This has been quite a week at Tropic Star. The reef was overloaded with bait and His Magesty the Black Marlin has showed up in numbers. Inshore, the bite was also hot. 18 Roosterfish were released; many in the 70-80 lb range and a number of large cubera snappers were caught. We also have a new pending junior IGFA record for Jack Crevalle which weighed 25.3 lbs.

Ronnie and his son, Chase Williams came down for their eight annual June trip to TSL, this time with 21 friends.  We refer to Ronnie as our” Pinas Bay Ambassador”…  His love of our paradise radiates when he speaks to his friends and strangers about his love for Pinas Bay. He and Chase, Jim and son Justin and nephew Paul Gregory have come with Ronnie every year and the lodge is so much fun while they are here.  Ronnie said that every one of the 21 guests he brought this year will come back next year, plus he has more new people he will include.  It is such a pleasure to host this group every year. Don’t tell them that the day after they left, we raised 8 Blacks, caught 5 of them and 1 Striped Marlin (5 boats fishing)! Ronnie left after handing out gifts to almost everyone of our TSL employees (over 100), including knives, sunglasses, bags, tools, etc.  We are blessed to have such wonderful friends.

Roger Card and his fiancée Gail Dawson were here in Pinas Bay for the first time this week. Roger caught his first Black Marlin on the first day out. Unfortunately, the fish had gotten tail wrapped and died so they brought it in. It ended up weighing 388lbs. Both Roger and Gail also released their first Pacific Sailfish on that day. Two days later Gail her her shot at her first shot at a Black Marlin estimated at 250 lbs and got the release. Congrats!

Gary and Clay Reynolds and their friends Dru and Stephen Mayfield were also here this week. Dru released his first Black Marlin estimated at 450 lbs and Pacific Sailfish. Stephen also had his shot at his first Black Marlin around 450 lbs and got a clean release. Stephen, Clay and Gary released their first Pacific Sails. They ended up with 20 sails in 4 days.  Well done guys!

We were also visited by some great guys from Chile, (Team Chile). Pedro Jaque released his first Black Marlin estimated at around 450 lbs. On the following day his father Victor had his turn. A sail and a Marlin were hooked at the same time (double header). The sail was quickly released and after 1 hour and a half the marlin came up. Unfortunately this one did not make it and was brought to the scale. She weighed 327 lbs. Jose Thomas Robinson released his first Pacific Sailfish on this trip.

Other catches of note this week were by Jackson McKinney who released his first Blue Marlin estimated at 350 lbs. Tom and Myra Shanklin and Leslie Thurman all released their first Pacific Sailfish this week. Justin Gregory released a monster Roosterfish estimated at 80lbs.

Cole Johnson also caught a 25.3 lb Jack Crevalle this week. This fish is now a pending Junior IGFA record. Both Cole and his had Nick released an incredible 10 Roosterfish, most in the 50-60 lb range and 3 Cubera Snappers.

Tight Lines!

Albert Battoo
DOCKMASTER