Big marlin numbers in the DR

Sunrises are always great but they are even better when you are heading out to fish for blue marlin

The Casa De Campo International Blue Marlin Classic was held in Casa De Campo, Dominican Republic this past weekend. The fishing was red hot. There were 40 plus blue marlin caught on the first day of the tournament and 30 plus blues caught on the second day. And that is with only 16 boats fishing the tournament. If you  include the numbers of the few boats that were not fishing, There were nearly 100 Blue marlin caught in just two days. Rick Alverez did a great job running the tournament. It was first class.
The fishing has not just been good over the past weekend. In the past 3 weeks, there were 300 blues caught before the tournament even began. There are just not many places in the world where one can target Blue marlin in these numbers.

Blue marlin on the wire

The "Fa La Me" won first place in the tournament followed by "Real Pleasure" and third went to "Click Through". The cool thing about the click through placing third is that my deck hand Tyler was the deck hand on that boat. Our boss could not make it in for the tournament so when the captain of the "Click through" decided to let his own mate be an angler in the tournament, He needed someone to work the deck in his place. Tyler was asked to work that boat for the tournament. Tyler did a great job. I am so proud of him. He has become a top notch mate.
With no guests here and Tyler crewing on another boat, I was looking for something to do. Rick Alverez asked me to be an Observer for the tournament.  Very few tournaments these days kill bill fish. They have mostly gone to a release format. So in order to keep any cheating from going on, this tournament had Observers for each boat. Each day an observer was on a different boat. I was on the 87 foot Spencer " Banagarang" on day one and the "Bandolera". on day two. My job was to log hok up and release times of the marlin caught. It was not what I am use to doing off shore but it was at least nice to get out there and be apart of the tournament.
Oil changes are done, there are two coats of wax on nearly every part of the boat, And we are sitting ready. the boss comes back in the next couple of days. Looking forward to getting in on some more of the bite going on here

Rick Alverez Speaking at the Observers meeting

Blue marlin on the wire " Bangarang"

Mate tagging a blue before releasing it on the "Bangarang"

Capt Dan Spencer of the "Bangarang' looking for the next bite while the "Real Pleasure" backs down on one in the distance

Blue marlin Blasting a pitch bait on the "Bangarang"

The end of a long day on the "Bangarang"

Owner of the "Bandolera" getting it done.

Daisy chair Teaser waiting to be deployed. Sorry Neil your secret teaser is out now.

Mate on "Bandolera" letting another one go.

A mackerel teaser that just had a close encounter with a mean blue marlin

Blue marlin swims away

The fleet heading out