spread but spit the hooks. They deployed this special live bait spread to coax up another billfish:

The ladies were back in the boat for only 5 minutes before a mack-daddy Sailfish came for a visit. The fight was thrilling but quick as these Virginian’s added another great Sailfish release to their scorecard.

I love the ‘everyone look somewhere besides the camera’ pose here.

Also check out the blue FishingNosara coozie on the right; we have been out of stock of blue coozies for quite some time now, which means one of the guys brought it along from home. Hold on to that coozie, bud…it’s good luck!

With First Mate Alex’s careful assistance, Morgan released this Sailfish clean and ready to fight another day.

April 10, 2012

Hall of Famers Morgan Trible and Kenny Strickler have struck again! They booked the Wanderer on April 10 and released 2 two Blue Marlins (200lbs. and 400lbs.) plus added two Dorados (13lbs.-30lbs.)

Looks like Kenny just can’t let go of this great fish. Finally Morgan and First Mate Alex pried her away and released her safe as always.

April 7, 2012

John Barrineau and his family were back on the Wanderer looking to top their three-for-three Sailfish performance from earlier in the week, and we are stoked to report that these Jacksonville anglers achieved another remarkable feat: The Double Sailfish Release!

This was just the tip of the iceberg for the trip as the Barrineau’s added three more releases to the scorecard.

What fantastic results this week for these Jacksonville anglers as once again the mighty Wanderer delivers on the promise of high-end Costa Rica sportfishing!

April 5, 2012

Jacksonville angler John Barrineau has brought the whole gang down to Nosara for a week of fun and fishing. Check out this amazing sailfish they caught on the first of three scheduled trips with Captain William on the Wanderer:

Later in the day they found another MASSIVE Sailfish, and this one was all Mrs. Barrineau’s!

Finally Mr. Barrineau dug the hooks into a third Sailfish of the day, and this one put on a show that makes you think he is posing for the next T-shirt design:

Excellent job on the safe bill and release by First Mate Alex as the mighty Wanderer continues to stay one step ahead of the elusive Pacific Sailfish…three up in the spread, three clean released, all in less than 5 hours!

April 3, 2012

Fresh off of their Top Angler award from the 2012 Ship of Fools Tournament, Captain William and First Mate Alex of the Wanderer aimed to keep the good times rollin’ for client Darren Godes and his family.

This crew has set a new standard for sportfishing in Costa Rica and they are deserving the title of best boat in the bay.

Nosara was drenched by rain overnight so getting the Godes posse to Garza was a bit tricky, but once they left shore the weather was clear and the fish were stirred up from the influx of new water.

This Sailfish was hungry and at 11:30 bit into the wrong ballyhoo.

The fight was furious but short, with this monster being safely released 11 minutes after hook-up…that’s how the pros do it!

With the trophy fish released, the Wanderer went looking for dinner and found it in the form of this 35lbs. Grouper lurking around 250 feet. This tasty beast was on ice just before 2pm and was on the dinner table at 7pm.

Great work by Captain William, First Mate Alex, and the Godes family on some great offshore action.

March 28, 2012

Chris DiCola and his lovely wife Carolyn have been fishing hard this whole week, but March 28 was certainly the highlight of their four fishing excursions. Enlisting Captain William and First Mate Alex of the legendary Wanderer, this husband and wife fishing team from Pennsylvania went on a very fruitful billfish hunt.

They released two Sailfish during the 10am morning bite, then added one more during the 1pm afternoon session.

As an added bonus Chris nailed this meaty Dorado for the dinner table.

Chris and Carolyn were nice enough to provide the filets for a little dinner party at Rancho Tico with Craig, Matty, Captain Jack, and the Bickel group. As always great friendships are forged over fresh fish filets.

March 27, 2012

Jeff Bickel was introduced to big Sailfish when he had a double release with his brother Brian back in January. 

This time there was a mighty billfish waiting on him and he bested this beastie in just 15 minutes.

Our new friend Steve matched his fishing buddy with a tremendous Sailfish release of his own.

Of course First Mate Alex saw to the safe release of both monsters. With the trophies released, Jeff and Steve checked in at the fish market and scooped up more that 50 pounds of Mahi-mahi.

Great gaff shot by First Mate Alex but an even better photo by Captain William:

 

 

March 26, 2012

Our new friends Chris and Carolyn DiCola ripped the Sailfish out of the frame on their first day of fishing today. The bills came in hot and heavy, but the Wanderer has built a reputation as the toughest bill collector in town.

The days action saw three beautiful Sailfish releases…great work on the reels by Team DiCola and by First Mate Alex to ensure the unstressed release of these magical creatures.

The DiCola’s have much more fishing planned this week, so look out for these Pennsylvania-based anglers.