Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, Dorado 

Once again, it’s been a great 2 weeks of fishing at Pinas Bay. The Black Marlin bite has been very consistent and despite a  few slow days fishing our guests had a great Tropic Star experience. The Blue Marlin Bite has slowed down which is expected around this time of year. Quite a few anglers had ventured inshore for other opportunities and scored some really good sized Roosterfish and Cubera Snappers. Catching bait was again difficult at times but I am sure you know by now that our crews are the best in the business and even when bonitos hard to catch they pull the tricks out of the bag.

The story of the week was definitely a good one. Ronnie and Todd Kennedy came all the way from Louisiana to Pinas Bay in search of Marlin and did they ever get more than they bargained for. On the first day offshore a huge Blue Marlin paid a visit to the baits and this fish was surely hungry; it ate two bonitos and both Ronnie and Todd had the fish hooked on two different 50lb outfits.  Ronnie went to the chair and Todd strapped on the stand-up harness and shortly into the fight the fish went down and they decided to put the heat on the big Blue. As the fished neared the boat she made her first series of jumps and the next thing they knew, all 500+ lbs of angry Blue Marlin skyrocketed into the cockpit of the Bertram 31. The fish knocked Todd (300 lbs) clean out of the boat and also nailed the mate Vicente  who also ended up overboard. Poor Ronnie ended up pinned down by the huge fish in the small cockpit. Another boat close by witnessed the entire event and rushed over to lend a hand to the  angler and mate in the water and when it was all over, incredible enough, no one was injured. The big Blue Marlin landed on the fighting chair and broke the backrest and also put a few dings in the gunwale. Well, we all thank the good Lord that this was a happy ending but of course not for the Marlin that died in the boat. Now that’s a fishing story that Ronnie and Todd will be able to tell their kids and grandkids for many, many years to come.

Chris Fancy had a trip of a lifetime, releasing his first Black Marlin that was estimated at 500 lbs. Steve also released 3 Marlin in one day and his wife Kirsten released her first Pacific Sailfish estimated at 100 lbs. Larry McCollugh released his first Pacific Blue Marlin estimated at 500 lbs and also released his first Pacific Sailfish, 125 lbs. Brian Davis released his first Pacific Blue Marlin that went 500 lbs. Patrick Barley, Joe Miller and Harry Burk all released their first Black Marlin estimated at 450 lbs and David Chamberlain scored his first Pacific Blue Marlin around 450 lbs. Kraig Kelly also had some great fishing luck, releasing his first Black Marlin estimated at 350 lbs. Bernard Koerperich released his first Pacific Blue Marlin, 250 lbs.

Ronnie and Todd Kennedy both caught their first Pacific Blue Marlin estimated at 500 lbs and Todd also released his first Black Marlin around 450 lbs. John Eustace released his first Black Marlin, a monster, estimated at 550 lbs and Ronald Eustace also released his first Black Marlin around 400 lbs. Seth Obetz released his dream fish, a Black Marlin estimated at 450 lbs and Dan Bedgood also scored his first Black Marlin, 450 lbs.  Patty Kaiser released her first Black Marlin estimated at 350 lbs.

Rudy Nelson released 3 Black Marlin and a nice Pacific Blue Marlin in 4 days between 300 and 450 lbs.  Greg Campbell released his first Black Marlin estimated at 400 lbs and Todd Beene released his first Black Marlin around 350 lbs.  Carol Behan released her first Black Marlin estimated at 350 lbs and Angel Rodriguez released his first Pacific Blue Marlin estimated at 300 lbs.

For more Tropic Star Lodge action, check out our photo gallery on Facebook and Flickr 

Tight Lines!

Albert Battoo
Fishing Director