My voice has still not recovered. It never really had a chance, with the Miami Boat Show talks and then coaching the Marlin U. students in Costa Rica. Trying, vocally, to make enough noise (speech) to be understood over a pair of diesels always gets me hoarse, and in this case, it kept me hoarse. 

We had a great bunch of students, a mix of very skilled and complete novice anglers. Getting a first billfish is always a thrill for a new angler, and helping someone else have fun has always been fun for me.

Our pro staff quarters at Los Sueños were the most amazing ever! We have been to some very cool places, but as Jessica Perry said after seeing some photos CP sent home, showing our temporary home, called Harmon House, this time we suffered in “obscene opulence” — and loved it!

The fishing was OK, but not great, with a decent number of sails and a couple of blue marlin bites and one released.

The boat I was on was very comfortable and had a skilled and friendly crew. I suggested that we troll fewer ballyhoo baits with hooks to cut down on the confusion when beginning anglers had to react quickly without having yet acquired the skills needed to cope with an unexpected bite, especially one on a long rigger. 

In an attempt to keep things pleasant, I did not press the issue, and confusion did in fact cause us to miss some catchable fish. Lack of communication between the Latin American crew and the English-language-only anglers made it more difficult for some of our students.

Fishing too many lines is one of the most common problems for many amateur crews. In the latest issue of Marlin magazine, a story featuring several highly skilled top pros addresses this very situation, and I preach it when I give talks at fishing clubs. More baits in the water often does not get more bites, but causes a lot more tangles and missed chances. The larger the fish you are seeking, the more you will lose if you fish too many hooks on too many rods!

Call Barb Lehner at 407-571-4606 to book a trip of a lifetime in upcoming Marlin U. hot spots like Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and the Cape Verde Islands.

Good fishing,

Peter B.