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Star Jumpers
by Frank Bolin (cont)
Ever try to stay calm when sails nonchalantly swim by the boat with dorsals fully extended? It's nearly impossible. On this morning I saw perhaps 200 fish herding bait on the surface. One visiting angler stowed his trolling gear and went after the sails with a 12-weight fly rod and a pink streamer tied on a circle hook. He released eight fish before calling it quits.
Pacific sails outweigh their Atlantic cousins substantially. Most sails we encountered pushed 80 pounds and a few dozen had to best 100. Fish were aggressive and readily responded to trolled strip baits. The trick to scoring hookups is to scout for surface activity, tap the throttle and get baits near the sail pod pronto. With literally thousands of fish vying for food, elaborate dredge teasers were not necessary. Pacific sails are a first-rate challenge on 20-pound gear.
While I was there multiple strikes were the norm with up to half a dozen sails at a time attacking the 4-strip baitspread. Strips trolled close to the squid teaser never went unmolested for long. If you tire of releasing sails, head for Zane Grey Reef, which is approximately six miles offshore on a 275-degree heading. The reef has three pinnacles that rise to 130 feet from 310 feet. Local skippers say itŐs easy to spot due to rips and loads of bait. Troll the reef's fringes with artificial lures for black and blue marlin.
A satisfying day of sailfishing begins with more fun - reeling in skipjacks on the light stuff. The typical drill is to run under a flock of birds, hook as many tuna as you can, flop 'em into the basket and put your jig out for more. Most skippies averaged only a pound or two, but several 10-pounders tested tackle and surprised anglers.
Panama strips cut from skipjack tuna bellies and rigged with a circle hook are the standard bait for sailfish. The strips are quick to rig and can withstand several swipes from a sailfish bill. Best dropback count for hookup was about five seconds. Tuna schools collected at the mouth of Pinas Bay and just off the cliffs on either side of the bay. For procuring skippies, take a hint from the locals who use bucktail jigs for catching bait.
Tropic Star's fleet of 31 Bertrams is crewed by courteous native skippers and quick mates who know how to fish and communicate. Each boat comes fully equipped with a full complement of trolling gear - Shimano reels on Cape Fear rods - and everything you'll need for the day. Boats are shipshape and overhauled each season.
High-flying Pacific sailfish have a solid future thanks in part to Miami angler Joan Vernon. Vernon cannoned a switch to circle hooks in several Central American countries including Panama. Her Presidential Challenge tournament series makes stops at Panama, Costa Rica and Guatemala. Preserving the region's sportfishing and promoting it are now important goals for Central American fishery managers.
Continued...
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