Trip Log January 21 Thru January 26 

This week we had an incredible group of guys visiting us here in Jurassic Park. Joining us AGAIN were Bob Valenti, Bob Fernbacher, Gary Schmidt, and Andy Holguin for yet another go at the BIG ONE?s! (Brave fellows they are)! Then, joining us for the very first time were lucky fellows Bill Nacca, Ray Cortese, Smokey Schuller, Mike Tutela, Rick Hibell, Tom Cortese, Matt Marricco, Peter Gammarano and Roman DeVille. This being the first half day of fishing was not terribly productive, but Captain Chaca on Star II did put Mike on a nice 45 pound Roosterfish. On Star IV with Captain Chicho, Bob Fernbacher (the taller Bob) landed a 25 lb. Cubera ?Dogtooth? Snapper, while Bob Valenti boated a 35 lb. Snapper and Peter hauled in a 35 lb. Roosterfish.

For the first full day of fishing, I would have to say it was a VERY GOOD day for any angler already fishing some place or some angler wishing they were reading this report! All indications are that it will be a good week, with a large number of bill fish having been spotted, if not CAUGHT! On Star II with Captain Chaca, Mike hauled in a 300 lb. Black Marlin, two 25 lb. Dorado, and a 25 lb. Roosterfish. Ray pulled in a nice Sailfish at 140 pounds along with a 20 lb. Dorado. Smokey boated a 15 lb. Dorado. On Star III with Captain Kid, Matt landed his first Dorado on the fly which weighed in at 25 lbs. Then Matt went on to catch another 6 Dorado in the 20 lb. class on other tackle. Out with Captain ChiCho on Star IV, Peter landed three 100 lb. Sailfish, 3 Dorado in the 30 lb. range and both one Cubera ?Dogtooth? Snapper at 20 lbs. and one Mullet Snapper at 20 lbs. Fishing with Captain Sergio on Star V were Bob and Bob. They both teamed up for a nice catch on a 400 lb. Blue Marlin and a 180 lb. Yellowfin Tuna (ouch!). Bob V. also hauled in a 100 lb. Sailfish and a Mullet Snapper at 35 lbs. while Bob F. boated a 35 lb. Dorado. Star VI with Captain Tito put Roman onto a Black Marlin at 400 lbs. and 3 Dorado at 35, 25 and 25 lbs. Aboard Star VII with Captain Lalo Andy boated a 180 lb. Yellowfin Tuna. Bill hauled in a 100 lb. Sailfish and a 35 lb. Dorado. Gary pulled in a Dorado at 20 lbs. On the hunt with Captain Alexis on Star VIII, Rick had a work out landing a 260 lb. Yellowfin Tuna and a Sailfish at 100 lbs. Tom boated a 90 lb. Sailfish and an 8 lb. Red Snapper. I?d say the boys may be a bit tired tonight!

With the 2nd full day of fishing and the ship anchored at Isla Montosa the boys got in a long 11 and ½ day of fishing today, and I have to tell you they WANTED to fish these grueling hours! Note that Rick and Tom came in early to do some kayaking and beach combing on the island, which is NO PROBLEM EVER! It was also one of those days when what was seen and not hooked up is noteworthy. For example, while bottom fishing on the west side of the island Smokey and Mike watched two ?Very Large? Marlin swim past the stern of Star II within just a few feet. In fact that was the same story from all seven of the boats. The ?BIG? boys are out there! Star II with Captain Chaca Smokey boated two 200 lb. Sailfish, a 35 lb. Cubera Snapper, one Red Snapper at 22 lbs. and two Dorado at 20 lbs. each. Mike pulled in a 25 lb. Cubera Snapper and two Dorado at 20 lbs. each. On Star III with Captain Kid, Matt had another good day and a couple of other ?firsts? for him boating a 90 lb. Sailfish on the fly and landed his first Marlin ? a 300 lb. Blue and then added another 20lb. Dorado on the fly and and and?. 3 more Dorado in the 30 lb. range on other tackle. Mike boated an additional 3 Dorado, also in the 30 lb. range. Peter on Star IV with Captain ChiCho boated a 100 lb. Sailfish, 7 Dorado in the 35 lb. class and 4 Mullet Snapper around 20 lbs. each. With Captain Sergio on Star V the Bob boys ganged up on both 200 and 180 lb. Yellowfin tunas. Then Bob F. boated a 120 lb. Sailfish and a 30 lb. Dorado. Bob V. hauled in a 100 lb. Sailfish and a 30 lb. Dorado. Roman on Star VI with Captain Tito had a nice day boating a good variety with a 45 lb. Wahoo, one 50 lb. Dorado and 3 Dorado in the 30 lb. range, along with a 30 lb. Cubera Snapper and 4 Jacks in the area of 15 lbs. each. Andy, Gary and Bill with Captain Lalo on Star VII had one of those frustrating days with 2 ?Large? Marlin and a ?Very Large? Tuna hooked up, but all three fish won the battle and got off. Just big Darn Fish! However, Andy did land 5 Blue Jacks ranging in size from 6 to 15 lbs. and 2 Red Snappers at 6 and 15 lbs. Rick and Tom had a good day with Captain Alexis on Star VIII. Tom landed a 250 lb. Blue Marlin and a 130 lb. Tuna. Rick boated an 85 lb. Sailfish, one 35 lb. Dorado and a 10 lb. Red Snapper.

Moving right along to our 3rd full day of fishing was simply another picture perfect day with sunny skies and calm water with an early start and all boats were off by 6:30 am. Star II with Captain Chaca at the helm found Ray a 90 lb. Sailfish, Smokey 2 Red Snappers at 10 lbs. each and one Cubera Snapper at 30 lbs. Captain Kid on Star III with Mike and Matt aboard had a reasonable day but not without its disappointments. The best hit of the day was Mikes hook up on a 500 lb. plus Blue Marlin, but as luck would have it the freight train hooked up on a small 20, which gave Mike no chance of stopping him. So Mike ended the day with only 2 Dorado in the 30 lb. range. Matt got luckier and boated a 200 lb. Tuna, a 100 lb. Sailfish and a 30 lb. Dorado. Captain ChiCho on Star IV put Peter onto a 400 lb. Blue Marlin and 4 Dorado, 3 of which were in the 35 lb. range and 1 was a beauty at 65 lbs.! On Star V with Captain Sergio things were much the same as several of the other boats over the past couple of days. Some really good hook ups, but battles lost as a total of 3 Marlin, 5 Sailfish and 1 tuna spit the hooks. Still Bob V. landed 4 Dorado in the 30 to 45 lb. class and a nice 45 lb. Amberjack. Bob F. boated 4 Dorado in the 35 lb. bracket. Out with Captain Lalo on Star VII, Andy bagged a 100 lb. Sailfish. Bill boated a 100 lb. Sailfish and Gary landed a 25 lb. Dorado. Tom and Rick out with Captain Alexis did OK with Rick boating 2 Dorado at 25 and 45 lbs. and one 12 lb. Red Snapper, while Tom landed 3 Dorado at 25, 30 and 35 lbs

What can I say? Our 4th full day of fishing found the morning starting off as another great day in paradise. And all the boats had ?lines in the water? by 6:45 am. On Star V with Captain Sergio Smokey and Bob F. started the day by ganging up on a 328 lb. Tuna. Bob then landed a 250 lb. Blue Marlin. Smokey pulled in 1 Skip Jack at 30 lbs., a 35 lb. Mullet Snapper, 2 Dorado at 35 lbs. each and 3 Jack Trevallies in the 20 lb. range. It is noteworthy that he also hooked up 3 Sailfish on his light tackle, but was not able to boat any of them. Rick on Star VII with Captain Alexis boated a 35 lb. Dorado. On Star II with Captain Chaca, Ray hauled in a Dorado at 20 lbs. and Mike pulled in one at 15 lbs. Captain Kid on Star III put Bob V. on to a 110 lb. Sailfish that he boated. Matt also pulled in one Sailfish at 120 lbs. and a 35 lb. Dorado. Roman with Captain Tito on Star VI landed yet another Black Marlin at 600 lbs. and a 50 lb. Dorado.

I think it would be safe to say that this has been a good week of fishing for the group as a whole. Several racked up personal firsts which is always great. For the final half day of fishing, Mike on Star II with Captain Chaca boated a beautiful 60 lb. Roosterfish. Peter with Captain ChiCho on Star IV hauled in a nice 50 lb. Cubera Snapper. Bob F. with Captain Sergio also landed a Roosterfish at 50 lbs. With Captain Lalo on Star VII Gary pulled in 2 Mullet at 15 and 5 lbs. and 2 Jacks at 25 and 10 lbs.

As a group for the week, these folks landed 10,311 lbs. of fish. The bulk of that being Blue and Black Marlin with a healthy number of Yellowfin Tuna, not to mention Roosterfish and Dorado at 50 lbs. and over. Yep, not a bad week at all!

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