Billfish Bonanza (Part uno) 14

Mar 23, 2011 by Tom Nelson

Greetings from Costa Rica!

We arrived in San Jose Sunday evening and hit the first snag of the trip as Costa Rica Customs wanted to know what we were doing with two 50lb boxes of T-shirts and duffel bags full of tackle and fishing swag! It was "Gringo Grande" to the rescue as Robbo Endsley persuaded the customs official that we were not any type of sportfishing terrorists. In his best pidgeon spanish, Robbo assured the concerned customs official that this mass of gear were all "Give-away's Senor,…Free…gratis…for our amigos…"

Once we arrived at Los Suenos Resort we settled in for a quick five-hour snooze and it was up and at 'em for our first day on the ocean. Here, Endsley and Tobeck get the latest fishing lowdown from "The Sunny One's" expert deckhand Christian.

 

My wife Kathy is all smiles as she lands her first (and second) billfish ever! In the first hour of our trip we hooked two sails, landed one and had a marlin in the spread!

 

Robbo didn't have to wait very long as we enjoyed very steady action on our first day. Here he is giving me photography advice while I'm telling him how to play that sailfish!

 

Ever the competitor, Tobeck's sail shows off it's vertical…"I made him do that" says Robbie….yeah….right…

 

The action continues hot and heavy as Robbo jumps in on my turn by doubling up on two dandy sailfish! You've got to keep an eye on Endsley… he's sneaky like that…

 

Tobeck's next sail has him working up a sweat….that and the fact that it's 90 degrees on the ocean….

 

It's a proud moment in any father's life to watch his son take on a billfish. Here, Matt is on a hot sailfish which spend more time in the air than it did in the water and yes, we do have footage of Robbo launching Matt off the dock, a rite of passage for every first time successful billfisherman!

 

Robbie's wife Sonya Tobeck, is a real trooper and she whupped this sail's tail in a matter of minutes!

 

We've only been in Costa Rica for three days and already it's the most memorable family vacation I've ever experienced. The Billfish Bonanza begins tomorrow and I'm positive there will be much, much more to tell. Now, if you'll excuse me, all of this typing in the heat has made me thirsty. Un cerveza muy frio…por favor!!!

14 comments

Tom Nelson on Mar 26, 2011 at 9:27 pm said:

Sophia and Matt wanted to sleep in on day one and day two was a guy's day out. Tobeck and I took the girls out billfishing yesterday and while Sophie saw porpoise and caught bonito on a flat calm ocean, Robbie caught the only billfish of the day. I took some Sophie shots...but alas, no fish pics...

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Anne Van Duzor on Mar 26, 2011 at 9:21 pm said:

it sure does look like we goofed not joining you guys! How come no Sophie pics?! Glad you're having the time of your lives! Miss you guys!

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ryan schank on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:23 am said:

Well you were good at bouncer at least! Rum and coke? Thats not like you. say hi to the family for me. But tell me something, Tobeck is wearing his funky shorts with the handy middle pocket in front of the kids is he?! If he is, tell him to quit looking for his keys in front of them. It will scar them for life!

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Ma on Mar 22, 2011 at 10:11 am said:

Wow that really does look like you guys are having a ball. We enjoyed reading about it and seeing the pix. Loves from all the gang in Wichita!!!!

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Tom Nelson on Mar 22, 2011 at 7:15 am said:

No Wild Turkey down here,... Robbo has me spooled up on rum and diet Coke. We had the pre-tournament at Casa Dome last night and we took turns playing bartender. I am the worst 'tender ever! No wonder I never made it past the rank of bouncer,,,

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ryan schank on Mar 22, 2011 at 5:16 am said:

Gray pubes Nurm!? Wow! Maybe kathy can't control you anymore! Was it the turkey? Stauffer and Runyon were a mess at D.U. Gringo Grande, Buy a better camera! I must be in the 80's, a camera that has a virus?????

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Salmonhawk on Mar 22, 2011 at 12:10 am said:

Good times have been had already and we just sent the boats off for the first day of "official" fishing. The party was a good time last night and this place is incredible.

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Tom Nelson on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:33 pm said:

Is it a good thing when people are laughing so hard that they spit up their drinks and use their cocktail napkins to wipe their tears??? I guess we shouldn't have told the "Ol' gray pubes" story...

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Gringo Grande on Mar 21, 2011 at 2:07 pm said:

I'm pretty sure my big camera has some sort of virus. Gonna send it in when I get home and see if they can fix it. Keep Nelly out of trouble...he was in fine form tonight. Actually we all were. Fun party. Jumping in with Ray G and gang tomorrow on the Dream Raiser. Report minana!

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ryan schank on Mar 21, 2011 at 8:23 am said:

Don't lose the photos again gringo grande! Make sure the big guy stays out of trouble. Oh, thats right, Kathys with him! She will keep him in line!

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Gringo Grande on Mar 21, 2011 at 7:50 am said:

Good report big guy! Looking forward to the party tonight and getting back on the water again tomorrow. I hope my big camera doesn't crap out on me again tomorrow. I had some SICK photos on that disc and when I plugged it into the computer today...POOF! Got some great video of Sonja's sail going grape ape all around the boat yesterday though. Lots of fun here at Los Suenos!

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ryan schank on Mar 21, 2011 at 6:43 am said:

It's about time you wrote. I wanted to text but you yelled at me last year because of the long distance text pricing! Great pic's and can't wait to hear more. have a continued fun and safe trip and i will fill you in on the D. U. banquet antics when you get home.

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quickfish on Mar 21, 2011 at 5:57 am said:

SWEETTTTTTTT! can't wait until next year I'm going for sure!

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Sharkey on Mar 21, 2011 at 5:02 am said:

That's awsome! sounds like the fishing is great and the company is even better. Very cool to see Matt getting an experiance of a lifetime. Kathy as well.

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