Sea, Sails & Sun

Post by **Lucky4** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:15 pm

Just starting to realize, in one week from now, we will be swimming in the warm waters of the Costa Rican Pacific Ocean! However, the highlight of this trip will be two days of tarpon fishing in Lake Nicaragua.

As I was looking at last yearâ€™s photo album I thought some of you would enjoy seeing a few pics of our sailfish adventureâ€¦

Starting with a few jumps

Sailfish are very fast swimmer and they love to jump! Iâ€™ve seen sailfish (completely free, without any hook and line near by) make jump after jump after jump on several hundreds of yards.

At boat side

Our by catch: red snappers and small black tunas

This black tuna is rigged and ready to be trolled as live bait for marlinâ€¦ No luck with marlin so far though!

A few quick pictures before release

Even if there is no law to oblige it, the charter captains have decided to release all bill fish in Costa Rica. After the picture, the fish is revived beside the advancing boat before the release.

Noticed how Little Cleo is catching all the big fish? That's maybe why I don't smile too much on those pics!?

Lucky4

Post by **wolfe** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:36 pm

Lucky4 & Little Cleo,

Have a BLAST in Costa Rica!! Enjoy a slice of summer, sea and sand. Ahhh...

(Jealous!)

Make sure the digi-cam is along again. Beautiful fish pics; thx for sharing.

Do you get to eat any of the fish you catch while you're away? Did you have a favorite?

(I'm glad to hear they're releasing those amazing "bill" fish. Wonder how long it takes them to revive after such furious battles. They're incredible.)

W.

Post by **Lucky4** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:58 pm

Wolfe,

Panned red snapper with fresh lime is simply to die for. Especially eaten while trolling between sea turtles and dolphins, waiting on the next battle...

This time we will be taking some tackle of our own. Just in case there is something that is ready to bite from shore...

Lucky4

Post by **pikeie** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:10 pm

you guys are lucky have a great time

Post by **bucketmouth** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:15 pm

Awesome set of pics Lucky! Have a fun trip and be safe

Tight Lines
bucket

Post by **Tip-up** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:23 pm

One week from now I will be doing exams

Have a great trip, and post the pictures when ya get back

-Andrew

Post by **Gord** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 7:06 am

Awesome pics Lucky!! That first one especially!!!

Have a great time lookin' for tarpon!!!

Post by **Iceman** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 8:56 am

Great photos, thanks.

Love that blue hat with the flap

Post by **Bobber** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:33 pm

Truly Awesome pics and by the looks of it a great time. I wish you and Cleo a great time. Bring back some pics and stories. We'll be waiting with "baited" breath.

Post by **Wall-I-Guy** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:22 am

Great shots guys!

Post by **scuro** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 9:27 am

Ho...hummm......if I were only to be so "lucky" and be you...

but I am!!

<img src="http://www.FastImageHost.com/is.php?i=1 ... =flats.jpg" border="0">
Going again to Cuba this March break and will be on the flats hunting for that 10 to 20 pound Cuda and stalking that elusive Bonefish.

Lucky to do you bring any of your own gear down there?

Post by **Lucky4** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 7:57 pm

Iceman,

Yeah, I know, this is a terrible hat! however, when you spend the whole day on the water, under the tropical sun, you are glad you have such a thing on the head!...

Scuro,

Good luck with the cuban cudas! I had the chance to fish for them in Senegal, years ago. They can grow pretty big over there, however, my largest was only a four footer, somewhere in the 20-22lbs range. They are fun to catch and very good eating.

Are you going to try you luck with large mouth bass as well? They seem to reach over 20lbs and they are fished using musky size live bait in Cuba...

Yes, this time we will be bringing a few rods, a couple of reels, spare line, lots of swivels and hooks, steal leaders, and a box of old lures (mainly spoons, spinner baits and plastics, with a few Rapalas too).

Our goal is to bring a variety of lures that should work everywhere, mainly old tackle that won't be too bad to loose or break or whatever. We need to stay light as we are going to travel by air, using small planes with a weight restriction. If we need weights, we will use pieces of tissue wrapped around stones...

We should have time to try our luck, by ourself probably only from shore, in the Pacific Ocean and in lake Nicaragua.

I will try to bring a few pics back!

Lucky4

PS: Oh, and good luck with your exams Tip-Up!

Post by **scuro** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 10:50 pm

Lucky4 wrote: Good luck with the cuban cudas! I had the chance to fish for them in Senegal, years ago. They can grow pretty big over there, however, my largest was only a four footer, somewhere in the 20-22lbs range. They are fun to catch and very good eating.

Lucky...I'm no marquee FHer...my best is still under 10 pounds. A 20 pound Cuda will fight like a 30 pound muskie...honestly...a 20 pound Cuda would make the trip...it would make my year.

Lucky4 wrote:Are you going to try you luck with large mouth bass as well? They seem to reach over 20lbs and they are fished using musky size live bait in Cuba...

I have researched this. I'd have to fly into mainland Cuba to do this. I think you would have better luck in an inland Mexico lake. Friend of mine is into this and raved about it last spring. From what I have heard, the problem with Cuba is not enough restriction and too many Cubans simply looking for dinner to make any inland fishing exceptional.

A few years ago, my wife had gone to Cuba by herself and fell in love with the mainland. I only agreed to go based on what I read about this island. In the end we went to Cayo Largo. The island is exceptional in it's beauty. There is little culture there beyond live dinner music. The fishing is amazing. I saw one fishermen in a week of fishing, and I hit the main areas. Ironically, this is one fishing trip where my wife had to convince me to go.

Lucky4 wrote:Yes, this time we will be bringing a few rods, a couple of reels, spare line, lots of swivels and hooks, steal leaders, and a box of old lures (mainly spoons, spinner baits and plastics, with a few Rapalas too).

I agree 100% here lucky. In fact if someone wants to donate a reasonable spinning rod and they live in SW Ontario, give me a pm. I have a reel, and some Cuban will have the biggest smile on their face!

Post by **Wallyboss** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 9:02 am

Have a good trip Lucky4 and Little Cleo, You sure won't need a VEX down there, Good luck and don't forget to work on your tans.

Can't wait for the pictures

Catch lots and have fun!!!!

WB aka Dan

Post by **Lucky4** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 7:28 pm

I agree 100% here lucky. In fact if someone wants to donate a reasonable spinning rod and they live in SW Ontario, give me a pm. I have a reel, and some Cuban will have the biggest smile on their face!

Thatâ€™s right Scuro. The tackle you leave there will put a smile on some local kids.

Here is the only pic I found from African barracudas. (I canâ€™t believe it is already been 9 years since this trip!). A nice pair, probably close to 20lbs each, caught trolling 18cm Rapala magnums in a large estuary located between Senegal and Gambia (Sine Saloum River).

How are you going to transport your rods? I built a rod tube out of an old piece of PVC pipe. I just hope they wont get rid of it in the plane thinking its garbage!...

Lucky4