Los Sueños, Costa Rica, Hosts the First Ladies-Only Event.
Los Sueños, Costa Rica, Hosts the First Ladies-Only Event. With the help of Marlin Senior Editor Capt. Jen Copeland, South Florida tournament-winning angler Debbi David, Jupiter-based charter mate Chessy Ricca, and marine photographer Hannes Ribbner, we were off and running as we headed to Los Sueños Resort for three days of fishing with the Maverick Fly boats. We were rewarded with a class of eight gung-ho women, who had little to no dead-bait experience, especially when it came to billfish, from all corners of the US, ready to rumble!
The Marlin U curriculum consisted of splitting up the ladies into two groups, each having a day to fish with each of the instructors. Copeland started the session on Day One on the ride out, going over the procedures of dead-baiting: how to hold the rod, recognize a bite, feed the fish, use the drag and the importance of creating angles to get—and stay—tight. They all watched and listened intently.
Nothing compares to the feeling you get—as teachers and mentors—seeing eight ladies, completely out of their comfort zone just days before, gain the real confidence they all were searching for.
In three full days of fishing, the first-ever all-ladies Marlin University class of 2020 had a total of 58 catches from 94 sailfish bites. And in our book, anything over a 50 percent hookup ratio is pretty good for newbies, male or female. Our job was done, at least for that week, and we are still as confident as ever that women do make the best anglers. We hope their Marlin University memories last forever.
To fish with us in Costa Rica for the next LADIES ONLY Marlin University, Save the Date: March 9th- 14th, 2021.
