CR to GALAPAGOS...

[parmentj]

If there are times in life when inhibitions need to be thrown to the wind this was one of those times. When my good buddy Pete Bordes invited me to fish the Galapagos Islands with Pete Santini and Andy Locascio in the middle of what can only be described as an epic striped marlin bite, I didn't think twice. I was already going to be in Costa Rica for spring break the week prior, so I immediately rerouted my return flight to Ecuador.

The fishing in Costa Rica was a bit slow as the water was hanging around 88.5 - 89 degrees, but we did manage to release 3 sails and a nice blue that inhaled an all black marlinstar...

Getting to the Galapagos wasn't as logistically challenging as you might imagine, however it typically takes two days no matter how you slice it. Once I arrived in Guayaquil Ecuador, I shot over to the Sheraton for brief sleep and then made my way back to the airport to catch a flight to San Cristobal the following morning. The 600 mile flight to the islands was a brief one hour and 40 min trip.

Once I arrived I made my way into town, which sits right on top of San Cristobal harbor, and checked into my hotel. The accommodations were more than sufficient for a fishing crew.

After throwing my bags in the room, I popped a few beers and waited with a couple hundred sea lions for the guys to get in from the first day of fishing (I arrived a day late). The boys got in and the fishing seemed a bit slow, they only had 2 to the boat and a mystery bite on a yellowfin that hit a wide range...

The next three days would be far different...

We had at least 30 fish behind the boat every day and at least 20 shots. From pitching ballyhoo on spinners to jigging up the island's first African Pompano this trip was EPIC.

Jackson

[sushi42]

SICK STUFF RIGHT THERE JACKSON!

Been waiting for this report, nice.

[Charlie Wade]

Great report and pics -- thanks for sharing!

[seaworm1]

Excellent photo spread. Sounds like a killer trip!

[Hrdhittin]

Amazing pics.

[backman]

smart move. The work will always be there next week.

Skipjack canyon trips are just never going to be the same for you....

[parmentj]

LB:
That little group of islands can't compare to a Skipjack canyon trip, especially Veatch in June...

[parmentj]

Here are a few shots from CR. Dave got some great shots of the the blue. We originally though it was a black, but the pictures tell a different story...

Check out the snub nose.

[tunaddiction]

Awesome pics jackson ...looks like it lived up to everything we expected it to be...should hold us off until the summer time

[Fathom40]

Way to go Jackson! Sushi42 told me to get online to see your shots and they are awesome. I had another fishing bud just get back from CR and he did great will the sails with his sons but nothing like you guys did with the marlin! It's all about creating memories, not waiting for them to happen. Thanks for sharing your great adventure.

BTW...I saw the video of you and EJ landing BFT last fall. Great stuff!

Sam