My fathers World Record Catch
April 14th, 2008
My father lives in Costa Rica Most of the year, He is a fisherman, and a great one. He just caught his first recorded worlds record fish. I wanted to share the article with everyone.
Friday, April 11, 2008 World Record Rooster Gets Thrown Back
| By Staff Beach Times | |
There’s nothing like breaking the world record for a roosterfish in the 80-pound line class.
Maybe except for when it’s an official, International Game Fish Association (IGFA)-certified record.
Not important, says Richard Shank, who pulled in an 85- to 90-pounder (38.5 to 40.8 kilograms) in Guanacaste on the Dario, a boat from Playas del Coco, unofficially breaking the previous 66-pound (29.9 kg) record.
“I do not kill fish unless by hook kill or if I am going to eat them,” he told The Beach Times earlier in the week. (Roosterfish meat is most definitely edible, but not too popular with seafood diners.)
Notoriously, live bait will bring around the most roosters (Nematistius pectoralis), which is what Mr Shank found out using a greenjack, or cocinero.
The roosterfish, or gallo as it’s called in Spanish, is a member of the jack family, and gets its common name from its “rooster comb” of a dorsal fin — the species is said to be one of the most exciting inshore fishes on the line.
This upcoming weekend anglers will be heading farther offshore for some slightly bigger game during the 12th Annual Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica Sport Fishing Tournament, in which both private and charter boats are scored on their release of sailfish, blue marlin and striped marlin.
A world billfish series-sanctioned event, the three-day tournament begins Saturday with teams trolling in waters eight to 10 miles off-shore using dead bait called ballyhoo. Per Costa Rican Fishing Law, circle hooks, say organizers, are used for a safe catch and release.
The difference between a circle hook and a J-hook, is in the design of the hook. “A J-hook is tougher to get out of the fish; it does damage,” explained Tournament Director Joan Vernon, during last year’s event.
“To make sure the fish is in good health upon its release we either cut the leader very close to the hook, or remove the hook entirely.”
Monies raised from the team entrance fees — last year about $20,000 was raised — benefit the conservation efforts of the Billfish Foundation and OSPESCA (Organización del Sector Pesquero y Acuícola del Istmo Centroamericano).
http://thebeachtimes.com/article.php?id=3
