WMO '09 Countdown

Soon we will begin our countdown to the 2009 White Marlin Open. This year we are assembling a fantastic team that will include Marlin Magazine’s Dave Ferrell and Capt. Charles Perry. We are currently working on the details of what promises to be a memorable WMO. Check this blog often to follow our progress.

Winter Fishing 08/09 Part 4 March

COSTA RICA DAYDREAMIN'

 

Guanamar is an unpresumptuous hotel nested on a hill overlooking the beautiful Playa Carrillo bay. Not the type of place you would go for a luxurious get away and a far cry from the Four Seasons at Los Sueños not too far away, but for the second year in a row I am here to join our friends from Marlin University for four full days of bill fishing and how-to seminars.

 

Marlin University offers a unique opportunity to learn from some of the world’s best captains and legends of our sport. Instructors for this session included IGFA’s Hall of Famer Capt. Peter B. Wright, Marlin Magazine’s editor Dave Ferrell, well-known mate Walker Holcomb, Spirit of Pilar’s Captain Scott Jones and my friend Capt. Charles Perry, the undisputed king of the wire. This group is the equivalent of a ‘Dream Team’ in any professional sport.

 

You rest little during the four days of classes and the wear and tear shows after the second day. This is not a relaxing vacation by any mean and the days are packed full of fishing and hands-on training. A typical day starts at 6 AM and after a hearty breakfast, the attendees head down to the boats. Divided in teams of four, each group is assigned a different instructor each day. Emphasis on the use of circle hooks and the unharmed release of the fish is the order of the day. The teams return to port around 5 PM and after a quick shower, they meet for incredible dinners followed by seminars in all aspects of the sport, from rigging bait, to selection of terminal tackle, and how to handle a 500+ lbs marlin.

 

Costa Rica offers many opportunities to encounter billfish and it is common to hookup quadruples on a regular basis. This time we encountered unusually turbid waters three of our four fishing days but we managed to find a few fish in the pea soup. Enough to hone our skills and re-learn some of the techniques we had forgotten.

 

On the fourth day, the teams participate in a mini-tournament. Our team was lucky enough to team up with Capt. Peter Wright for tournament day. On this day, the water cleared considerably and the fish showed up. Under Peter’s guidance, we went on to win the mini-tournament to the delight of our two mates, which shared the $ 500 purse.

 

I cannot praise enough the folks at Marlin University. They do an outstanding job and they constantly deliver way past the attendants’ expectations. The format of the University affords the opportunity to make friends with fellow anglers from across the country and from all walks of life. Your fishing skills will greatly improve and your confidence in being able to handle larger fish will definitely take a boost. It is truly a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
Here are some pictures from our time in Costa Rica:

 

AERIAL DISPLAY

 

Billfish always brings a smile to my face	Dave Ferrell watching the action

John watching the lines

 

Photo op before release

 

Tournament in the bag, Peter relaxes

 

By the way, if you want to know more about Marlin University, visit www.marlinuniversity.com  or call Barbara at 407.571.4606 (or email
Barbara.Lehner@bonniercorp.com). Tell her Ray sent you.