Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna

This year Tropic Star Lodge is celebrating its 50th Anniversary and as usual we kicked of the 2013 fishing season with our annual TSL Tournament.  The weather was great and we certainly had a blast fishing the 2 day tourney. Several teams from Canada and the Cayman Islands took part in the Offshore World Championship qualifying event to be held in Quepos, Costa Rica in April 2013. The 1st Place team and winners of the tournament went to Sebastian Guilbard, Nathan Day and Richard Alex Laing (Team Cayman Broke). 2^nd Place team were Dan Noone, Torben Michalsen and Brian Quast (Team Guyana), and 3rd Place went to David Mc Bain, Don Karch and Greg Steers (Team Madera Dura). Top angler was Brian Quast and in a close second place was Sebastian Guilbard. The Heaviest Dolphin was caught by Dave Larch and Heaviest Yellowfin Tuna was caught by Michael Kelly. Top Crew was Capt. Epifano Candelo and mate Vicente Mecha. We would like to thank all the anglers that took part in the tournament and look forward to seeing you all again next year.

After a successful tournament we are now geared for yet another season of big game fishing at Piñas Bay. The fish are biting offshore there’s lots of opportunities at Marlin, Sailfish, giant Dorado and Yellowfin Tuna.  There was certainly no shortage of fish for the dinner table.

Fishing with us for their first time were Jon and Jimmie Rascoe. It’s has always been a dream of theirs to visit Piñas Bay and they had a fantastic fishing experience.  Jon released his first 2 Blue Marlin, the biggest estimated at 450 lbs and Jimmie also caught a nice Blue Marlin that unfortunately got tail wrapped and died during the fight. The fish was brought in weighted 304 lbs. Congratulations on your 3 Marlin and hope to see you again soon. Joe Jaggers also had some excellent luck. Like many anglers in the past he came to Piñas Bay in search of the elusive Black Marlin. This was the one fish he wanted to complete his Royal Billfish Slam and as luck would have it he hooked into one on the last day of fishing. The big Black Marlin was estimated at 450 lbs and he also released a good size Blue Marlin.

Jeff Brouwer released his first Black Marlin that went 500 lbs and get this; it was Jeff’s first time fishing offshore. Amazing! Frank Bilotti Jr. also released a 500 lb Blue Marlin, his very first, and also released his first Pacific Sailfish. Other catches of note were by Pierre Briere who released his first Pacific Blue Marlin around 400 lbs. Stephanie Fiedler, Paul Fielder, Josh Scott and Todd Melecha also released their first Pacific Blue Marlin. Louise Melecha and Herb Lewis both released their first Pacific Sailfish. Arturo Woodman caught the heaviest Yellowfin Tuna which weighed in at 160 lbs.

The fishing is certainly picking up and we are all looking forward to an explosive 2013 Season. The 50th Anniversary year of Tropic Star Lodge promises to be the best one ever.

Tight Lines!
Albert Battoo
Fishing Director