Episode 703: Billfish: Battle on the Line?

Along Central America’s coastline, ranging from Guatemala south to Panama, recreational fishing is big business. The unique oceanographic conditions of the eastern tropical Pacific make the area one of the best spots in the world for big game anglers to hook billfish. But intense pressures from commercial fishing operations have taken their toll on the numbers of sailfish and marlin in the region. Scientists with the University of Miami Billfish Research Program are using an ecosystems approach to study the animals, by integrating complex oceanographic data with high tech research tools. The ultimate goal is to develop local and region-wide conservation initiatives that ensure billfish populations remain sustainable for years to come.

Experts

Meet the experts featured in this episode.

Episode Photos

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Costa Rica’s scenic Pacific coastline.

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UM Graduate Student Bruce Pohlot reels in a sailfish.

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Captain Donald McGuiness watching the fishing lines below.

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First Mate José Moya bringing a sailfish up to the boat.

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First Mate José Moya holds on to a sailfish as UM’s Mark Fitchett, Ph.D. prepares to satellite tag the animal. Cameraman Allan Farrell captures the action.

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UM’s Mark Fitchett, Ph.D. satellite tags a sailfish. The tags collect valuable data about the movements of the fish.

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UM’s Mark Fitchett, Ph.D. satellite tags a sailfish. The tags collect valuable data about the movements of the fish.

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A satellite-tagged sailfish.

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A satellite-tagged sailfish.

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A satellite-tagged sailfish swims away.

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A sailfish swims away after it has been satellite-tagged.

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UM Graduate Student Bruce Pohlot and First Mate José Moya rig up a DredgePro to capture underwater footage of fish hitting the bait.

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A billfish caught on a longline, a type of commercial fishing gear that primarily targets tuna and mahi mahi in the region.

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In Costa Rica it is still legal to fish for billfish, which are sold on the local market.

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Costa Rican fishing vessels operating out of Punta Arenas.

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A longline used in the commercial fishery in Costa Rica.

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Hooks used on a commercial longline.

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Big Game fishing is big business in Costa Rica. The Los Suenos Marina is home to a large number of luxury sportfishing boats and yachts.

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Cameraman Sean Hickey films big game anglers in Guatemala.

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A marlin jumps for the camera off Guatemala’s Pacific coast.

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Billfish, like this marlin, are a spectacular sight.

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Recreational fishermen catch a marlin in Guatemala.

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Big game anglers with their catch off Guatemala’s Pacific coast.

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A sailfish jumps after being hooked.

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A sailfish caught on a fishing line. In Central America, recreational fishermen “catch and release” billfish.

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A sailfish.

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Recreational fishing brings jobs and income to Guatemala.

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Nelson Ehrhardt, Ph.D. from the University of Miami Billfish Research Program gives a presentation about sailfish research to guests at the Casa Vieja Lodge in Guatemala.

Special Thanks:

Casa Vieja Lodge
Puerto San José, Guatemala
US Address:
9024 SW 152nd Street
Palmetto Bay, FL 33157
1 (800) 882-4665

Crocodile Bay Resort
Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
US Address:
1250 North McDowell
Petaluma, CA 94954
1 (800) 733-1115

Dragin Fly
Los Suenos Marina, Costa Rica
George Beckwith Jr.
(252) 671-3474

Trollpro
1 (800) 378-1965

Zing Products, Inc.
12 Kendrick Road
Wareham, MA 02571
(508) 295-2444

Image Credits

Changing Seas would like to thank the following individuals and institutions who kindly allowed their footage, images and other media to be used in this production:

Manoel Cifuentes
MAGA/DIPESCA GUATEMALA

Fish Tank Sportfishing

Sierra Goodman
The Divine Dolphin

Greenpeace

Guy Harvey

Chris Jessen

José Moya

Oceana

Melisa Ramirez

Capt. Chris Sheeder

TrollPro

UM Billfish Research Program

Special Thanks:
Elisa Badillo Abascal
Jose Alvarenga
Juan Carlos Alvarenga
Anna Beckwith
Ashley Bretecher
Yuri Carranza
Manoel Cifuentes
Flavio Del Pino
Luis Diaz
Sridevi Eppili
Christopher Franco
Gerardo “Chicho” Guadamuz
Rocio Guido
Maria Hechavarria
Franz Hoffman
Gwen Junod
Robert E. Lee, Jr.
Christopher Lynch
Thomas McGuinness
Kelly Perry
Sandra Ramírez
Karen Richason
Kristen Salazar
Chelsea Torres
Diana Udel
Sofía Valverde
Aitor Villegas

Episode 703: Billfish: Battle on the Line?

Experts

Nelson Ehrhardt, Ph.D.

Mark Fitchett, Ph.D.

Bruce Pohlot

Cory Williams

Enrique Ramírez-Guier

Tim Choate

Todd Staley

José Sebastián Marcucci

Robert Nunes

Mauricio Gonzalez Gutiérrez

Donald McGuinness

José Moya

Special Thanks:

Image Credits

Funding for this episode of Changing Seas was provided by: