Scuba Diving Fishing Land Rafting Xtreme Adventures Things 2DO

GUEST REPORT

Chuck Mankamyer

It was another beautiful morning on the pacific coast of Costa Rica, enjoying a great breakfast with my friend of 25 years, Mike Capierseho. We were captivated by the stunning view from an open-air restaurant 1,000 feet above the beach. We have yet another fun filled day planned with diving and fishing on our agenda. By 8:30 a.m. we were on the beach being picked up by the dive crew to be tendered out to the dive boat, which was moored in the bay. Diving with COSTA RICA DIVE was our primary reason for traveling to Costa Rica, but would not be the highlight of our trip.

We had made arrangements for our chartered fishing boat to meet us in the ocean at our second dive site. We were barely out of the water long enough to dry off and get our dive gear situated, before we left the dive boat for our fishing adventure. We were not on the fishing boat more than 20 minutes enjoying our boxed lunch when we had our first hit. Now, I'm getting excited knowing I'm up next. We were using live bait and slow trolling, when I got my chance. After the fresh bait headed for the bottom, seconds later all hell broke loose! After grabbing the rod, I knew instantly there was a big, strong fish on the other end of the 30 lb test line.

Instinctively the fish headed straight for the bottom, to the rocks where he would have the advantage and he thought a free lunch. But, on this day it was not to be, as I kept the line tight. The fish and I danced the "pull and reel" for the next 25 minutes, although both struggling I finally won the contest. Everyone on board was pleasantly surprised to see the size of the fish when the experienced mate and captain pulled this 175lb monster on board. It was a Goliath Grouper!

We gave part of the fish to the crew and our friend Rolando Arburola made arrangements to have our Goliath Grouper prepared for our last 2 night's dinner. The fish fed 20 of us with plenty left to spare. The restaurants prepared the fish three different ways and all three were delicious. The trip was absolutely fabulous and you could not begin to imagine the fun if you were not there.

Our trip exceeded all our goals and expectations. Two great dives per day on a reef abundant with life; white tip sharks, stingrays, eagle rays, large turtles, scorpion fish, eels, and schools of fish that numbered in the thousands! I did not expect the trip's highlight to be a Goliath Grouper weighing in at 175lb's, that I had the pleasure of catching!

The goal for my next trip to Costa Rica will be to catch a sailfish larger than my angler wife, Michele’s …15’9” sailfish caught on our last trip to Costa Rica, then I won’t have to listen to her fish stories !!!

By Chuck Mankamyer

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