AUGUST:

The Kid's Club and Marlin Specials were off and running. Early August, 13-year old Jeffrey Gerum, caught his first Pacific Sail and another on Fly Rod (which resulted in breaking the rod!) Jeffrey also landed his First Black Marlin! Fourteen-year old Chris Sherman caught his first Sails on eight-weight fly and caught his first Black Marlin estimated to be 600 Pounds!!!

James Curtis landed his share of Sailfish and had a shot at casting to a Black, all on fly. Brandon Wilder caught a 350 lb Black Marlin while out training a few mates.  Longtime Canal Zone friends of Mike Andrews, Jack Wagner and Bob Hummer visited for some fishing and jungle experiences. Jack caught both a Striped Marlin and a 300 lb Blue Marlin. Mike joined them one morning and they caught 14 Wahoo in the 25 to 40 lb range, along with some Tuna and Dolphin. The Stangls and Goldman families from Utah and Idaho returned after too many years away and fished Sails on fly. Alain Duquesnoy flew all the way from France, and returned with the story of battling his 500 lb Black Marlin!

After nine great months, Marlin fishing slowed a bit, but everyone managed to have some fun! There were plenty of Sailfish, Wahoo, Tuna, Dorado, Mackerel, and Cubera Snapper. There were numerous Whales spotted offshore and even inshore, close to the rocks. Amber and James Bass were here on their honeymoon. The Whitcomb family had to skirt around Hurricane Charley's schedule, but did not miss too many days of fishing. Their two young sons, Zachary and Taylor released their first Sailfish, a few 25 lb Wahoo, Spanish Mackerel, Blue Runner and Yellowfin Tuna. Zachary caught a monster Roosterfish that was regrettably released at the boat; it definitely could have been a Jr. World Record contender!  Zachary was a good sport about it! Peter, Geraldine, Natasha, Vanessa and Johnathon Kim, kids from British Columbia (my favorite place to vacation, by the way!) agreed their Tropic Star Experience "was much better than Disney World!" Each caught their first Pacific Sailfish, including some triple hook-ups and even caught 13 in a day! They also had fun fishing the rocks! Nine-year old Natasha caught a Cubera Snapper, 32 pounds!

SEPTEMBER:

Late August into early September, George Poveromo caught a 350 lb Black Marlin while filming his World of Saltwater Fishing (on ESPN2.) His special guest was our good friend, Frank Johnson, of Mold Craft "Softhead" Lures, exclusively used in Pi–as. Other guests, Dominick Porcelli and Ron Minton from Ohio caught lots of Sailfish and then had a double Black Marlin hook-up, releasing one after the other threw the bait. A few days later they had another double hook-up. It ended up being a greedy 70 lb Roosterfish which hit two baits, a live one and a strip-bait, and made quite a fish story!