Low season at Fishhook Marina, fortunately somebody forgot to tell the Thumper Team. They also forgot to tell the….

Our 3 day,3 night extreme offshore trip turned into 2 days as we were running out of ice AND HAD NO MORE FREEZER OR COOLER SPACE!!!!
Ripped up the Yellowfin to 60 kilo’s day 1 while heading for the deep. Got greedy day 2 on a triple Marlin hookup.Tried to catch them all and got squat. Lost a hooked up Penn 30W rig overboard in that battle(don’t ask)….
Other collateral damage during the trip included the auto pilot brain taking a dump, broke a Shimano 80, a head pump failure, and our squid daisy chain teaser with it’s big blue and white Ilander Express(some rigs translate in any ocean) getting ripped off by a passing Marlin as we were clearing to fight another. 8 Blues and 1 sail released day 2……..

Inshore had our way with the roosters…

Fought 8 caught 5. Gabe and Jeremy out of Eugene each had triple Blue Marlin releases day 2. Strong work for Ducks…..This marks the end of the 2011 season for Thumper……

Released 72 sails, 2 stripes, 39 blues and 11 blacks over 23 offshore days. Next up the WBS(World Billfish Series) Guatemala, the traditional start of the Pacific Central American winter billfish season. Team mates are Capt Tim Hake of O.C.MD. and 20LBS. World Champ Texan JW Bones.
Top Marlin angler 2011, Chris Davis with 12 releases.

Here’s the house in Playa Zancudo:

Work on your fishing dates…I have guys(and girls) waiting for fill ins….Let me know ASAP.Specify Hannibal Bank Panama(6 day min.) or local Costa Rica offshore preference.We have billfish Fly rigs this year on Thumper compliments of IGFA World Champion Capt Abraham Conception of Golfito CR who on request will join the hunt .Beto and I are finishing out a new inshore(snook, rooster) boat.We’ve secured a private compound on the surfing beach at Zancudo .5  private beachfront 1 bedrooms with first class Banta style baths,airconditioning,frig.decks and keys(shared barbacue pit, pool,hammocks, and backyard palmfringed beach).See Photo’s….Swordfish.Hang awhile.Playa Zancudo CR is tropical mojo.Google SOL y MAR Zancudo CR(facebook) for local vibe.Pavones/Panama is 20 minutes down the beach.Hi speed sat. and wireless for the facebook afflicted.Public and private watertaxi service(20 minutes) from Golfito.Anyone whose gettin younger and thinks they don’t deserve it raise your hand

88.5 lbs. white/nice fish…..699.5 Lbs. Blue One…..Participants comments coming….www.whitemarlinopen.com/leaders/

Congrats to the crew of Crush em’.The privateer CRUSHED the money boats in the World’s richest tuna tournament with a record 259lb. Bigeye.Our 2003 record 220lb. Bigeye that took that tournament had held up over the years through 1000’s of tournament boat days.When meticulous preparation meets luck mojo can happen.GO STRONG OR GO HOME.Coming up the WMO.

Looking for a couple of hardcore offshore anglers interested in doing a 4 day/3 night exploratory trip….I’ve met a retired So.Cal. professional sword capt. who is living in Playa Zancudo,CR….I believe he has the keys to the kingdom….He’ll join the crew along with Beto and Ronny working the pit…Also John Carey (Carey Diesel Del.) has had success in El Sal and has shared some secrets. We have all the gear….We have 3 Seamount locations to target…..2 in CR,…1 in Panama.. We’ll fish Blacks, Blues, Sails and giant yellowfins moving from spot to spot…………….first or second week Sept…..

Dawn broke gray and ominous with a steady rain and the heavy clouds seemingly touching the sea. We set out our hard Marlin lure spread and go to work @ 8 knots into a moderate,building swell. It’s june 23rd(Marlin legend Capt Tom Lynskey(Golfito/Miami) always told me June was the secret Marlin bite) and we are in day 3 exploring unnamed seamounts far offshore the Pacific CR/Panama border.Structure exists offshore here for 300 miles to Cocos Island CR as a result of the Cocos Plate sliding north and subducting. Today, we’re working about 80 miles SW of Hannibal Bank… It’s a grey area whose territorial waters we’re actually in but hey, we’re gringo tourists, no habla..Carrying a Golfito CR Zarpe..Haven’t seen another boat for 2 days..My team consists of Capt. Ronny Calvo, a no fear waterman and friend from Playa Zancudo. Beto Vargas of Pavones, a powerful experienced wireman, fisherman, pro surfer and Thumper’s full time mate. Plus seasoned offshore big fish angler Chris Davis and… it ain’t my first rodeo…..Thumper’s buff and solid into an increasingly confused sea.Bring it…
At 6:25 we have a hook up, good fish, blue one, drag screaming, he spit’s the 12/0 Mustad Super Marlin on an awesome full body jump. 6:28 another hookup, same result… but now they have our attention….. The rain is unrelenting(2 months into the tropical rainy season)and at times greyhounding Marlin would disappear into the haze. Wind dervishes (waterspouts, like around Folly Light, Miami) are spinning and dancing around adding to the vibe… By 9:30 we are 9 for 15 with a stretch of 8 straight releases including 3 consecutive doubles. We’re working now with no teasers and no shotgun,just long and short riggers. All 200/300lb class Blue ones at this point.I perceive we have stumbled on a breeding site where the males are staging waiting for the girls to show.Now I wish we could have stayed a few more days.Next year..YOU IN?… We are testing the Fish Gods by WEARING our stand up gear(bad luck…NOT…). Total for the trip, 22 releases, 18 blues, 4 blacks. SWEET!

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I’m ready for next season Granddad.

19 billfishing days…..71 Pacific Sails,2 Striped Marlin,13 Blues and 7 Blacks released….. Sincere thanks to the eclectic group of hardcore sportsmen that made the journey…. The discovery of new Marlin grounds was key and I have new numbers for a Black Marlin Bank south of Isla Montuosa in Panama I can’t wait to hit. Agura reef off Isla Cebaco is still Virgin. The shear volume of Marlin raised(over 100) allowed for experimentation of new techniques such as spinning rigs spooled with Braid and fly rods for drop-backs, extreme light tackle stand up attempts on conventional, and maximum angler participation.(no pressure to catch that one, there’s another coming)Best day was 15 realistic shots.Additionally I have a productive book of deep drop,yellowfin, night fishing and we WILL get on the Swordfish, spots.And a special place in the heart for the abundant, aggressive Pacific Sails that keep Beto rocking. Will only be doing 4 day(local CR/Burica/79 mile bank) and 6/7 day trips to Hannibal Bank, Panama. Fuel costs are making this the only reasonable option.In and out day trips was another life.Besides why spend 6/8 hours on the grounds when you can fish 24…DUH>>>> Next up, time to chase Thunder Chickens and spring Stripers at home. Fishing the June 22/23/24 Costa Rican Presidential Billfish (IGFA qualifier) with Chris Davis and JW Bones. Pura Vida….

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April 24th was the annual fisherman’s ball at FishHook Marina,Golfito.CR….Local Professional Captain’s and mates from the Osa,Zancudo and Golfito got together for an end of season fiesta and awards presentation with Capt.Ronny Calvo as master of Ceremony… Hardcore rock and roll by the Robby Clark Group provided the beat.Capt.Bobby McGuinness got Capt. of the Year (same award he just took last month at the annual IGFA awards banquet in Miami). In his acceptance speech he stressed the conservation of the resource to keep Golfito the top world record destination. Thumper’s own Carlos Lobo Vargas(Beto) won Professional Mate of the year with his fleet topping 20 Black and Blue Marlin,wired,billed and released.Beto will start Captain’s school in the off season this year.