Presidential Challenge of Central America, Playa Samara
This tournament is the Presidential Challenge of Central America held in Playa Samara and Playa Carrillo on the Pacific side of the Nicoya peninsula, Costa Rica.
This is farther north by about 40 miles of the previous two tournaments I fished in Los Suenos.
NUTSHELL
12 boats 57 sailfish / 10 marlin Rough seas all three days until approximately noon each day. We're talking 9 foot seas on the last day Sparky. Thankfully I was on a larger boat, the BIG OH, a 63' Ricky Scarborough.
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My first flight was canceled so I got to the tournament a day late. I only observed the last two days of the tournament.
- IGFA rules
- 20# line
- 15' leaders
- natural bait w/circle hooks only, unless bait is depleted and then single J hooks with lures
- 4 teasers within 100' of the boat, no dredges, one rod per angler--must have 3 anglers
- 50 mile fence
- All baits behind the teasers, riggers behind the flat
Both boats I was on used the traditional waxed thread X'd over the mouth of medium ballyhoo--w/1 oz chin weighs, 8/0 Eagle Claw 2004el circle hooks.
DAY 1---- WET ASS II, a 31' Bertram. It took the rough seas good but has a well deserved name, fished 20-25 miles out, 83 degree moderately blue clear water. Saw two sails--missed both. One mystery bite and two dorado--both deliberately pulled off.
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DAY 2---- BIG OH, a 63' Ricky Scarborough, very nice boat and a great ride. My 4th trip on this boat. This crew is always competitive, the boat finished second and the owner, Gray Ingram, was the third place angler. Caught 2 sails and saw one other that would not bite. Wahoo bite off and had a quick release on a dorado. Caught 10 sails and 1 marlin for the tournament.
We started fishing 45 miles from Playa Carrillo in the waters past Cabo Blanco where we traditionally fish during the Los Suenos tournaments. Started with 9' seas and 83 degree blue clear water--seas laid down to 2-3 for the ride home.
Hatteras soon through mid-JulyDominican Republic 3rd week in May and 1st week in JuneAruba-- OctoberCosta Rica--Los Suenos Invitational and World Billfish Championship, both in December
Buena suerte,
J
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