From the Crocodile Bay Lodge, Puerto Jiménez
by Todd Staley, Fishing Director
April 2003
The annual Redbone@Large tournament was held last week with 20 teams competing to raise more than $50,000 for cystic fibrosis research. In three days of fishing the group that fished both inshore and offshore raised over 300 billfish, releasing 87 and took roosterfish to 70 lbs. The team of Dave Przysinda and Mike Collochio took top honors and also had the largest rooster. Connie Taylor took her first sail on a fly adding points for her to take top spot in the ladies division. John Ward took the biggest fish trophy and a memory of a lifetime when while fishing in the gulf the came across a school of a dozen whale sharks and he jumped in and rode a forty foot one.
Boston Whaler boats followed the Redbone group with 34 of their top people and they split their days between fishing and adventure tours. This was their third trip here and beween a 160 pound tuna and scaleing a waterfall there is never a dull moment for this group.Offshore the fishing is good with 8 to 20 sails showing up in the baits. A couple of marlin have teased anglers but tuna from 10 to 200 lbs are the hardest pullers this week. Roosters are consistent and a 39 lb snapper was the biggest this week.Todd StaleySteve Pennaz and friends.
April 29, 2003
I don't know which is more exciting-having a week of raising 20 or more fish per day or getting the chance to fish with actor Robert Duvall and a whole slew of other movie fame. For example, with a lull between groups I had just four boats offshore yesterday and they raised 91 sails and two marlin. Two of the boats were back before 1 pm. We welcome Russ Johnson and Joe Jarzynka from Royal Journeys to our family. The two had a hay-day tossing chicken feathers at sailfish and said it had been one of the best trips they had been on. When you're in the business of sending folks on fishing vacations that is a great compliment. Thanks!
Bobby Duvall fished with fellow actors Willy Marquez and Luciana Pedraza doing a show for the New American Sportsman. It was enough to get a producer nervous when the roosters didn't cooperate on a short day on the water and rain the next didn't work well with the cameras, but next September you'll be able to see Duvall and Marquez taking some nice sails on 20 lb outfits. Inshore, the jacks have been beating the roosters to the baits and Ed Drew and Peter Gorinsky battled a boat full. Ed also sunk into a big wahoo who managed to escape the dinner plate.
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