InTheBite

Captain Brad Philipps Breaks Down the Guatemala Billfish

By

guatemala billfish

Photo courtesy Mark B. Hatter

By Mark B. Hatter

“We know more about the moon than we know about the habits of billfish.”

Brad Philipps, captain, owner and operator of the charter boat Decisive and Guatemala Billfishing Adventures, introspectively remarked as we sipped whisky and smoked Cuban cigars on the rooftop of his Casa Philipps in Antigua, in January of 2020. It had been a VERY slow week, yet under the uncharacteristic circumstances, we raised and released more sailfish using fly tackle than any other boat in the fleet.

So, I am not so sure about Philipp’s moon and billfish remark.

[Read more…]

Travel Alert: Paradise Awaits—Club Pelagic’s Private Escape in Quepos, Costa Rica

By

By Dave Ferrell

I’ve just recently returned from a little piece of paradise that was the result of one man’s dream over 20 years in the making. But first, a little back story. I first met Ron Kawaja, owner of the Pelagic clothing brand, in a crappy Miami hotel room during the Miami Boat Show in the late-90s. Ron was getting ready to launch a new company that meant to capitalize on the surf style boardshorts that were popular with a lot of mates in the sportfishing world. I was the editor of Marlin at the time and told the crew that I thought it was a great idea and supplied them with as many names of well-regarded fishermen as I could. Now, 20 years later, Pelagic is a world-wide brand bringing the West Coast style and much more to the sportfishing community. [Read more…]

2021 Los Sueños Tournament Photo Gallery

By

By Dale Wills

The 2021 Los Sueños Tournament Series has come and gone and I’d like to share a few more images from the series before they are tucked away on our server until who knows when. Congratulations to all the winners and a big thank you to the Jaruco operation for hosting me during the series. Needless to say, the boat is amazing and the entire program is like no other. Captain Jimmy definitely put us In The Bite. Congratulations to Team Galati on an unprecedented sweep during Leg 3. I’d like to also congratulate a few of our Champion’s Cup teams including Fish Tank, Uno Mas and Eight Eight’s who each found a spot on the leaderboard throughout the series. Till next time, safe travels and tight lines.

On This Day: First Ever Albino Marlin Released off Costa Rica

By

This was originally published March 12, 2014

Capt. Daniel Espinoza doesn’t take many days off during the charter season but on March 12, 2014 he turned over the Spanish Fly to his backup captain, Juan Carlos Fallas. In the cockpit were mates Carlos Espinoza and Robert Salinas along with clients Bob and Karen Weaver.

[Read more…]

Captain Chris Sheeder Passes Away After Battle with Cancer

By

January 7, 2021—It’s with a heavy heart that we announce well-known Hawaii Captain Chris Sheeder has passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, according to a public Facebook post from his brother. Sheeder’s love for the water began at the young age of 11 when he took his first offshore trip out of Kona. This eventually led him to become a leader in refining techniques for catching billfish on the fly. He accumulated a career billfish tally of more than 35,000.

Sheeder worked his way up the ladder, from mate and then to captain. And throughout his time in the fishing circuit, Sheeder was always ready to give back to the community and share what he had learned himself.

This is best summed up in his own words when InTheBite interviewed him a few years back.

“I don’t feel like I’m in the sportfishing business, I’m in the dream fulfillment business. It might sound cheesy, but fishing is a great way of enriching other people’s lives. It’s been my avenue to making lifetime memories. How can you touch other people’s lives? Take them fishing. Lots of people think about a day spent together for a long, long time.”

Read more about Captain Chris Sheeder’s career here.

November Brings Anglers Back to Panama’s Tropic Star Lodge

By

Fish Caught at Tropic Star Lodge

Photo courtesy Tropic Star Lodge

 

Friday, November 20, 2020—This year has consisted of many challenges, and for anglers around the world, one of them has been having to put international fishing plans on hold. Outfitters of all shapes and sizes have had to turn guests away due to COVID-19 restrictions, and the world-renowned Tropic Star Lodge was no exception. Tides turned in Mid-November though, when the Tropic Star team were able to fire up boat engines, dust off tackle boxes, and welcome back exuberant anglers to reap the rewards that the
8-month-untouched waters of Piñas Bay had to offer.

[Read more…]

The Marlin Bar– the Latest from Tropic Star

By

IMAGE OF THE MARLIN BAR AT TROPIC STAR LODEGE IN PANAMA

A sportfishing institution now has its latest landmark: The Marlin Bar at Tropic Star Lodge. Tropic Star Lodge is one of sportfishing’s most historic operations—and it has the photographs to prove it. From fishing pictures with John Wayne to all manner of giant yellowfin and huge black marlin, Tropic Star has it. Tropic Star recently unveiled its Marlin Bar. New and updated, it’s the perfect place to enjoy a cold beer and swap fishing stories. After all, you’re sure to make a few stories of your own while fishing at Tropic Star…

For a reminder of how great the fishing is at the lodge, check out this story we published last year.

The Bertram Bar, called Babe, allows you to drink your favorite rum drink at the helm of a 31’ Bertram all while overlooking the bay and Tropic Star’s fleet. You can certainly add this to the list of places we’re headed as soon as things get back to normal. In the meantime, here is a back stage pass from your friends at InTheBite….

For more information on Tropic Star Lodge, please e-mail info@inthebite.com or fill out the form below and our InTheBite concierge service will be happy to assist you.

 

Team Galati Wins Leg II of Los Sueños Signature Triple Crown

By

Team Galati with 1st place tournament check

Los Sueños Resort and Marina — The second leg of the seventh annual Signature Triple Crown billfish series, presented jointly by Los Sueños Resort and Marina and Chantilly Air, was held at Los Sueños February 26-29, 2020. Forty one team comprised of two hundred two individual anglers worked through the heat and the adrenaline of competition to release a three-day combined total of 870 billfish, including 703 sails and 67 marlin.

DAY 1

The tournament kicked off with a sailfish release by Shoe eight minutes after lines in was called at 8:00 am. Gallo Pinto took an early lead with a marlin release at 8:24 am, but HT Hook moved into first at 9:05 am with a striped marlin and three sails and stayed there until after 11 am, ahead of Team Galati and Gallo Pinto. By noon the field had released 164 sails and 8 marlin, and it was HT Hook still in first, but on time only, with 1200 points, followed by Tarheel also with 1200 points, and Team Galati with 1100 points. Off Duty made their first appearance on the leaderboard, moving to first with a marlin release at 12:44 pm, but were bumped out by Team Galati with a double sailfish release at 1:28 pm, only to take the lead back at 1:44 pm with another marlin release. Game Changer entered the fray, moving to second with a marlin release at 3:06 pm. War Party plucked away at the sailfish all day long, finishing with 16 sails, the most releases of any boat on Day 1, but secured their second place finish for the day with a marlin release at 3:12 pm. As the sun set Thursday evening, the official scores showed Off Duty in first with 2200 points (12 sails, 2 marlin), followed by War Party in second with 2100 points (16 sails, 1 marlin), and Team Galati in third with 2000 points (15 sails, 1 marlin).

DAY 2

D.A. Sea started the day off with a sailfish release at 8:07 am and by 10 am the 41 participating teams had released a two-day combined total of 415 sails and 20 marlin with Off Duty in first with 2300 points, War Party in second with 2200 points and Game Changer in third with 2100 points. Between 10 am and noon, War Party went on to release three more sails, taking first with 2500 points as of the midday update. Reel Joy enjoyed the top spot with two marlin releases at 12:30 pm, which they kept until Team Galati released their second marlin at 1:17 pm, taking them to the front of the pack, where they remained for the rest of the day. At 4 pm, it was Team Galati in first with a two-day total of 3500 points (20 sails, 3 marlin), followed by Reel Joy in second on time with 3000 points (15 sails, 3 marlin), and Tarheel in third, also with 3000 points (20 sails, 2 marlin).

DAY 3

Outage started the day off with a marlin hook up at 8:04 am, which they released five minutes later. In under an hour, seven more marlin had been release by the fleet and by 10 am the leaderboard looked almost completely different, with Off Duty in first with 4100 points, Team Galati in second with 4000 points, and Outage in third with 3300 points. Team Galati was in first at noon, over Off Duty and Fish Tank. Outage went on to bump Fish Tank out of third just before 1 pm and then moved to first with a marlin just 20 minutes later. Team Galati took the top position back with a double sailfish release before 2 pm. At 2:21 pm Team Galati, Off Duty (who had just released a triple), and Outage were all tied on points. No sooner had this report been shared on the official tournament radio, Outage released a double and moved ahead of the pack. Team Galati then took first with a marlin just before 3 pm and stayed there until the end, where they finished with a three-day combined total of 5000 points after releasing 25 sails and 5 marlin. Team Galati was followed by Outage in second on time, with 4800 points after releasing 23 sails and 5 marlin, and Tarheel released 33 sails and 3 marlin, also for 4800 points and third place.

On behalf of the tournament committee, congratulations to all winners!

TOP ANGLER LEG 2

The top angler award is usually always a surprise and it was so much so this time around that the man of the hour, Mike Ivancevic of Fish Tank, wasn’t present to receive his award. Mike achieved the highest score out of all the non-professional anglers after releasing 8 sails and 2 marlin for 1800 individual points. Congratulations!

SERIES CHAMPION

Going in to Leg 3 Outage has the highest score, with a two-leg total of 8400 points, 400 points ahead of Tarheel, in second position, and 900 points ahead of Team Galati, rounding out the top three.

Leg 2 Los Suenos Scoreboard

Photo courtesy © Los Sueños Resort & Marina | Pepper Ailor

Photo courtesy © Los Sueños Resort & Marina | Pepper Ailor

Photo courtesy © Los Sueños Resort & Marina | Pepper Ailor

Photo courtesy © Los Sueños Resort & Marina | Pepper Ailor

Female Anglers get the Spotlight at Pescadora Billfish Championship

By

women anglers on back of boat

Photo courtesy Tony Cadorin

The Pescadora Billfish Championship is right around the corner and will be held February 20th – 22nd, 2020. The ground-breaking event, presented by Costa Sunglasses, brings women from all nationalities and experiences together to share in their love of the ocean and fishing. It’s a fun, champagne-filled weekend catered to women, by women.

And not only is this billfishing event specifically for women, but it is designed to bring experienced and non-experienced female anglers together to compete for the title of the World’s Top Lady Anglers. This tournament is a mix of hook and hand, and hook your own.

Two top lady angler awards are presented, one to the female who reels in the most fish (hook & hand), and the other to the female that hooks and reels in her own fish (per IGFA rules) along with overall team awards.

The tournament will be held in Quepos, Costa Rica at the prestigious Marina Pez Vela.  A portion of all proceeds will be donated to the Seeds of Hope organization, which works in Costa Rica on the national and local level to combat sexual exploitation, drugs, violence and trafficking of minors. Please visit their website at seedsofhope.international.

Statistics from the 2019 event:

  • 512 billfish released in 2 days of fishing
  • 81 female anglers participated on 22 teams
  • Women from 7 different countries participated
  • 187 billfish were tagged during the event
  • At least 11 women caught their first billfish at the event
  • The event was followed by people in 19 different countries via Sancochero TV
For more information, visit facebook.com/thePescadora