Captain David and the Super Panga Explorer embodies the ideal of big things coming in small packages. The 26 foot brawler packs the punch of boat twice her size and David has the heart of a Welterweight Champion at the console.
For the construction history and video of the maiden voyage of the Explorer, check out the Explorer Story.
On March 17, Captain Jack and Matty took some time off from dialing-in the new Safari Carts long enough to join Captain David for a quick 2 hour evening trip. In this short time Jack ripped in this 40lbs. Cuberra.
With dinner in the box, Matty ordered the appetizer in the form of a football-sized Yellowfin tuna. This was the first of 11 trips in 12 days for Matty and Jack (they were installing the stereo and working on the Explorer on the off day). Nice first trip to the fish market!
Jack and Matty along with clients Jim and Bryan were out on the Explorer getting some fishing in on March 18. After boating a few small Yellowfins, Matty nailed this Cuberra Snapper late in the day on a 2.5 hour evening trip.
Captain David kept things moving for Matty and Jack on the Explorer with hot action all afternoon on March 19. They got several nice Yellowfins, a 20lbs. Rainbow Runner, and had a massive Cuberra straighten a 9/0 circle hook into a hat pin. This boat is constantly on top of the Yellows and David knows how to bring them home.
On March 23 we had a little idea: What better way to prepare for the Ship of Fools Tournament than a little intersquad scrimmage between the Wanderer and the Explorer?
On the Super Panga was Captain David, Craig, Matty, and Jack who had their sights set on Sailfish. After the daily round-up of stray tunas on the ride out, Captain David set the TLDs out in a classic Bait-and-switch high speed spread.
Around 10am the first bill started shopping the baits, first the short line, then the long outrigger, and finally settling on a bonefish rigged on the shotgun line. The line screamed off and Jack locked in for the battle.
In a shockingly efficent fight, Jack brought the Sailfish home in 8 minutes. Great work by Captain David to deliver Captain Jack's first-ever Pacific Sailfish.
Captain David on the Explorer is doing great things for all our clients big and small. Check out this great Cuberra Snapper these little dudes pulled in on a three hour sunset cruise on March 24.
These sunset cruises are a fantastic way for youngsters to learn the craft of sportfishing without committing to a full day out on the ocean.
The Explorer was back on duty the morning of March 25 with client Luke and early half day. They got off to a quick start, catching a 20lbs. Dorado and a football-sized Yellowfin Tuna.
Around 11am the billfish woke up and began assaulting the Explorer's spread. In less than an hour they raised three Sailfish and released two. Excellent action no matter how you slice it!
For a victory lap, Luke and David visited the inshore reef for a quick casting session and once again put the hooks into an incredible fish... a 60lbs. Rooster Fish!
We are still waiting on that picture, but keep an eye out for it on the Daily Updates of the FishingNosara Blog!
After the Ship of Fools, we knew there would be no post tournament letdown for the Explorer. Captain David on the barroom brawler called the Explorer caught a white tuna, a 25lbs. Yellowfin tuna, and a 45lbs. Dorado. Excellent trip!
On April 1 Captain David took clients Michael and Sarah out on the Explorer for a 2.5 hour morning trip. They found hot action at a very famous reef just off of Garza called Picha Padre. On this very short trip they caught a nice white tuna and three useful black tunas.
We got some great news from the Explorer on April 4. The Super Panga with the supersized heart was booked by client Kieran Charles Fleming from Michigan for a full day of offshore billfish hunting. Captain David enlisted First Mate Alex from the Wanderer for the trip, and the boys did an excellent job of putting the clients on the fish of their dreams.
First up was a nice Sailfish release estimated over 100lbs. While that may satisfy most panga boats, the Explorer is not your daddy's panga...it is a billfish hunter to the bone!
Just ask this 300lbs. Blue Marlin that Captain David and Kieran released late in the day!
The moral of this story? The fish don't care how big the boat is. The right tackle, the right captain, and a good angler are all that is required to catch the fish of a lifetime on the 26' foot giant killer...Explorer!
On the night of Sunday April 18 the General Manager of Nosara Paradise Rentals Javier Hernandez took our two newest employees out for a sunset cruise on the Explorer. Our staff is a tight-knit group of friends and family, so anytime we bring new people into the fold it is a special occasion.
Kelvin (left) has been brought on board as the chief technician for the Safari Carts. He also takes a central role in the repair and upkeep of all things mechanical and technical on the NPR campus.
Artrero (right) is a welcome addition to our office staff where he specializes in sales, client relations, and assists Manuel and Javier on the day-to-day operations. His brother is Nice n' Tight/Sportsman Captain Eduardo Carrillo.
Both of these gentlemen are doing great and we hope to have them with us for a long time.
As for the fishing, Captain David took them out to Pincha Padre and they caught some Black Tuna and a few Jacks. Nice work by the new guys and the end of an incredible month for FishingNosara's fastest rising star....Captain David Barrantes!
Also Captain William and Alex accomplished two Double Sailfish releases on separate trips, plus eight Marlin releases and tons of Sails. This crew is as good as it gets and they keep getting better...kind of scary if you are a fish.
Although our number of trips has been down the last two weeks the lucky anglers fishing are going home happy.
