Billfish Number One and Sierra Number One and Bonita Number One and… 2

Yeah, I said it…

I told Tobeck last week that "I almost wish we were staying home to hit the springers rather than going to Costa Rica."

In retrospect, that might have been a short-sighted statement…

We've all seen pictures and heard the stories of the incredible fishing, scenery and weather in Central America, but for me those stories would remain on a page of a book or magazine.

Until now.

The purpose of the trip was essentially business as we are trying to bring this type of destination angling to the "salmonid-impaired". This is the malady that afflicts most  Northwesterners who will travel to fish salmon and steelhead, but nothing else. As a sufferer of this disease I volunteered to take the treatment and go cold turkey, fishing for blackmouth on Saturday and flying to Costa Rica the next day.

As we left the harbor we can see the Los Suenos Resort condos where we spent the night above the billfish fleet behind the breakwater.  

Paul Dent works his cigar as Robbie Tobeck and Robbo Endsley deploy camera in classic "Tourista" mode.  

Vertical jigging is the first drill of the day and I LOVE jigging! Here's my first ever Sierra Mackerel which fought like a hot 20-pound chinook!

It was a different species on every drop as this fine Mullet Snapper was the next to whack my jig!  

Now it was time to do some trolling and these Costa Ricans have their drill down and dialed in. Check out the bait cooler with rigged baits ready to rock!  

Paul Dent nailed this beautiful Dorado and it was as spectacular on the table as it was with its aerial displays during the fight.  

Finally the moment I had waited for literally all my life: A shot at a sailfish! We had a few appear in the spread of teasers but we finally hooked up and it was GAME ON!

The only thing I can compare the fight to was playing huge chinook with my father as a young child.  It's been a while since I was physically challenged by a fish.
I have no frame of reference to describe the leaping ability, athleticism and speed of these animals.

In one instant the sailfish was speeding along with the boat along the port side and I'm cranking as fast as I can, arms aching, striving to catch up. Suddenly the water explodes, far ahead of where the line angle had me thinking he was. Now in mid air, he turns and in three seconds he is on the opposite side of the boat, leaping again and I am as amazed as I am exhausted.
Finally, thankfully the splice appears and our deckhand is able to grab the leader with gloved hand and the fight is won and done.

We lift the big sailfish aboard and my first billfish is in the books. We estimated this specimen at 120 pounds!  

I had heard of the dockside tradition of first-time successful billfishermen, but I had no idea that Tobeck and Endsley had planned a "dockside baptism" for me.

I now know what a few NFL linebackers felt like when Robbie Tobeck "earholed" them on a double team block. I was in the drink in a flash and I didn't have a problem with it!  

It will be next March before I see a Costa Rica sunrise again and I sincerely hope you can join us on the Outdoor Line Billfish Bonanza at Los Suenos Resort in March 2011!

I promise you it will be an experience you'll never, ever forget!