April 2007

The Sailfish bite was hot and cold in April, one day 2 or 3 Sailfish and the next day 8 or 10 Sailfish. The Marlin bite continues to be a pleasant surprise. Stripes, Blues and Blacks have been caught in above average numbers.

Congrats to the Captain Austin and the crew on the “Prime Time” on an incredible day. They caught 2 Blue Marlin, 2 Striped Marlin, 1 Black Marlin and 5 Sailfish…WOW.

May Fish Forecast -- The rain may lower water temperature, move the fish in closer and trigger the Sailfish bite. The Marlin bite will continue to be above average, since it’s has been above average all of 2007. Look for the inshore bite to get hot as the rain starts and the bait moves into the rocks.

May Fish of the Month –– all of them

It seems like recently we are all starting to realize the negative effect we are having on our planet. As a fisherman I am concerned about the future of sport fishing in Costa Rica.

Fishermen spend millions of dollars every year in Costa Rica. Fortunately, we still have great fishing. But, we need to make small changes to protect and preserve this valuable resource.

It took Florida and states along the East Coast more than 20 years and millions of dollars to recover from over fishing in the 1970’s. Why do we wait until something is almost gone before we decide to protect it?

We need to start now. I have a taco stand and I have already committed to using more open water fish like Dorado and Wahoo and less reef fish like Cubera Snapper and Grouper. Reef fish are more fragile and susceptible to over fishing. I am also looking into using a renewable resource like Tilapia. Tilapia can be farmed and are not harvested from the wild.

There are lots of restaurants and super markets that sell Marlin and Sailfish. It’s called White Marlin but we don’t have White Marlin in Costa Rica. That White Marlin is usually the tenderloins of a young Blue Marlin.

Please encourage restaurants and super markets to stop selling Marlin and Sailfish.

Please encourage people to stop eating Marlin and Sailfish.

Please encourage the marinas, land developers and governments to invest in, and protect our oceans.

Please help preserve one of our greatest treasures before it’s too late.

Give me a call or send an email with your fish story for the next “Costa Rica Fishing Report”.

Thanks,

bubba
643-2898
sailfishcr@yahoo.com