Trip Log January 14 - 19, 2006

Hello Folks!

Off we go again! Joining us this week was Tony and Sabrina Pena, Lou Spadaccino, John Messina, Frank and Joe Kelly, Aristeo Cullen, Chris Caccavella and Kent McMillion. Due to travel arrangements the group arrived the ship in staggered groups and Kent will not be able to join us until Sunday. While they all were able to get a line wet, it was a very short day for most. As a result there were only some good strikes, but no fish boated this day. Bummer!

With the exception of Kent, who had not arrived yet, the boats got out for the first full day of fishing at 6:30 this morning. Tony, Sabrina and Aristeo on Star VII with Captain Lalo spent the day working the shallows with light gear and had a reasonable day with Sabrina landing a Cubera Snapper at 35 lbs. and two Dorado at 20 and 25 lbs. Tony plucked out 2 Blue Jacks at 8 to 10 lbs. and Aristeo hauled in a 25 pound Amberjack. Star V with Captain Sergio did a fine job for John and Chris who also were using mostly light tackle today. Chris racked up 2 Sailfish in the 80-90 lb. class, a Cubera Snapper at 30 lbs., 6 Blue Jacks ranging in size from 10 to 30 lbs., two Big Eye Jacks around 15 to 20 lbs. and 3 Jack Trevallies at 30 pounds each. John landed a 45 lb. Cubera Snapper, a 15 lb. Mullet Snapper, 2 Sierra Mackerel at 10 lbs. each, 3 Blue Jacks between 10-30 lbs., 2 Big Eye Jacks in the 15-20 lb. range and also 3 Jack Trevallies in the 20 lb area. Frank, Joe and Lou went on Star II with Captain Chaca and had a good day with Joe landing a 120 lb. Sailfish, and a 15 lb. Red Snapper. Lou hauled in a 15 lb. Mullet Snapper and a 25 lb. Dorado. Frank boated a 20 lb. Cubera Snapper and a nice Amberjack at 39 lbs. During the transit from Boca Chica to Isla Montosa, Mr. Basil (Coral Star?s Deck Officer) and Mr. Arturo (Coral Star?s Engineer) took care of a double strike of Dorado off the stern of the Coral Star. Basil landed a 45 lb. Bull while Arturo boated a 27 pounder. We also were treated to a short escort by three Humpback whales between the Isla Secas and Isla Parides. Man what beautiful animals!!!!

We are now into our 2nd full day of fishing with Kent arriving yesterday to join John and Chris on Star V with Captain Sergio. They all had a good day! John lead the team by landing a 400 lb. Black Marlin, a 90 lb. Sailfish and a 25 lb. Yellowfin Tuna. Chris pulled in 2 Sailfish at 80 and 90 lbs. and a 20 lb. Blue Jack. Not to be out done on his first day, Kent also boated 2 Sailfish at 80 lbs. and a 25 lb. Blue Jack. On Star VII with Captain Lalo Sabrina was thrilled by landing over a 450 lb. Black Marlin and boated a 15 lb. Blue Jack as well. Aristeo came out on top of a battle against his 600 lb. Black Marlin! Tony landed a 20 lb. Amberjack with what was left of the day after the wars. Way to go anglers! Aboard Star II with Captain Chaca, Lou boated two Dorado at 20 lbs. each and a 120 lb. Sailfish. Joe also pulled in 2 Dorado in the 20 lb. range while Frank landed one Dorado at 15 lbs. All in all, just another good day of fishing!

The third full day of fishing did not pan out as one for the record books. Yet all reported it was a good day. Weather was the main factor, and then 2 of the 3 boats elected to move inshore around Isla Coiba. For those two boats weather became the main factor. While it was not ?RUFF?, it was bounce enough to make casting and plugging difficult and the daily catches reflect that. On Star VII with Captain Lalo, Sabrina landed ?A? Amberjack at 20 pounds, Aristeo hauled in a Blue Jack weighing in at 10 pounds and a Roosterfish tipping the scale at 20 lbs. On Star IV with Captain Chicho, John pulled in a Cubera Snapper at 35 lbs. and a 30 lb. Roosterfish. Chris landed a 45 lb. Amberjack. Out with Captain Chaca, Frank bagged a 20 lb. Dorado, Lou a 40 lb. Roosterfish, and Joe hauled in a 15 lb. Red Snapper. But the MOST notable event of the day was Joes fight with a Pilot Whale. The animal spooled the AVET Pro EXW 50/2 not once, but TWICE. Before it did, Joe had him to the boat by what I call was a legal CATCH. But, when the animal left the second time, there was no stopping the MONSTER. As to weight, the only answer is BIG??..DAMN BIG and BIGGER! Way to go Joe! I do not know which needed a beer more???...Joe to cool himself down???or the AVET reel??? BOTH WERE VERY HOT!!!! Coral Star moved from Isla Montosa to Point Hermosa, Isla de Coiba! During the transit two Dorado were lifted aboard at 25 and 39 pounds. As spoiled as we are to PRIME FISHING, this was still not what I would call a productive day. BUT, everyone said that they had a ?Good Day?. Could it be that the total experience can make up for the ho-hum day of fishing? I would like to think so!

The fourth and final full day of fishing started with all sport boats departing at 6:25 in the morning and the Coral Star getting underway for the Ranger Station to pay ?Park Fees?. By the end of the day, we had a mixed bag of results. On Star VII with Captain Lalo, Aristeo landed a pair of Big Eye Jacks at 12 and 15 pounds. Tony hauled in 2 Blue Jacks at 10 and 12 pounds and 2 Jack Trevallies at 10 and 15 pounds. Sabrina pulled in a 20 pound Barracuda and a 15 pound Roosterfish. The group with Captain Chaca on Star II had a fair day with Frank boating a nice 100 pound Yellowfin Tuna and two 25 pound Dorado. Lou and Joe each hauled in matched pairs of Dorado at 20 pounds each. Captain Chicho on Star IV took his group out to Hannibal Bank and using light tackle, poppers and plugs both John and Chris each pulled in 5 Yellowfin Tuna in the 25 pound range. On the transit from Isla de Coiba to Boca Chica we were, as usual, trolling for Dorado off the stern of Coral Star. But this time something MUCH BIGGER hooked up! After an hour and 10 minute battle ?fish versus angler? we recorded a 500 lb. Black Marlin. YEAH!!! I would love to say it was the result of the boat driver (ME), but the fact is that it was the brutal strength of Mr. Basil and the awesome combination of the AVET Pro EXW 50/2 reel (WINCH) on the rod designed for us by Jim Scarlata to compliment the AVET reels. Fine job Jim! Mr. Basil truly put that combo on a MAJOR test run today!

The sad part of every trip is that all come to the end and it?s back to reality, at least until next time??. So with this trip too. To finish off the week Captain Lalo on Star VII put Aristeo on 2 Jack Trevallies at 12 and 16 lbs. and Tony pulled in 3 Jack Trevallies in the 10 to 15 lb. range. Star IV with Captain Chicho put Chris on a nice 35 lb. Roosterfish. While Captain Chaca on Star II also found a nice 30 pound Roosterfish for Frank.

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