2010 Marlin University Destinations

Costa Rica

Join us in Carrillo Beach, Costa Rica for the first class of the year.

From December through April, considered Carrillo’s prime fishing season, anglers find sunny skies and flat-calm seas. In 9 years we’ve never had a rough day in Costa Rica. Top anglers make the trip to Carrillo for the marlin bite and a good supply of blue, striped and black marlin keep them coming back. In Carrillo, you don’t have to run very far to find the fish, a typical day usually means a run between 12 and 20 miles. It’s this variety of species that makes Carrillo stand out among other hot spots along Costa Rica’s rich coastline.

Once the course ends, there’s is also plenty to explore in Costa Rica’s natural splendor. Non-fishing guests can enjoy river kayaking, horseback riding or soar through the forest canopy on a zip line tour.  An angler’s and naturalist’s paradise, Costa Rica awaits those who have a sense of adventure!

Isla Mujeres, Mexico

Long known for containing one of the Atlantic Ocean’s largest concentrations of sailfish, Isla Mujeres draws a multitude of boats to its prolific waters each spring. From January through March, a large influx of bait holds huge numbers of eager Atlantic sails, with some top crews releasing 50 or more fish a day. Marlin U hopes to hit the latter part of the season, where we can get in on the sail bite and the white and blue marlin that show up in March. Grand slams (catching three species in a day) are a real possibility here, and we expect to get at least a couple of shots at this rare feat during our four days on this island paradise.

Typical fishing here entails pulling naked ballyhoo and teasers and pitching bait to sails, whites or blue marlin that venture into the spread on the teasers.

Isla Mujeres boasts an international reputation for record-setting numbers of billfish bites, so we have high hopes for our students at this new destination.

Galapagos, Ecuador

Made famous by Charles Darwin's visit on the Beagle and the resulting theory of evolution that followed, the Galapagos Islands also hold huge numbers of striped and blue marlin. During several months each spring, anglers lucky enough to visit these breathtaking islands can experience some of the hottest marlin action on the planet. Twenty marlin bites a day are not uncommon when the fishing really heats up. Still considered a bit of an adventure trip, this Marlin session will instantly make you a member of the small group of anglers who can say they’ve fished these storied waters.

Onshore, you’ll also get a chance to witness some of the rare and beautiful plant and animal life that inspired Darwin on his first trip. Once again, this trip is a first for Marlin U and represents a once-in-a-lifetime chance to fish in waters once closed to the recreational angler.

Top-notch accommodations and a surprisingly vibrant cultural experience await those with a spirit of adventure — especially since we get to spend a night in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, on both our way in and our way out.

Guatemala

We’re going back to this Guatemalan fishing destination to take advantage of the area’s huge number of sailfish. With up to 20 shots a day at times, Guatemala is the perfect place to learn the intricacies of the bait-and-switch. If calm waters and multiple shots at marlin and sailfish excite you, the Pacific coast of Guatemala is your paradise.

Guatemala is no longer known for just being the world’s best place for sailfish because the marlin bite in Guatemala has been second to none in 2009. After a day on the water, Casa Vieja Lodge provides you with the ultimate refuge in which to rejuvenate yourself and share the day’s action with your classmates.

Kona, Hawaii

It's a commonly known fact among big-game fishermen that Hawaii is the only place in the world that can boast about catching a grander blue marlin in every month of the year. Sitting out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, Hawaii and the legendary fishing community of Kona, in particular, enjoy a good number of blue marlin catches all year long, with the peak marlin bite taking place during the summer months. Kona is also known as the birthplace of lure fishing for marlin, and crews here certainly know their lures and how to pull them. Several of the world’s most renowned lure makers call Hawaii home, and crews get plenty of practice pulling these jewel-like offerings to the abundant supply of billfish that wait just yards offshore. But this is also a great venue to learn the art of live-baiting for marlin, and we are sure to spend at least part of each day fishing live baits, something we don’t get to do very often at Marlin U.