The past couple of days have been a bit slow out here in Coiba. We did managed to catch a nice size tuna today though.

Check out some pic’s below.

Angler Brain aboard San Miguel bring in a nice size tuna today.

Brian Grange and Alerio helping to bring the tuna in.

everyone helping range this tuna!

a little to close to the face!

Brian’s nice size tuna.

I hope tomorrow pick’s up a bit.

Photographing from Paradise,

Jess

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

Travelling over 500 nautical miles along the northern coast to arrive in its summer moorings in the Haida Gwaii,  our fearless rig up crew consisting of lodge manager Todd McIntyre,  senior guide DJ Shinduke,  Nick St gelais and Tanner Smith have been kept busy hooking up beer kegs ………………… in preparation of our guests.

Guides have reported fantastic fishing with healthy clusters of bate holding off points throughout Langara Island.  Coming off one of North Islands better years in terms of catch numbers and size we are expecting to see 2012 become another banner year.  The demand for the WCFC experience has been evident in the strength of our bookings.  NIL is currently sitting at 95% occupancy with only a few select spots remaining for the early June Chinook run.  For last minute trip options please see our SNC club link below.

http://westcoastfishingclub.com/news-events/snc-special-last-minute-rates/2087/)

For those who don’t know me I will be guiding trips while also maintaining our blog throughout the season at North Island Lodge.  In the off season I work full time for the WCFC as the sales & client services representative based in Calgary Alberta.  Feel free to contact me with any questions or inquiries!

I look forward to guiding our guests and meeting everyone who have already reserved their dates for the 2012 season.  Remember to bookmark North Islands blog link as this will be updated with fishing reports and the adventures of our guests, guides and staff alike.

Tight lines,

Pat Cullen | Fishing Guide & Client Services

patrickcullen@westcoastfishingclub.com

(Thanks to the “Tan Man” for providing some great shots from the tow!!)

Aboard the Sula Sula it was Bob Frazier releasing another good one.  An early bite produced a marlin release for Diane Rupert aboard the San Miguel.  Diane is an expert angler and it was a great thrill for all that she caught her first marlin with us. All in all, there are lots of smiling, tanned faces at West Coast Fishing Club Panama.

This is fun.  Come and see us.

Elliott

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Hi Everyone,

Today was another great day in Coiba. All three boats caught some nice Marlin today. Cape Knox had another big Marlin this morning. Lucky Alterna Film man, Carlo, got to reel in his first Marlin ever!

Check out some pic’s:

Carlo’s Black Marlin!

The fish just kept jumping and jumping!

Mate in training, Blondie, grabs the leader for his first time ever. Mate Richard and Angler Carlo look on.

Big beast!

Carlo feeling the burn.

Starting to sweat now.

Mate in training, Blondie, did an excellent job at not only keeping us safe from the Marlin, but in grabbing the leader and managing to release the big fish.

Sula Sula had another nice Marlin on the line. The third Marlin for Angler Bob.

Mate Andres working hard to pull the Marlin to the boat.

Captain Donar and Mate Blondie had to jump in the water and cut out some line from our prop. Always working hard these boys!

Carlo and Byron taking a little dip at the end of a hard days work.

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

Joining us aboard the Provider are Bob Frazier and his wife Isis fishing aboard the Sula Sula and JB and Diana Rupert aboard the San Miguel and Catherine Martin and Lynn Sharettes fishing on the Hooker.  JB and Diana are veteran salmon anglers who have spent quite a bit of time at the northern lodges.  They have also experienced quite a bit of marlin fishing in places such as Mexico and Hawaii.  We are glad to have them aboard.  Bob and Isis have traveled and fished around the world in search of billfish and giant tuna.  Catherine, an world record holder, and her husband Ralph Martin are old friends of ours from Alabama.  They are about as friendly and down to earth as people come and it is good to see them in Panama.  Lynn is Catherine’s fishing buddy who caught her first sailfish this week.

Also on the trip are Carlo Wein of Alterna Films and his partner Byron Kopman.  They traveled down to Panama bringing with them super high definition camera equipment and the hopes of capturing on film some of the great marlin fishing we have experienced.  Stated simply, they picked a really, really good time to come.

On the first full day of fishing, I joined Jessica and Byron and Carlo with Captain Donar to film the action.  As we were bait fishing, we received a report from Captain Junior that they were on the tuna.  Donar put her to the pins and we arrived upon a spectacle of tuna carnage…  Massive schools of yellowfin tuna were ravaging balls of bait they had pinned against the surface.  Tuna, some of them upwards of 200 pounds, were clearing the water as they gorged themselves on the hapless bait.  Carlo and Byron readied the video cameras as Jessica captured still images.

Donar backed the Abundancia right up to a ball of bait so thick that Mate Richard was able to scoop three dozen or so kujinua (blue runners) and trigger fish in a bucket.  We hooked them up to circle hooks and began catching tuna one after the other as soon as the bait hit the water.  The yellowfin were swarming about like neon torpedoes, bent on gluttony and consumption.   Diana fought a big yellowfin– a 200 pound fish– for an hour only to have the fish break off next to the boat.   Bob aboard the Sula Sula really caught some nice fish too.   It was an incredible spectacle, the ocean alive, water boiling with life– bait, dolphins, tuna, and birds by the hundred.

Carlo and Byron captured some incredible tuna footage on cameras that shoot 300 frames per second.  Watching the tuna crash through the solid, whirling mass of bait in slow motion was incredible.  Tuna shooting in at 30 miles per hour, bait being slung ten feet into the air, wriggling as it is projected skyward.  Fish crashing through the ball, above and below water, some with mouths agape, others with hapless  kujinua hanging out of their mouths.  Simply incredible… I cannot wait for the video.  Jessica’s photos are wonderful above the water and below.

Day two brought a return to marlin fishing. We were a chase boat, getting into position to film and photograph the other boats if they were to hook up.  We decided that it would be a good idea if we fished as well.  The addition of another boat fishing would not only increase our odds of catching marlin by 33%, but also just seemed to make sense.  After all, life is too short not to go fishing as often as you get the chance.

With the photographers on board, I would be the angler.  We adjusted our gear to use 80 pound tackle with heavy drag.  This would allow us to put heat on the fish and get them to the boat quickly.  This would not only result in better condition upon release, but would also make for more acrobatic displays near the boat.  This was our intent.  I asked Donar to drive the boat aggressively and I would do my best to keep up, reeling to keep the slack out of the line as we reversed.

Once we arrived, we caught bait quickly and Richard soon bridle rigged the bonito to a circle hook.  Before we could even get the line into the outrigger the clicker sounded.  We gave it free spool for a few seconds and threw it into gear.  As soon as we came tight, a monstrosity of a black marlin jumped away from the boat about 40 meters from us.  I  climbed into the fighting chair and began reeling.  The fish fought up top for the first two minutes, jumping toward the boat and clearing the water.  The agility and acrobatics of such a large and powerful creature are both counter intuitive and amazing.

Carlo and Byron and Jess were on the mark.  As the fish would rise toward the surface, indicated by changes in the angle of the line’s intersection with the ocean’s surface, Donar and I would call out that it was about to jump.  The fish fought deep for 15 minutes, before coming to the surface.  We almost had the leader three times, before Richard was able to grasp it.  The put on an amazing show (the video is astounding).  We tagged and released the fish, which was as big around the shoulders as an oak tree.  She was 600 pounds.

No sooner had we released this fish than we heard that the Sula Sula had a nice black near the leader.  It was Bob fighting the fish stand-up, with Mate Andres reaching over the teak covering board to grab the leader.  The fish went into the air on a series of jumps in close to the Sula Sula that were captured by the guys on film.  The fish was big, 600-650 and was released in good condition.

Shortly thereafter the San Miguel hooked a small black that jumped and thrashed through the air, before escaping the hook.

At about 2:30 the bonito in our left rigger was accosted.  Donar saw the fish before it ate and got ready.  After missing the fish once, it returned and consumed the bait.  After 5 or seconds of free spool, we threw the reel into gear and were hooked up to 500 pound blue.  She jumped and crashed, grey hounding at the boat before jumping away from us.  The fish flung itself into the air and we got the leader within 10 minutes, before it once again pulled away.  We put a lot of drag on the fish and got her back up for some pictures and a healthy release.

This was a day I will not soon forget (an not just because my back and arms are sore from playing tug of war with sea monsters).  We were fortunate to get on the fish and ready with some incredible photographers wielding contraptions so advanced that part of me believes that their cameras are from the future.  We believe that they were the first videographers in the world to get this sort of footage on a RED (brand, not color) camera.  It is stunning.  Jessica’s photos are incredible.  As soon as I get back the city I am going to print some of them out to use as Christmas cards, thank you notes, and post cards– the list will grow as I think of more reasons to send them to my friends and family.

It was a good day.  We are thankful.  It is good to be here.  I cannot wait until we have the video.

Elliott

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Hello Everyone,

Today was a day that only one dreams of. I managed to photograph 4 Marlin today and see another amazing tuna feeding frenzy.

Take a look at the shots below!

Huge storm clouds coming in.

The Day started off with Elliott and Captain Donar’s boat reeling in a nice 600 pound Black Marlin!

Elliot’s Blue Marlin gave us an amazing show.

Nice Black Marlin.

Alterna crew filming away!

Big Black Marlin, that Elliot was fighting

Elliott’s black Marlin!

Elliots Black Marlin!

Elliot giving an interview to Carlo and Byron after his second Marlin of the day!

San Miguel had a nice little Black Marlin on the line. Unfortunately it broke off.

Sula Sula fighting a nice Black Marlin!

Bait ball hiding out under our boat!

Tuna Crazy!

Massive balls of tuna feeding on bait!

Alterna film boys are doing a great job shooting.

Sula Sula and their nice big TUNA!

Diana working hard reeling in her nice tuna.

Alterna boys setting up their video cameras.

Today was amazing and so was yesterday.

Can’t wait till tomorrow!

Photographing from paradise,

Jess

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

The centrality of rum to life on the ocean has been noted by such literary men as Robert Louis Stevenson and Ernest Hemingway.  These names and those of other chroniclers of the past have given way to editors of fishing magazines and men whose love of fishing and capacity with the keyboard have merged to create livelihoods related to techniques and reports on the art of fishing.  But even with all the changes and evolution brought about by technology, rum still maintains a position of social and cultural centrality to the man of the sea.  Next time you are at a fishing tournament or trade show, upon seeing one of these men, they are likely as not to have a Tervis tumbler full of rum drink in one hand or other.  If you ask nicely enough, they will also know somebody nearby who can outfit you with one as well.

Rum drinks and marlin fishing are in many ways one in the same.  If you undertake either long enough, you are likely to come away with stories that seem to only be able to be true in relation to the activity.  If you undertake both at the same time often enough, the stories are likely to grow even more fantastical.

The Pacific Provider is marlin fishing in Panama.  We are getting on the fish and having fun.  As with most things, we are not the first people to catch marlin in Panama.  We are certainly not the first bunch of fishermen to have bottles of rum behind the bar.  As we move forward, we make progress and evolve.  In doing so, we look to the past for example and for guidance.  Life at sea and rum drinks seem to make pretty good sense, there are hundreds of years of maritime history attests to this.  Add marlin fishing to the equation and you have on your hands something that is really, really good.  And so it is, we have a new tradition in the West Coast Fishing Club in Panama.

If you catch your first marlin while fishing with us, we’ll send you home with a bottle of Panamanian rum signed by the captain and mates, listing the date, location, size of fish and name of the boat.  Last night we gave away three signed bottles of rum.  Aboard the San Miguel it was Hans Klappenegger who was deflowered by a black of 400 pounds.  Hans and his father Seppi are living the dream.  Hans caught a 180 pound yellowfin, Seppi caught a 95 pound tuna on a popper.  They are back at it today.  Aboard the Sula Sula it was Ian Wallace who got his first.  It was a blue of 450 pounds that jumped and greyhounded  and put on a display that could have easily resulted in a “marlin jumping into the cockpit” type of thing if were not for some expert boat driving by Captain Donar.  On the Backatawn Frank Taggert got a black of 550 or so.  He has been after his marlin for six years.  The tuna are thick now too.  Awesome.

Yesterday we had three guests catch the first marlin of their lives.  None of them will forget the experience.   They were all presented with bottles of rum at dinner to the rousing applause and hollering of their buddies.  Somehow this scene just feels right.  Marlin fishing and rum drinks seem cosmically and historical connected.

The staff asked, “What happens if we run out of rum?”  The inquisitor seemed worried that if we keep catching anglers the first marlin of their lives that we might run out of rum.  I replied, “If we run low, we will order more.”  We have plenty of rum aboard.  We are ready for lots of first marlin or second or fourth or 100^th marlin.  Running out of bottles of because too many anglers caught the first marlin of their lives…. This is what you call a high class problem.

Elliott Stark
Below is Jessica’s account of the day…

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Hello Everyone,

Today was a great day out here in Coiba. The bite started off slow in the morning, but by high noon there was lots of fish to be caught. Both the San Miguel and Sula Sula had a Marlin apiece today. The day was filled with big tuna, sails and dorados.

Check out some of the shots:

Nice little sail today.

Don on Sula Sula reeling in his nice tuna!

Ian, Andres, Richard and Don posing with this nice size tuna.

Ian fighting his first Marlin ever!

Ian’s Marlin!

Safely tagged and released!

Ian, Dan and Andres back at the ship. Looks like we will be eating tuna for the rest of the month!

The boys all smiles after a great day. All their hard work is paying off!

Ian and Frank….get their first Marlin fish Abuelo bottle awards!

The boys coming in to wish congradulations.

The boys of the Sula Sula and San Miguel pose with first time Marlin anglers Han’s, Ian and Frank!

Congrats guys on such an amazing day!

Jess

Clack clack clack!!! This is a sound I’ve heard repeatedly but it’s always been associated with winter time weather. Can this sound I hear really be those frozen pellets raining down and striking the metal exhaust fan outside? This sound I hear has me looking outside to confirm with my eyes what my ears have heard. Hail! It’s May 9^th , spring according to my calendar. Why is it hailing?

Within minutes the landscape is transformed, a scant layer of white sits atop new grass and budding leaves. I shake my head in disbelief. I know it won’t last, at least I hope it won’t…yet for the rest of the day squalls of hail past through at least once every hour.

Our chairs wait outside on the back deck in anticipation of the days to come when we can sit in the sun and enjoy our morning coffee.

If I had taken this picture in February it wouldn’t have seemed out of place but being the second week of May, I just do not want to see fresh snow on the distance hills.

The weather may not be showing signs of spring but there is evidence that the season is changing. Tender buds are showing up on trees, the one and only flowering shrub has begun to display pods that will flower if the deer stop eating them and Sam is proudly sporting a bit of new growth himself, as his antlers have began to sprout.

Another sign of spring, in my world, is the sorting and inventory of what is left food wise, and the cleaning of the freezers in preparation of the incoming summer crew. When it comes to the ordering of food for the 9 months that Mike and I are here it can be somewhat daunting but it looks like I have gotten it spot on this year. With only weeks, 2 to be exact left before we fly out the cupboard is bare and that’s as it should be.

The curious cat.

Super moon Saturday came under cloudy skies so this year I didn’t get up at 4 am to sit out on the front deck to capture a picture or two but Sunday morning did provide a super low tide.

One more sign of spring that only Mike and I would ever notice is that “Fat Cat” gets out and about more often. Throughout the cold months of winter she never ventures further than one pillow to the next but once she gets a whiff that spring is in the air we’ll find her lounging on the back deck in the sun (when it does come out), waddling down the boardwalk or sitting in her most favourite spot beside the shovel.

No spectacular sunsets this week.

Till next week,

Heather & Mike

The saying goes that familiarity breeds contempt.  I am not sure of the origin of this maxim, but it was not meant to describe fishing buddies.  When it comes to fishermen, familiarity produces bets.  We have on our hands a genuine fishing tournament.  We have dailies and an overall in biggest tuna and largest estimated billfish released.

Hans and Seppi are nice guys, but when it comes to a fishing tournament, they get right down to business.

Sitting at the bar watching the sunset, we joked to a passerby that Seppi and I were solving the world’s problems.  This wasn’t far off.  Seppi was raised in Austria, came to Canada as a young man.  He has been married for nearly a half century and told me of his nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren.  Hans is his son and the two are marlin fishing with us for a week in Panama.  They have travelled and hunted and fished a great deal and in two days’ time it has become evident that Seppi is as rich in perspective as in progeny.   These guys are great to have aboard the boat.

Hans is serious about the tuna category.  On the first full day of fishing, he tangled with a 180 pound yellowfin.  The fish jumped all over a live bonito, inhaling it before the guys even got the chance to put the line into the outrigger.  After an hour on the rod, the fish came aboard and was abruptly whisked to the Pacific Provider to be iced.  We used the crane to lift the tuna into one of the bait tanks on the swim step.  Once inside, we entombed the fish in ice as the San Miguel ran back out to the bank to finish the day’s fishing.  Upon their return in the evening, the crane hoisted the fish for some pictures.  Talk about some happy fishermen—nothing boosts the satisfaction of a fishing picture quite like needing a crane to hoist the fish.

Hans and Seppi are out fishing today.  They are having fun.  They have won a daily in the tuna tournament with their buddies and have an inside track to winning some more money in the overall.  Upon catching the fish Hans had one request.  His daughter Sammie just turned 13.  Happy birthday Sammie.  Dad and Grandpa are having blast fishing in Panama, but they are thinking about you.

Elliott Stark

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Thirsty Thursday!

Today was a hot day out on the water. The day was filled with wine, swimming and a nice large tuna once again by the father and son team!

The boys had a lot of fun, despite the lack of fish action today.

Here are some of the pic’s from today:

The boys giving me a CHEERS!

Guest Ian Wallace and Craig Hill go for a nice dip after a long hot day of fishing!

I think Craig’s form is defiantly a 10!

Ed looks on and laughs…or checks for sharks?

Deep blue ocean!

Craig has great form!

Ian demonstrating how the Mate’s drag the tunas in the boat through the tuna door!

Today was a fun day out on the water. Despite the slow day of fishing, I know the boys had a great time in the end! How can you not? It’s amazing COIBA!

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

Just a re-cap of yesterdays events. The day started off a bit slow, but Sula Sula managed to raise a sail. Unfortunalty we couldn’t get it to bite the bait, but it still gave us a couple of jumps and we all screamed in excitement.  The boys on San Miguel caught a massive 200+ Yellow fin tuna.

Check out the pic’s below.

Angler Ian Wallace reeled as hard as we could, but couldn’t get the sailfish to stay on the hook.

A nice looking sail!

Ian Wallace hard at work.

Jose wishing that sail wouldn’t of popped off the hook.

Father and son team, Hans and Seppi Kaltenegger had the catch of the day. Captain Jr. and Mate Alerio helped them reel in a beautiful 200+ lbs Tuna.

The tuna was so heavy, Engineer, Scott had to help lift it with the crane!

Everyone looking at the massive fish!

Mate in training, Blondie helps guide the fish down.

Captain Jr. Mate Blondie, Guest Hans and Mate Alerio pose with their prize!

and again!

On Sula Sula we caught a small Blue finned tuna!

Angler Donald Drysdale was the lucky man.

Tuesday was a great day out on the water, but today needed up being a bit slow.

Hopefully things pick up tomorrow!

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

After we carved the turkey there was nothing to be heard but the rustle of forks and the swashing of napkins across bestubbled faces.  Then came the question, “Are we having any pie tonight?”  Alexandra looked at our enquiring guest and asked, “What kind of Thanksgiving Dinner would it be without pumpkin pie?”  The slices came out under whipped cream and silence once again took the place of fishing stories at the table of the Provider.  It was a great way to end the trip.  We sent our tired guests to bed with full stomachs and much to reflect upon.

Fishing last week was wide open.  Captain Jose Gongora fishing with anglers Joe Friederichs and Brad Schwartz caught five marlin, including Brad’s first—a black estimated at 700—and a veritable giant of a fish for Joe, another black.  Aboard the Abundancia Captain Donar Vaquiaza fished with Rodrigo and his buddy Estuardo from Guatemala.  Nice guys both.  We sent Rodrigo home with a backache.  He caught four marlin, a combination of blacks and a blue.  His trip was highlighted by a 550 or 600 pound black that ate a live bait and came ten feet out of the water three times within 50 feet of the boat.   Stu was more than able taking pictures and I filmed the action on his i-phone.  Aboard the San Miguel it was Dave Bell and Don Van Hise.  Dave caught a big black the first day of the trip and Don released a 450 on Saturday.  These guys really had a good time, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones.  This is one of the great charms of fishing.  Final tally:11 marlin on three boats, with another eight or 10 bites that did not result in release.

All of these fish were caught on live bait rigged on circle hooks.  Small tuna-like fish are the marlin’s bread and butter.  Bonito are a small species of tuna that are particularly abundant in the waters around Coiba.  The aggregations of bonito, schooling and flashing about the top of clear blue water, attract marlin like moths to a flame.  The Sula Sula, the San Miguel, and the Abundancia picked up bait trolling clark spoons and feathered jigs around the schools, before bridle rigging the baits—looping floss about the fish and tying them to the circle hooks.

Circle hooks are a great benefit to conservation.  Circle hooks are designed so that the point of the hook is perpendicular to the shaft.   The point of a j hook is parallel to the shaft of the hook.  Whereas a j hook is designed to grab a hold of whatever tissue it encounters first—often stomach, throat, or gills, the circle hook takes hold in the corner of the fish’s mouth the vast majority of the time.  This location decreases mortality of the marlin and makes for healthy release.  This is a very direct manner in which sportfishermen can help propagate the very fisheries that so enrapture them.  All of the West Coast Fishing Club’s boats use circle hooks when bait fishing for marlin.  The vast majority of the marlin we catch are released in good shape, no worse for wear.

Not only does the WCFC incorporate conservation practices into its approach to fishing, but all the clients who come to the boat become dues paying members of The Billfish Foundation (TBF).  TBF is a world leader in the conservation of billfish (marlin, sailfish, and spearfish) and associated species.  It utilizes a diversified approach to conservation, leveraging scientific and economic research, education, and advocacy initiatives to educate governments and influence policy.  The Billfish Foundation is a membership-based organization, with members from over 100 nations around the world whose unifying connection is the love of time on the water and desire to ensure that sportfishing opportunities continue to be available to current and future generations.  Through an analytical, driven approach, TBF has empowered real world fisheries conservation for more than 25 years.  The West Coast Fishing Club is proud to support conservation and believes there to be no better outlet for this support than The Billfish Foundation.

Trip two of the West Coast Fishing Club’s Expedition Marlin in Coiba National Park, Panama was epic.  Utilizing the range and capacity of the Pacific Provider, we have brought anglers to a beautiful area, blessed by productive waters that surround pristine rainforested islands.  We are supporting fisheries conservation in the most direct sense possible—there are fish here, we are catching and releasing them.  We have a world class photographer snapping pictures of anglers in the midst of the moments that they will never forget.  Pictures of 700 pound creatures—part sea monster part thoroughbred—leaping ten feet into the air behind sleek, wonderfully outfitted sportfishing boats with names such as the Abundancia, the San Miguel, the Sula Sula and the Hooker. With these pictures, with these stories, we are able to collectively raise the profile of conservation of marlin and tuna.  Because without marlin and tuna these pictures, these experiences, and these breathtaking spectacles would by their very nature be impossible.

And when anglers return to the Pacific Provider each evening, after their cocktails and appetizers, sometimes in the midst of fishing stories—some embellished, others perhaps made up entirely—they are presented upon request dinners of turkey and mashed potatoes and stuffing and pumpkin pie.  Dinners like this are normally reserved for late November or for Norman Rockwell scenes.  But no matter how much they like the turkey, I have it on good authority that they will longer be talking about the fishing, the experience, and the oceans around Coiba.  This being said, they really, really like the turkey.

Elliott Stark

Yesterday was a great day for tuna. The boys on the Abudancia caught 5 yellow fin tunas! All we did all day was chase birds, flying fish and tuna.

Check out some of the pic’s from yesterday:

Rodrigo with one of his many yellow fin tuna’s.

and here is another one.

and yet again another one!

Rodrigo fighting some yellow fin tuna.

The tuna was jumping everywhere. It was really hard to get a picture, but I managed to snap a shot of 2 tuna’s jumping.

Sula Sula, chasing the birds.

Dave looking out over our rods.

Lots of rain today.

And more rain!

We passed this amazing looking island. Someone had build a small house on it, right on the beach.

Alirio kissing out bait for good luck!

David and Blondie filleting some of the tuna for Chef Courtney.

Some more of Abudancia’s tuna!

Jose, Brad and Andres Yellow fin success.

Joe and Brad’s tuna.

Andres, Joe and Jose with a nice yellow fin tuna.

Taking the day off tomorrow to edit and publish work, but it excited to get back to it on tuesday.

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

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Hello Everyone,

Today was another amazing day out there on the water. Coiba is truly an amazing place. The Marlin here are HUGE! Today all boats raised a couple of Marlin and everyone managed to also bring one in to the side of the boat. So over all a good day for all.

Check out some of the pic’s from today:

Today on Jose’s boat we raised 2 Marlin and caught 1. This guy came up and tasted our bait before spitting it out at us and taking off.

Captain Donar does it again and hooks into a beautiful big black Marlin. Angler Rodrigo was the lucky man on the reel!

The massive fish put on an amazing show!

Jose managed to find Angler Brad another nice fish for the day. We actually had a double header on the line. Joe and Brad fought both of the fish together until Joe’s spat the bait back, but luckily Brads continued to fight and we got him all the way to the boat!

Brads fish.

Brad’s nice Marlin!

I only managed to snap one shot of Brad’s Marlin underwater. He was a big boy!

Mate Andres, Captain Jose and Angler Brad, celebrate Brads 3rd Marlin of the trip!

Our friends on the “Hooker” had a great day out on the water too. Captain Wade found his guest a couple of nice fish. Here is a shot of their Blue Marlin dancing in front of our San Miguel.

The “Hookers” nice blue Marlin.

Boys on the “Hooker” working hard!

This fish just wouldn’t stop jumping!

…and again!

Captain Jr. found guest Dave a nice fish to fight with.

Manager Elliot was out on the water today, doing his part to save the world. He found a turtle that was caught in a netting of some sort. So Elliot managed to hook onto the net and free the little guy.

…but not with out a quick photo opp!

Elliot is setting the little guy free!

We have Boobies flying around us all day. Today I managed to snap a nice picture of one as he was cruising along the water surface.

What more can be said about Coiba. This place is truly amazing. Never have I ever seen such an amazing bite for such massive Marlin before!

Hope tomorrow brings more stories and photo’s!

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

In the 34 weeks we have been here this week has been by far the most uneventful and unproductive. Last Tuesday when I foolishly picked something up the wrong way I figured a day or two and I’d be back on my daily 4 mile walk, that’s 36 times around the boardwalk…I was wrong. While my tolerance for standing (hunched over) and walking (slowly) has increased a bit longer each day the majority of my week was spent on the couch.

Thinking back to what I did accomplish (feel I have to do something each day) I recall the tasks that get put aside. Now is the perfect opportunity to tackle them and it’s something I can do from the comfort of the couch. What would that be….a clean up of all the stuff on my computer. A list of ‘favourites’ that no longer interest me, blogs that have fallen by the wayside and recipe sites that I realize only ever leave me feeling more confused than inspired…disappear. Sorting through email contacts had me writing a few letters to people I have lost touch with, while erasing others. Games I no longer play are eliminated right off the hard drive along with programs I will never use.

Movies and TV shows stored on external hard drives are either given a “thumbs up” or get expunged. The most time consuming and hardest job was to go through the hundreds of pictures I seem to have accumulated since Mike and I have become caretakers . A bag containing half a dozen memory sticks with photos going back to our previous position in Rivers Inlet, along with all this years pictures on my computer had me going down memory lane for several hours and several days. After viewing hundreds of images showing trees, mountains, water, deers, cats, squirrels, birds, rain, snow and yes even the odd days of sun it got easier to push that delete key. The first round was easy – delete delete delete, the second round is a little tougher and the third time has me looking at each picture more than just a few seconds trying to decide if it is worthy of taking up space. My organization fever has left me with one memory stick and 100GB of free space. For a week of doing nothing I feel quite good of all that I did accomplish.

Since I didn’t get a single photo all week, I’ll have to leave you with some of my favourites that I came across this week.

Till next week,

Heather & Mike

Abundancia is a Spanish for abundance, the state of being prolific.  It was in hope of weeks like this one that she was given her name.  Panama’s waters are immensely productive, supporting marine life of all manner.  Coiba provides very direct evidence of this.  But for all of the yellowfin tuna, the volkswagen-sized crocodiles that inhabit the the island’s rivers, and the many sea birds whose lives are made relatively easy by the prolific sea life swimming about her shores, it is the marlin that captivate the minds of anglers more so than any other.  Donar has them locked in.   Today was no different.

It was angler Rodrigo Meneses who manned the rod today.  His black put on a show and Jess got some great shots of the fish leaping away from the boat.

Aboard the San Miguel, it was Don Van Hise who released a black marlin of 450 today. Don is a great guy, friendly as can be from Fort Lauderdale.  All aboard the Provider were glad to hear of his triumph today.  It was two days earlier that he battled an unknown sea creature for 45 minutes before it revealed itself to be a snagged manta ray that was as wide across as the hood of a minivan.

It is always good to see people fishing with their friends, because good friends can be counted on to give you a hard time if you happen to accidentally catch a manta ray.  But just as fast as they were to give him a hard time about the ray, Don’s buddies were equally happy to insist that he sit at the head of the dinner table.

We are all very fortunate to be here.  A good marlin bite makes this even more true.

Elliott

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Here are some shots from yesterdays Marlin fight. Guest Brad and Joe reeled in these 2 beauties! Pictures are taken by Joe and Brad.

Brad’s Fish.

Brad’s fish.

Joe’s Fish

Joe’s Fish

Brads and Andres Dorado.

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Hello everyone,

Today was an amazing day out on the water. Out of a possible 10 Marlin’a today, our boats managed to raise 2, catch 2 Marlin and the Hooker caught 4. Captian Donar and Mate Richard once again found Angler Rodrigo his second Marlin of the trip. Captain Donar has 3 marlin over the corse of 5 days!

Here are a couple of shots from today.

Beautiful Morning mist. We woke up to Pouring rain, massive thunder and lighting and then a beautiful rainbow.

Angler Rodrigo giving the thumbs up while in mid Marlin fight.

Stand up reeling.

Rodrigo’s Marlin today. Unfortunately didn’t give us that great of a show.

The Hooker was on fire today. Captain Wade couldn’t keep the Marlin off his hooks today.

Mate Alerio having to jump off the side of the boat to cut some line out from the prop. Love his dive into the water, I give it a 10!!!

I hope the bite continues tomorrow!

Photographing from Paradise,

Jess

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

Come and see us.  This is really fun.

Elliott

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Hello Everyone,

Today was a bit slow for 2 out of the 3 boats in the fleet, but Captain Jose and Mate Andres remain on fire. The boys today managed to find 2 more marlin today to put their trip total to 4 Marlin for Guest’s Joe and Brad. Great job boys!

Here are some shots of my adventure today along with some of Brad and Joe’s Marlin shots that they photographed today.

Enjoy!

Captain Jose looking good in his new boat!

Mate Andres giving the thumbs up about having caught 4 Marlin in 3 days!

By far the hottest day in Coiba thus far. Another great day for exploration!

Captain Jr. fishing for Bait.

Richard and Rodrigo are on the look out for possible Marlin.

Guest Rodrigo was first on the line fighting with a big Dorado.

Guest Rodrigo with his nice 40lbs Dorado.

Big 40lbs Dorado.

Coiba has turtles swimming everywhere!

Today was Hot hot hot out and I hope that all boats can be as luck as Captain Jose’s boat and catch some more Marlin tomorrow!

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

It was only when Andres grabbed the 400 pound leader and began putting the heat to him in earnest– after Joe fought the fish for more than an hour– that the fish’s bill broke the surface of the water and it revealed itself to be a nice blue.  The fish proceeded to put on an aerial display across the back of the Sula Sula, as Jessica recorded the action.  Good photographers have a knack for themselves at the right place at the right time and Jessica’s positioning on the bridge made for some really good pictures.  She always seems to make this happen.

You can tell this fish was a blue marlin, instead of a black, as its pectoral fins are folded back against its today.  A mature black marlin’s pectoral fins are rigid, fixed, thrusting out away from its body like the wings of an airplane.

Aboard the Abondancia Captain Donar and angler Estuardo Mazariegas of Guatemala caught a nice black.  Jessica, shooting from the Sula Sula, caught some incredible images of the fish jumping behind the boat.  For perspective on the size of the fish, compare the marlin to the people aboard.  The ability of a fish of that size to leap so effortlessly and incredibly out the water is one of the ways in which marlin fishing can so easily turn into an obsession.  Estuardo is a great guy, very friendly.  Today he released a really good fish and was fortunate to have a world class photographer on the boat next to him.

It was a good day.  The only thing that could interrupt the fishing stories were Chef Katie’s homemade gnocchi.  It was a good day.

Elliott

Jessica’s story below…

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Hello Everyone,

Today was an amazing day out on the water. The day started off a bit rainy with big bulbs of thunder and lighting, but then warmed up and the rain ended just in time for some serious fishing to take place.  I managed to snap a couple shots of 2 different Marlin fights today. One fight for Captain Donar’s boat and the other for Captain Jose’s.

Check out some of the shots from todays catches:

Marlin #1: Joe Friederichs 650 lbs Blue Marlin

Joe’s 1hr and 50min Marlin fight in stand up gear. What we initially thought was a large tuna ended up being a very LARGE Marlin!  The Marlin just sat in the water, not wanting to budge. Right before Mate Andres grabbed the leader, he yelled “Marlin, Marlin, Marlin”, we all broke out into cheer and disbelief that this so called “Tuna” ended up being such a large Marlin. I guess there is a first for everything!

Joe looking serious!

And the fight continues!

Captain Jose, wondering whats really on the line?

and the fight keeps going…and going…and going…..

Joe and Andres thought they had finished reeling up the “Tuna”. Joe can be seen taking off his reeling belt, until Andres yells “Marlin, Marlin, Marlin”.

1.5hrs in. Joe is feeling it now! Brad’s lending a hand, so we don’t lose Joe over board!

1 hr and 50min was the duration of Joe Friederichs fight with a very large Marlin! The boys are all smiles after that one.

Marlin #2:

Guest Estuardo Mazariegos caught the second Marlin of the day. Here are some shots of his lucky catch!

Estuardo’s big Marlin Black Marlin.

Finally heading home after a long day of fishing!

Pac Pro looking great against her new surroundings!

Shipped recked sailboat on Coiba.

Today was an amazing day.   5 Marlin in 2 days is pretty incredible!

Once again can’t wait to see what tomorrow could possibly bring.

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

Alexandra Kordic joins West Coast Fishing Club as Assistant General Manager. Alexandra is from Cleveland, Ohio and has a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling. Alex is gregarious and possesses an infectious charisma that draws even the most timid into lively conversation. In her own words, Alex “has never met a stranger.” Upon moving to Panama for her new position, Alexandra left behind her private counseling practice in Hollywood, Florida. In addition to her charm and experience, she has extensive food and wine knowledge. At West Coast Fishing Club, she is the head of the inside of the house, working with chefs and hospitality to develop the highest quality guest experience. Alexandra’s leadership style is marked by organization and clear communication. She is a great asset to the WCFC’s Panama operation and guests will enjoy meeting her.

Courtney Hatfield joins the West Coast Fishing Club as Corporate Sales Director. Courtney has a long standing relationship with West Coast Fishing Club through her previous role as co-host of the award winning fishing show, Fishing with Shelley & Courtney and Get Out with Shelley & Courtney, both taped and broadcast North America wide. Courtney filmed over 250 episodes throughout her 17-year career. She has also been a part of the Fishing for Kids Tournament at West Coast Fishing Club volunteer committee since inception in 2006, and currently is Vice-President of the Executive Committee for the 2012 event. Courtney comes to West Coast Fishing Club from a global financial firm where she was a fully licensed investment associate for over six years. She has a passion for the environment and does what she can to support causes she believes in. She worked in the non-profit industry for over 12 years beginning with Courtnall’s Classic, a very successful charitable fishing tournament for Canuck Place. Courtney also worked full time with Pacific Salmon Foundation, supporting conservation and recovery efforts for over six years as Director of Development, Partnerships & Communications.

Day two was a day of firsts.  Angler Brad Schwartz of Minnesota caught his first marlin, a big black that was estimated to be 700 pounds.  Brad is a laid back, very friendly guy, the type of guest that you hope returns often.  The fish was caught on live bonita rigged on a circle hook aboard the Sula Sula captained by Jose Gongora.  On the occasion of his first marlin, Jose and Mate Andres signed a bottle of 12 year old Abuelo Rum, which we presented to him at dinner.  Any day you catch a marlin is a great day, but the day you catch your first is one not to be forgotten.  Congratulations Brad.

Aboard the Abondancia Captain Donar caught a blue marlin with angler Rodrigo Meneses of Nicaragua.  The blue was Donar’s first as Captain.  Between the occasion of Rodrigo’s marlin and Brad’s big black, the sounds of fish stories and good friends debating size of marlin and other of life’s important matters of discussion could be heard late into the night.

Coiba is great.  We are happy to be here.

Elliott Stark

Jessica was in the thick of it today… below is her story.

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Hola from Coiba,

Today was an amazing for Marlin.  All three boats headed off shore in search for a big catch.

Here are some shots from todays success.

Rodrigo fighting his 400lbs Blue Marlin.

Blue Marlin Giving us a show.

Mate Richard grabs the leader on Rodrigo’s Blue Marlin.

Richard in stand up gear!

Boys look on as Rodrigo takes a break.

Marlin #2: Black 700Lbs

Angler Brad Schwartz fights his very first Marlin Ever!!!

Brad’s Black Malin.

Nice long fish.

Jose puts the Sula Sula into position, as Brad fights his fish.

We had dolphins all around us today!

San Miguel and Abondancia make there way home.

Big waves during todays fishing adventures.

Angler Brad Schwartz caught his first ever Marlin. Here is his token for the night.

Andres, Brad, Jose and Joe celebrate Brad’s first Marlin Catch.

Today was great and hopefully we can have more luck tomorrow.

Photographing from paradise,

Jessica Haydahl

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

It is the black marlin.  The waters surround Coiba and the Hannibal Bank are full of life– dolphins, manta rays jumping most everywhere you look, yellowfin tuna thrashing about the water rising rapidly, before descending once again.  It was the natural beauty of the place and the black marlin that brought us here.  The natural beauty is evident to even the most passive observer, but to dance consistently with the black marlin takes the discerning eye of a skilled captain.

In the first week of our quest, Captain Junior Bermudez on the San Miguel raised two blacks, releasing one of about 400, the other jumping free from the hook before release. Junior rounded out his trip with two sailfish and a number of tuna.

Aboard the Sula Sula, Alex and Gillian Davidson fished with Captain Jose Gongora.  The third day of the trip brought forth a big black of about 750 pounds.  The fish ate a lure and after 45 seconds jumped off.  Alex and Gillian were a pleasure to have aboard, as capable in conversation as with the rod and reel, and we look forward to next time.  Each boat fishing witnessed other marlin that could not be enticed to eat.

Group two arrived this morning and fished a half day.  With three boats combing the waters around the bank, it was angler David Bell aboard the San Miguel that stole the show.  Jessica also arrived today.  Below is her description.  Welcome back Jessica and David, the fishing is all the more fun that you are here.

Elliott Stark

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Hi Everyone,

It’s Photographer Jessica here, back for another fun filled month on the Pacific Provider. Today I arrived on Coiba and snapped a couple of shots of the ship and island as we made out way out to the boat. Coiba is absolutely beautiful and I am super excited to get be back and can’t wait to start snapping some great pic’s!

Here are a couple from today and some nice shots provided by a guest of Angler Dave’s 700 pound Black Marlin.

Arriving at Pacific Providers new Coiba anchorage spot.

Trekking down to the beach.

The island of Coiba is beautiful.

One of our brand new boats!

One of the guests helping himself to some fresh Mangos.

Our brand new boat Sula Sula!

Dilsa awaiting the guests with some fresh drinks.

The boys had a great day. 2 Tunas and a Dorado, plus a 700 pound Black Marlin!

Guest Estuardo with his nice tuna.

Angler Don with his Dorado.

Dave fighting his 700lbs Black Marlin in stand up gear. Picture provided by Guest Estuardo.

Picture provided by Guest Estuardo.

Picture provided by Don of Dave fighting his big fish.

Can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings

Photographing from Paradise,

Jessica Haydahl

www.jessicahaydahlphotography.com

The Pacific Provider is currently anchored in Coiba National Park in Panama, here is the story of how we got here…

The opportunity to join West Coast Fishing Club as General Manager and Assistant General Manager of the Pacific Provider was an incredible honor for myself and Alexandra.  I am a Texas boy and she grew up in Cleveland, Ohio.  I have never met fishing trip I didn’t like and Alex has never met a stranger.  We had been living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she was a mental health counselor and I was a marine biologist at The Billfish Foundation.  We were in the process of planning a wedding for March 2013.  Our lives were progressing nicely.

Life in many ways is interesting, full of charm.  There are times when things arise that whether or not you could have ever imagined them, take you to places, make things possible in such a way, that you are powerless to resist. Opportunities of life-changing magnitude.  For Alexandra and I the unfolding of the past five weeks has illustrated this clearly.  When Brian Legge, Rick Grange, and Brian Grange offered us the chance to run the Panama operation, it was time to call family and friends, put our things in storage and head to the airport.

Arriving in Panama City, after a night downtown, it was off to the Provider.  West Coast Fishing Club Panama greeted us warmly and we set out directly to make ready for Expedition Marlin 2012 in Coiba.  Marlin fishing, by its very nature, is a whimsical beast.  This is part of its charm.  Some days you will raise three or four of the magnificent creatures, other days you will not see a thing.  Hospitality and service on the other hand, can be harnessed directly and made to happen smoothly and efficiently.  Our task was to marry the intrinsic variability of the bluewater experience with the lined-out, finely tuned, all-inclusive, precision that guests of the Pacific Provider deserve.  Alex and I joined a crew that was dedicated and quite good at what they do.

There is quite a bit that goes into bringing the Ritz Carlton to an isolated Pacific island in northern Panama.  For Alex and I the chance to make this happen was an incredible experience.  An inventory of the provisions that we brought aboard provides context:
-100 cases of water
– Enough cases of beer to intoxicate the army of Luxembourg
– Crates and crates of wines, a list of which would make Robert Mondavi himself blush
– Quality meats, cheese, and produce of all sort

To the people who saw Alex and the Chefs walking out of the grocery stores, liquor suppliers, and wine merchants with the more than 50 freight carts we would bring aboard, it would have seemed equally likely that we were preparing for the apocalypse.  In order to get the hundreds of cases of beverages aboard the Pacific Provider, we would load everything into the panga and zodiac.  Were our guys to have been wearing eye patches and bandanas, it would have seemed as though pirates had ransacked CostCo.  The result of this hustle and bustle is a simple, unqualified statement: If you come to the Provider, we have what you need.

To round out the provisions, Captains Junior and Jose and Deck Boss Blondie took a case of beer and some a bottle of rum to a shrimp boat that was dragging its nets in the Gulf of Panama a mile or so from the Pacific Provider.  Upon their return they were boozeless, but brought with them 60 pounds of shrimp (some of which were seven inches long), four lobsters, and a crate of calamari.  Panama is a wonderful place and both parties were happy with the trade.

The Provider took on 40,000 gallons of diesel, 25 five gallon buckets of motor oil, and twelve 55 gallon barrels of gasoline for the panga. Captain Nelson Castillo joined us to run the Pacific Provider on the 30 hour steam to Coiba and we were ready.

Ready to provide a unique brand of hospitality, ready for fishing, ready for adventure, and ready for the 2012 Expedition Marlin: Coiba.  For Alex and I, and for all aboard the Pacific Provider, this was quite an honor.

The weather this week has been anything but “springlike”. Cold mornings, rainy afternoons and windy evenings have been the norm although there was one evening that hinted at things to come. I know it can be nice, I’ve seen the evidence in Ken’s summertime blog. Guides wearing t-shirts while out on the water tell me it must get warm here …eventually…and the fishing is not bad either!

The fact that I’m still wearing sweats, socks and several sweaters hasn’t stopped me thinking of shorts, skirts and swimsuits which I may have the chance to wear this summer and this leads me to think – DIET. Along with all the millions who make that ‘new year’ commitment to shed a few pounds Mike and I always join in. The cookies and cakes, fudge and french toast, liqueurs and other liquid libations that were consumed with gusto and nary a thought of the end result or a thought of where the results would end up, were of no consequence.

Several months ago we decided it was time to pay the piper, as they say, so the cookie jar has remained empty, the ice cream maker put back on top of the cooler – way out of reach. Cake pans, tart tins, and muffin trays are starting to collect dust. You can see the trend here of our vices….sweets. Well as I said it was several months ago now that our will power had been put to the test and we are now seeing some results. Can’t say….we don’t have a scale here to determine our starting weight or how much we’ve lost but we used the next best thing….. a pair of jeans. Sweat pants (our daily attire) should come with a warning: Continual wearing of this product will result in a false sense of yourself.

Finding that our jeans could be zipped up once again was obviously a milestone to celebrate and what better way than to enjoy something we haven’t had in ages!

..but Man cannot live by bread alone.

Since I seem to be talking a lot about the weather (how cold it is) the water is also still on the cooler side which keeps it clear, and that is a good thing especially for taking pictures.

Our one spectacular sunset for the week.

It happened in the blink of an eye and the moment I straightened up I knew what I had done. We’ve all picked up something the wrong way, leaned over when we should have bent down or turned our entire body instead of twisting around. I seem to do this once a year and pay for it by being hunched over and in pain for 3- 4 days. My last few days have been spent mostly laying on the couch with short periods of sitting up. I’ve had to be content with reading, surfing the net, looking at magazines – all on my computer- watching movies, napping or listening to the radio. I really can’t manage to stand long enough to make meals so I have to sit back and let Mike cater to me. I’m sure I’ll be up and around soon but you really don’t want to hurry these things.

Till next week,

Heather & Mike