One Day, One Anlger, Twelve Atlantic Sailfish, New Record
http://www.riverandreef.com/articlelive/articles/212/1/One-Day-One-Anlger-Twelve-Atlantic-Sailfish-New-Record/Page1.html
Nassim Joaquin
By Nassim Joaquin
Published on 02/6/2010
After 8 years of targeting an Atlantic sailfish on fly record, angler Nassim Joaquin has found his magic number. Fishing with Captain Anthony Mendillio and mate Ruben Pena aboard the 48 ft Cabo " Chachalaca" , Joaquin caught and released 12 fish in one day and a total of 18 during a two day period.
On the first day Nassim caught six fish. just one shy of his own personal record of 7. " We tried to the raise the bar and were almost there but the weather was against us" he said. After that day the team knew they were seeing a great bite and tons of bait to hold the sailfish. Still, nothing prepared Nassim for what he would see the next day.
Read the full story, see more pictures and get the information on tackle by clicking full story below.
On the first day Nassim caught six fish. just one shy of his own personal record of 7. " We tried to the raise the bar and were almost there but the weather was against us" he said. After that day the team knew they were seeing a great bite and tons of bait to hold the sailfish. Still, nothing prepared Nassim for what he would see the next day.
Read the full story, see more pictures and get the information on tackle by clicking full story below.
After 8 years of targeting an Atlantic sailfish on fly record, angler Nassim Joaquin has found his magic number. Fishing with Captain Anthony Mendillio and mate Ruben Pena aboard the 48 ft Cabo " Chachalaca" , Joaquin caught and released 12 fish in one day and a total of 18 during a two day period.
On the first day Nassim caught six fish. just one shy of his own personal record of 7. " We tried to the raise the bar and were almost there but the weather was against us" he said. After that day the team knew they were seeing a great bite and tons of bait to hold the sailfish. Still, nothing prepared Nassim for what he would see the next day.
On February 1st , 2010 the crew headed to the grounds north of Contoy Island. In almost perfect fishing conditions they started working the prolific baitballs of sardines.
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"There were so many fish in the sardine bait balls you could not believe it. It was like seeing rising trout and everywhere there were birds, " Joaquin said. This was the beginning of a busy day for the angler and crew as Nassim explained " The bite was non stop, I had not a minute to rest! It was fish after fish and I did not have time to eat or even put on sunblock" he said. " I broke some off, pulled the hook, you name it but I finally reached the magic number 12 ! ".
Twelve Atlantic sailfish on fly in one day is a incredible feat by one angler. But why 12 you might ask? Nassim explains, " The record of 10 fish in a day was set by my friends Joe Zimmer and Captain Butch Cox on the boat Prime Time back in 2005." It is a record Nassim has been wanting to break for a long time, "You know I've been coming back every year to Isla Mujeres waiting for the sails to come to me. Finally they did, in force" he said.
What also makes this feat so incredible and sets it apart from most other "billfish on fly achievements" is the way they fished. Normally when targeting marlin and sailfish species the fish have to be switch baited or teased into taking a fly. In this case all of the fish were caught freecasting a fly into the baitballs. Joaquin explains further "All of them were caught freecasting, no teasing. As for the flies we matched the hatch, the sardines, and used only blue and white colors" he said adding "it was like sight fishing for tarpon only with 100 feet deep water difference".
The fly gear Nassim used consisted of a 14 weight Cam Sigler rod a 13 weight Sage RPLX rod paired with Tibor reels. The fly lines and 20 lb IGFA rated tippets were by RIO. The flies used were Cam Sigler's Captain Hook Fish Fly, Joe Kononchik's streamers and Flashy Profile flies from H2O.
Nassim, who is also the local International Game Fish Association Representative (IGFA) for Cozumel, gave much credit to his Captain and crewman, " It was a 100% team effort and Captain Anthony Mendillo was the man. Along with mate Ruben Pena they deserve a huge part of the credit " he said. In describing Captain Mendillo he said "Anthony Mendillo can find fish and will work to the very end. He is one of the top captains I have ever fished with." Joaquin now has the record for the most Atlantic sailfish taken on fly by one angler in a single day. He summed it up by saying simply " I am very happy".
On the first day Nassim caught six fish. just one shy of his own personal record of 7. " We tried to the raise the bar and were almost there but the weather was against us" he said. After that day the team knew they were seeing a great bite and tons of bait to hold the sailfish. Still, nothing prepared Nassim for what he would see the next day.
On February 1st , 2010 the crew headed to the grounds north of Contoy Island. In almost perfect fishing conditions they started working the prolific baitballs of sardines.
View Larger Map
"There were so many fish in the sardine bait balls you could not believe it. It was like seeing rising trout and everywhere there were birds, " Joaquin said. This was the beginning of a busy day for the angler and crew as Nassim explained " The bite was non stop, I had not a minute to rest! It was fish after fish and I did not have time to eat or even put on sunblock" he said. " I broke some off, pulled the hook, you name it but I finally reached the magic number 12 ! ".
Twelve Atlantic sailfish on fly in one day is a incredible feat by one angler. But why 12 you might ask? Nassim explains, " The record of 10 fish in a day was set by my friends Joe Zimmer and Captain Butch Cox on the boat Prime Time back in 2005." It is a record Nassim has been wanting to break for a long time, "You know I've been coming back every year to Isla Mujeres waiting for the sails to come to me. Finally they did, in force" he said.
What also makes this feat so incredible and sets it apart from most other "billfish on fly achievements" is the way they fished. Normally when targeting marlin and sailfish species the fish have to be switch baited or teased into taking a fly. In this case all of the fish were caught freecasting a fly into the baitballs. Joaquin explains further "All of them were caught freecasting, no teasing. As for the flies we matched the hatch, the sardines, and used only blue and white colors" he said adding "it was like sight fishing for tarpon only with 100 feet deep water difference".
The fly gear Nassim used consisted of a 14 weight Cam Sigler rod a 13 weight Sage RPLX rod paired with Tibor reels. The fly lines and 20 lb IGFA rated tippets were by RIO. The flies used were Cam Sigler's Captain Hook Fish Fly, Joe Kononchik's streamers and Flashy Profile flies from H2O.
Nassim, who is also the local International Game Fish Association Representative (IGFA) for Cozumel, gave much credit to his Captain and crewman, " It was a 100% team effort and Captain Anthony Mendillo was the man. Along with mate Ruben Pena they deserve a huge part of the credit " he said. In describing Captain Mendillo he said "Anthony Mendillo can find fish and will work to the very end. He is one of the top captains I have ever fished with." Joaquin now has the record for the most Atlantic sailfish taken on fly by one angler in a single day. He summed it up by saying simply " I am very happy".