Wow! is how to describe this past month. It was a busy one for sure. Two hosted trips; first with Dr. Guy Harvey and the other with George Gozdz of Unfathomed.
It’s no surprise the bite in April was really good. There were days of amazing numbers – which resulted in 1218 sailfish raised. This gave first time visitors to our region the experience of a hot bite. Also during this month, another big group traveled to Guatemala to fly fish. What better opportunity to catch and release billfish on fly than in our waters!
There were 28 blue marlin raises, which we knew April was going to be a better one than March numbers. And of course the supporting cast of yellowfin tunas and dorados were out in full force.
April Fishing ReportĀ :
- April 1st – 30th: Chechos – 433 sailfish raises, 371 bites and 257 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 20 sailfish raises, 6 bites and 2 releases. Blue Marlin: 12 raises, 5 bites, 4 release. Dorados: 13. Yellowfin tuna: 7 (1-150lbs) (22 days of fishing).
- April 1st – 30th: Knotwork – 349 sailfish raises, 287 bites and 178 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 7 sailfish raises, 5 bites, 3 release. Blue Marlin: 6 raises, 3 bites, 1 release. Dorado: 8. Yellowfin tuna: 8. Roosterfish: 2. (22 days of fishing).
- April 1st – 30th: Maverick – 169 sailfish raises, 150 bites and 92 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 52 raises, 19 bites, 11 releases. Blue Marlin: 5 for 5. Dorado: 4. Yellowfin tuna: 18 (1 on Fly). (14 days of fishing).
- April 1st – 30th: Gypsy – 120 sailfish raises, 88 bites and 55 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 30 raises, 10 bites, 2 releases. Blue Marlin: 1 raises, 1 bite, 1 release (on Fly). Dorado: 5. Yellowfin tuna: 9. (12 days of fishing).
- April 10th – 29th : Sirena – 110 sailfish raises, 84 bites and 70 releases. Sailfish on Fly: 4 raises, 1 bites, 1 release. Blue Marlin: 1 for 1. Dorado: 1. Yellowfin tuna: 1. (Based on 8 days of fishing).
GuyĀ HarveyĀ ExpeditionĀ MeetsĀ allĀ Expectations
On April 19th marked Dr. Guy Harveyās first ever visit to Pacific Fins Resort and for four days the action was caliente!Ā Ā
TheĀ renownedĀ artistĀ andĀ conservationistĀ broughtĀ hisĀ posseĀ ofĀ SteveĀ Roden,Ā CEOĀ ofĀ theĀ GuyĀ HarveyĀ corporation;Ā FredĀ Garth,Ā EditorĀ ofĀ GHĀ magazine; BrianĀ RowlandĀ ofĀ RowlandĀ Publishing;Ā and,Ā ofĀ course,Ā hisĀ daughterĀ Jessica,Ā whoĀ holdsĀ numerousĀ fishingĀ worldĀ records.Ā TheĀ GHĀ crew,Ā alongĀ withĀ 13Ā guestsĀ whoĀ cameĀ fromĀ farĀ andĀ wideĀ toĀ hangĀ outĀ andĀ fishĀ withĀ GuyĀ andĀ Jessica.Ā
AllĀ theĀ guestsĀ wereĀ ableĀ toĀ fishĀ withĀ Dr.Ā GuyĀ HarveyĀ andĀ JessicaĀ forĀ aĀ uniqueĀ experience.Ā The 4 boat 3 fishing days expedition manage to raise 144 sailfish, had 119 bites, released 78 sailfish and some dorados and yellowfin tuna action. One of the groups wanted to try out even rooster fish and they released 2 in just 30 minutes. Also had the opportunity for some sailfish on the fly rod.Ā
DuringĀ theĀ expeditionĀ oneĀ ofĀ theĀ wildestĀ days,Ā theĀ boatsĀ circledĀ aĀ massiveĀ schoolĀ ofĀ literallyĀ thousandsĀ ofĀ spinnerĀ dolphinsĀ asĀ theyĀ launchedĀ highĀ intoĀ theĀ air.Ā WhyĀ doĀ theyĀ doĀ this?Ā Only theyĀ know. WhatĀ weĀ doĀ knowĀ isĀ thatĀ theĀ anglersĀ hookedĀ upĀ onĀ lotsĀ ofĀ tuna.Ā Ā
AnĀ addedĀ bonusĀ forĀ everyoneĀ wasĀ gettingĀ toĀ watchĀ GuyĀ himselfĀ paintĀ an originalĀ pieceĀ ofĀ artĀ duringĀ theĀ trip.Ā Amazingly,Ā GuyĀ wasĀ ableĀ toĀ finishĀ the painting just before dinner on the last night. Appropriately, he painted a sailfish surrounded by spinner dolphins, an animal behavior interaction Guy has never painted before. The last step was to auction the art to the highest bidder.
When all was said and done the auction raised $18,000 and Guy generously donated the entire proceeds to the local K12 school near the resort.Ā
AsĀ partĀ ofĀ thisĀ donationĀ duringĀ theirĀ visit,Ā BillfishĀ ConservationĀ ProjectĀ members,Ā GuyĀ HarveyĀ OceanĀ Foundation,Ā PacificĀ Fins,Ā andĀ CasaĀ ViejaĀ Lodge joinedĀ theĀ schoolĀ forĀ aĀ kindĀ donationĀ ofĀ 10Ā computersĀ asĀ aĀ startupĀ projectĀ toĀ helpĀ theĀ localĀ educationĀ onĀ MarineĀ Science.Ā Dr.Ā HarveyĀ FoundationĀ willĀ donate theĀ courseĀ materialsĀ toĀ startĀ educationĀ thatĀ willĀ helpĀ 100%Ā onĀ conservation.Ā Ā
WhileĀ thisĀ mayĀ haveĀ beenĀ GuyāsĀ firstĀ visit,Ā plansĀ areĀ alreadyĀ inĀ theĀ worksĀ forĀ anotherĀ Guy/JessicaĀ tripĀ nextĀ year.Ā IfĀ youāreĀ interestedĀ inĀ fishingĀ andĀ hangingĀ out withĀ GuyĀ andĀ Jessica,Ā callĀ 850-766-2201Ā orĀ emailĀ [email protected]
To all the GH Expedition participants, form all of us at Pacific Fins, THANK YOU for making it a great trip!
