Full disclosure: I’m a FishingBooker employee and this fishing trip was organized as an annual corporate retreat.

This was the first offshore trip for most of us, and most definitely an unforgettable one! The day started off uneventfully at 9 AM, with the first hours of trolling yielding nothing. Around noon, the fish started biting and we quickly boated a few nice sized Mahi Mahi and Bonito. Captain Luke and mate Chin were very friendly (despite Chin having a fever during the trip), and taught us some fun facts about the area and fishing in general. They were also very patient with the beginners, and the captain was happy to reply to all of our questions. The captain and the mate respected our wish to catch and release, making sure that every fish was released as gently as possible.

The fishing highlight of the day was a 7’ Sailfish, which we successfully landed after a 20-minute fight. The Sailfish made a couple of huge jumps during the fight, which was an incredible experience for everyone on the boat. The fish was hooked nicely in the corner of its mouth and the crew made sure it was released and swam away unharmed after taking a few amazing photos. They were very professional and efficient during this process – it took them less than 15 seconds or so to get the fish out of the water, bring it to the front part of the boat, and release it back.

And what about the vessel? Even though this boat is the smallest one in the fleet, it’s more than big enough to allow for comfortable fishing and cruising. A central console is perfect for trolling, as it may get hectic on board once the fish is hooked. It provides lots of space for moving around, hence more people can easily fish at the same time without the lines getting tangled. Cold bottled water and sodas were always accessible on board, which was very important given the fact that the weather was hot, especially around noon. There were also enough compartments for our belongings (cameras, phones, bags, etc.)

Trolling leaves plenty of time to chill and relax on the water while moving from one spot to another, and we enjoyed these moments as much as the action. We were blessed by great weather and overall it was an amazing day of sun, fun, and fishing action.

Our second day of fishing aboard Soolyman – 32’ Yellowfin 1 started at 7 AM. Initially, we were worried about the weather, but the wind quickly subsided and conditions for fishing were good. We tried various fishing techniques, including trolling, live baiting Bonito for Sailfish, as well as casting lures for Mahi, Barracuda, and Bonito (the captain called them ‘Bunnies’) around the tankers.

Everybody on the boat caught fish, with at least 6 nice-sized Mahi released by the end of the day, along with a couple of Bonito. We also had two Sailfish takes over the course of the day, one on live Bonito and one on trolling. The live Bonito take was magnificent to watch as the Sailfish was barely 3 meters from the boat and we saw it on the sonar prior to the take. A fight ensued with spectacular jumps, but we didn’t set the hook well and it got away. However, this experience proved that fishing is so much more than just catching – we enjoyed every second of this fight!

With no first mate was onboard, the more experienced anglers among us got to learn how to land Bull Mahi safely for catch and release. They also learned how to tie a few fishing knots for trolling. First-time anglers had a blast on this trip, too – captain Luke’s passion and excitement were contagious, and he made us fall in love with fishing! We also appreciated his love of nature and marine life – he was more than happy to teach us everything he knew about local species, as well as fish and fishing in general, especially Tuna fishing. We even got to see turtles and sea snakes, and learn more about them as well. Captain Luke did everything possible to make us feel comfortable, teach us new things, and keep us involved. Fishing with him was a wonderful experience – both thrilling and educational, both action-packed and relaxing. We would definitely recommend Soolyman – 32’ Yellowfin 1 to both novice and experienced anglers!