Sportfishing Archives - Page 6 of 6

We left off last week with the fishing being RED HOT. The February bite continues to be steady and our guests are having a great time.

Last week’s fishing report, the fishing grounds where between 20 to 30 miles offshore. This week… the fishing has been as close as 6 miles! Yes, close enough to take those Volcano backdrop shots.

Mercer Group: Fly fishing three days; aboard Chechos with Captain Carlos, raised 25 Sailfish, had 10 bites, and released 6.

Birk Group: (Split Group) Fishing three days; aboard Gypsy with Captain Marcial, raised 66 Sailfish, had 56 bites, and released 39. Also, a Dorado for the grill.

Birk Group: (Split Group) Fishing three days; aboard Maverick with Captain Jimmy, raised 44 Sailfish, had 37 bites, and released 30. Also, 2 Dorado for the grill.

Fisk Group: (Split Group) Fishing two days; aboard Knotwork with Captain Caluco, raised 35 Sailfish, had 30 bites, and released 20. Also, 1 Dorado for the grill.

Fisk Group: (Split Group) Fishing two days; aboard Gypsy with Captain Marcial, raised 63 Sailfish, had 55 bites, and released 44. Also, 3 Dorado for the grill.

Erichsen Group: Fishing two days in a local tournament; aboard Maverick, raised 31 Sailfish, had 27 bites, and released 15. Also, 1 Striped Marlin release.

Hulin Group: (Split Group) Fishing three days; aboard Sirena with Captain Rosendo, raised 59 Sailfish, had 46 bites, and released 27.

Hulin Group: (Split Group) Fishing three days; aboard Chechos, raised 89 Sailfish, had 76 bites, and released 57. Also, 3 Dorados, 1 Yellowfin Tuna, and 1 Black Marlin! estimated at 500lbs.

During 20-24 April 2018, Pacific Fins organized the 3rd Annual Celebrity PRO-AM Fishing Tournament. As part of the tournament, Pacific Fins instituted an annual satellite tagging event to support the billfish research efforts of University of Miami researchers Dr. Nelson Ehrhardt, and Doctoral Candidates Bruce Pohlot and Julie Brown.

The research aims at understanding behavior of billfish subjected to catch-and-release with the purpose of improving recreational fish handling and revival before release. This research is critically important due to the very shallow depth of the minimum Dissolved Oxygen (DO2) layer compressing the billfish habitat off Guatemala. Billfish cannot maintain sufficient oxygen for survival below the minimum DO2 layer. Oceanographic data collected by the investigators during the time of the tournament shows that minimum DO2 for survivorship of billfish was less than 7 meters (21 ft) from the surface; therefore, it is intuitive that if released fish is not properly handled it may enter the low DO2 region before it can regain normal behavior and become available to recreational fishing.

In addition, the results of the research will measure the percent retention of the tagged fish by local coastal longliners that operate in the same area shared with the recreational fishing industry. Satellite tagged fish that escape handling mortality and longlining will explain the origin and destination of the billfish that are caught in this important tournament. Results of the April 2018 tagging event generated a large database that is still being analyzed and results will be presented at the next Celebrity PRO-AM Tournament in May 2019. Pacific Fins gratefully acknowledges the funding contributions to obtain the satellite tags, mostly provided by Tournament participants and Celebrities.