Quepos Billfish Cup Controversy at Marina Pez Vela

First,  our congratulations to the 12 boats, captains, crew and anglers, they released 218 billfish overall (216 Sailfish and two Marlin) some very impressive numbers to for this small size of tournament in Quepos. Second, we give  excellent credit to Costa Rica Sportfishing, (Americana Sportfishing) who, while, during this second annual Quepos Billfish Cup tournament kept … [Read more...]

Good or Bad Luck Fishing With Bananas in Costa Rica

Lets face it: anglers are a very superstitious lot, especially those seasoned anglers and captains in Costa Rica. Spend more than a few days on a fishing boat, and you start to understand the feelings of “Good and Bad Luck” … and everything in between. When it comes to bananas, they are considered the epitome of bad luck by many Costa Rica captains. Some will flat out … [Read more...]

Fishing Costa Rica’s Summer or Rainy Season

Yeah, I know, why would you want to fish during Costa Rica’s raining season (June - Nov)? Well, summer can be the perfect time to fish in Costa Rica; there is some very decent billfish and tuna bites. However, the big attractions are, during the 'Green Season' hotel and airline rates are lower, plus there is a greater availability of the country's top captains, which means, … [Read more...]

Puntarenas, Costa Rica Fishing Tournament Closed to Longliners

Agreement yields longline closure for this weekend’s Costa Rica fishing tournament  40-mile area commercial closure during Presidential Challenge, March 1 - 4  PUNTARENAS, Costa Rica -- (Feb. 27, 2012) – Recreational sportfishing and billfish conservation have made a huge impact on Costa Rica’s tourism and economy.  In a groundbreaking move and through a joint … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Fishing License – Fishing and Boat Fees Increase

In the past, tourist and nonresident anglers could pick whether or not they wanted a monthly ($13 USD) and/or yearly fishing license ($25 USD). Considering that most anglers come to fish once a year (about 98%) they’d pick the cheaper.  Fishermen who don't know this in advance have been known to get a little upset at having to shell out cash at the dock to get one before they set forth on a … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Sashimi – You Can Not Get It Fresher Than This

One of the bad things about growing up in a beach community and fishing since you can remember, you know what fresh fish is. So when a friend invited me to this new trendy sushi place in San Diego that boasted it had the freshest fish in town, I balked. She continued saying, “The Ahi (or Yellowfin) is flown in daily, and the sashimi is out of this world!” FRESH! - I chuckled. She and the … [Read more...]

Hilton Hotel & Restaurants Stops Serving Marlin & Sailfish Meat

In a bold move, Hilton Hotels and Resorts in Costa Rica's restaurants set example for others in promoting sportfishing ecotourism by taking sailfish and marlin off their menus. They adopted the stance after working with The Billfish Foundation and  the Costa Rica Sport Fishing Federation (FECOPT). FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – The Billfish Foundation (TBF) entered into an agreement with its … [Read more...]

Bobby McGuinness – IGFA World’s Top Captain in 2010

Captain Bobby McGuinness has done it again! For the second time in his illustrious 30 years as a sportfishing captain in Costa Rica, Bobby McGuinness was named the year's (2010) top captain in the world by the prestigious International Game Fish Association (IGFA). The IGFA also presented Bobby with its 2010 Lifetime Achievement award. See Bobby McGuinness Video This is the second time … [Read more...]

Government Seizes Sailfish Meat From Seafood Company

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – Costa Rican government officials released information to The Billfish Foundation (TBF) of the seizure from a seafood exporter, of over 7,000 kilos of sailfish meat bound for Peru. Sailfish are protected species in the popular Costa Rican fishery. Tico Times Editor Note: Costa Rica's ban of exporting billfish meat was established in Jan 2009. Investigators … [Read more...]

Panama Launches Sportfishing Tourism Study

The Billfish Foundation tapped to conduct 18 month long socio-economic research... PANAMA CITY, Panama and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., USA – Panama’s minister of science, technology and innovation has announced a socio-economic research study on the impact of sportfishing tourism. The Billfish Foundation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., will conduct the research. In a conference call, Dr. Ruben Berrocal, … [Read more...]

Ocean’s Dead Zones Increase – Billfish More Exposed to Capture In Costa Rica and Other Places

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. USA. – With the New Year comes new challenges to fish in our world’s oceans and one of the major concerns is the expansion of hypoxic zones. That’s the scientific name but more recreational anglers are becoming aware of them as “dead zones.” They are areas in the oceans with low or non-existent oxygen levels which, according to a recently released research study by … [Read more...]

Panama, First Central American Country, Restricts Longlining

PANAMA CITY, Panama and FT.  LAUDERDALE, Fla., USA  – After banning commercial purse seining from its waters in July, the Republic  of Panama has taken  further steps adding restrictions on longlining for the conservation of  its marine life and its socio-economic growth. In letters to Panamanian  officials, Ellen Peel, President of  The Billfish Foundation and Chris  Fischer founder of … [Read more...]