The biggest and saddest news is that my gun, the custom Cole’s Special I had Rich Cole build, was stolen. Because the thieves had to break into a locked pickup truck (they used either a jimmy or a coat hanger, as there was no broken lock or window) and took a gun, it is classified “armed burglary,” and the value makes it grand larceny.

I will probably never see it again, and according to the sheriff’s department, it will most likely have the barrel and stock sawn off and turned into a convenience store stick-up weapon. I’d prefer to think some redneck would shoot a turkey with it!


Marlin University — Guatemala
We had a full house of 16 students and four boats from the Casa Vieja Lodge. The rooms, food and service were top notch, as always.

The sailfish bite was good enough for all the anglers to catch several sailfish, including a few students getting the first sails they had ever caught. That is always special.

I enjoyed fishing with my old buddy Ron Hamlin during his last-ever charter in Guatemala. We’ve crossed paths in a multitude of hot spots, and I try to teach skippers and anglers to run a boat the way Ron (and I) do when fighting a hooked fish.

Practicing on lots of small billfish hugely increases your chances if you ever do manage to get hooked up to a monster marlin weighing 8 or 10 times the breaking strain of your line.

We only have a short break before heading to the Dominican Republic next week. We will be chasing a mixed bag of billfish. Every day could bring a grand slam — a sailfish, white marlin and blue marlin — to some lucky angler. A slam is not super likely, but people do win the lottery against worse odds!

Anyhow, we have several slots open. Why that is I’m not sure, unless the uncertainty of the upcoming election has some of our alumni keeping their wallets closed.

I can’t say I blame them. I am trying to keep track of expenditures myself.

But there have been big (grander-class) blue marlin caught in these waters, and there is a lovely new marina and hotel with excellent accommodations.

Call Barb Lehner at 407-571-4606 if you can arrange to join us. It should be a great trip.

All the best, 
Peter B.