First off thank you very much Angry Marlin Sportfishing and especially to you Capt. Jose, you saved our lives!
It wasn?t our plan that failed; it was more like we failed to plan.
Taking a trip to Costa Rica was something my buddies and I thought about doing forever. Even though we had always talked about taking the trip I don?t believe we knew exactly how to prepare for it. It is easy to forget the minor details when all you want to do is leave your job and stress behind and go on vacation. At least it?s easy for three guys to forget the minor details like planning activities and things to do. We rushed and we paid the price for it several times over.
We learned that having a boat does not qualify someone to charter passengers and keep them safe! We made the mistake of hiring one of those guys off the beach in Herradura Bay near Jaco to take us out fishing.? At the time we were totally focused on haggling with these beach boys for the cheapest price trip we could find.? In hindsight it would have been better to check around online, and compare charter boat services.? We should have send out a few emails asking questions and gauging answers to see if we were dealing with qualified professionals or some dude with a boat.? Because we learned the hard way that not all charter boats here in Costa Rica are equal.? My advice pay the few bucks extra, because it cost money to maintain a boat!
This guy?s boat looked clean and nice when we stepped aboard but little did we know lurking under the decking was a boat full of wire rot and in a total state of disrepair from all the quick patches made from other emergency fixes that had not then been properly repaired back at shore.? I mean this boat was nothing but bypassed system fuses, bad connections and a single bad battery when there was suppose to be two on the system.?Of course we didn’t find this out till after we were stranded at sea for two days with no food or water after the alternator shorted out and drained down the only battery onboard.
If it weren?t for you Capt Jose, fishing in the area and seeing us flag you down we might have never made it back to shore.? You had all the tools and knowledge necessary to handle situations like this.?Compared to “Capt. Clueless” who only had a screw driver and a pair of pliers and didn’t even know what was wrong with his own boat.? He didn’t even have a functioning radio or flashlight onboard!? When you couldn?t fix his alternator, we figured you would just leave us there and radio for help.Thank goodness for your generosity, you gave us food and drinks and then towed us back to port.
I know that “Capt. Clueless” did not reimburse you for the extra fuel you spent, even after he promised you he would out at sea, but it did buy you something else.? Our respect, loyalty and continued patronage.?We have been out with you now 2 times since then and will only fish with you from now on here in Costa Rica.? Each time we have fished with you we have been impressed with the attention to detail and level of professionalism you and your crew show.? We have always caught fish, had a great time and enjoyed your friendship.? Thank you for your service to us and our country!? Please pass on this word to the wise for us and let everyone know a little time spent on the internet or the phone asking your captain questions along with some simple planning could save you from an ordeal like ours.??We highly recommend to everyone the services of Angry Marlin Sportfishing and Capt Jose, he’s a stand up guy!? We are glad to have met him 54 miles offshore!
Thank you,
Webb, Phil, Dale, and Tom
The Dudes on The Boat.
