On March 11, 2014 just before 1 p.m. while fishing on the 42’ Maverick, “Spanish Fly”, out of Los Sueños Resort and Marina, the unbelievable happened!
The day started off like so many others on a charter trip out of Los Suenos Marina in Herradura, Costa Rica. The clients and crew were aboard the 42’ Maverick custom sport fisherman. Spanish Fly, usually under the command of Capt Daniel Espinosa who had just logged 30,000 hour at sea and only a couple of months ago recorded 10,000 billfish had come to the boat for release. Capt. Juan Carlos Fallas, aka Juanca was relieving Daniel for the day and was at the helm.
Every blue water billfisherman eyes the water behind the boat for hours on end, day after day, knowing he will see fish, and dreaming of seeing a really exciting and unique fish. And so it was on March 11, 2014 after more than 1,000 days at sea on charter fishing boats, over 8,000 hours of watching the water, First Mate of the Spanish Fly, Carlos Espinosa Jimenez, aka “Pollo” sees something never seen before. Pollo sounded the universal alarm: “Left long teaser”
Captain Juan Carlos makes a casual comment that this crazy fish is coming in upside down. With long time charter clients Bob and Karen Weaver in the cockpit, it was soon realized that it was a marlin, but it was pure white. An albino blue marlin. Really? Suddenly the adrenalin levels of all go through the roof.
The boat’s crew is now accelerating at lightning speed as second mate Roberto “Chela” Salinas sees the fish fade and then go for the left long rigger. At least it is easy to see the fish. The rod leaves the rod holder in Chela’s capable hands having done the exact same thing thousands of times. HOOK UP! Angler Karen Weaver from New York sets up for battle with a big fish on 30 pound tackle. Nothing new to her as she has done this many times over and has several “Grand Slams” to her credit. It is husband Bob who we can all thank for the photos, started filming the best he could with all the excitement in this 2 hour and 45 minute fight to release this fish to fight another day.
The skill, endurance and dedication of Karen Weaver is testament to her years of fishing experience. Using 30lb test line and a #7 circle hook she landed a “10 to 1” on line test, and the fish had her by over 200lbs. Quite a feat for any angler, and a lifetime memory!
Now Corporate Captain for the Maverick fleet, Daniel “Danny” Espinosa said “There could not have been a better team in the cockpit to handle this historic catch. These people have been fishing for years, and calm and professional action by the angler and the crew was necessary to land such a unique fish. I am certain that the marine biologists would have loved to get their hands on this fish. While the fish is lost to science, she remains in the sea where she belongs”. Thinking like the fisherman that he is, Daniel knows that she is still out there, and one can dream. After all, it is Los Suenos and Costa Rica!
Congratulations to Karen and Bob Weaver, Captain “Juanca” Fallas at the helm, 1st Mate Carlos “Pollo” Espinosa, and to 2nd Mate “Chela” Salinas.
Bob and Karen Weaver fish a lot with us said Cindy Mumford from Maverick Sportfishing Tours and they always help us increase the numbers on our catch reports.
Maverick Yachts of Costa Rica, Maverick Sportfishing Tours and Grey Taxidermy are presenting a complementary mount to Karen Weaver to preserve this day for her and her family. The mount will be so named the “Karen Weaver-Maverick Albino Blue Marlin”.
And that’s no fish story!
For Maverick Yachts Costa Rica and or Maverick Sportfishing Tours information email Cindy Munford at info@mavericksportfish.com or call: (800) 405-8206 or (866) 888-6426.
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