For Immediate Release

It’s Marlin Season! Catch the Big One – or Attempt to – With a Sport Fishing Charter from Peninsula Papagayo

GUANACASTE PROVINCE, COSTA RICA – Big fish – marlin in particular - are biting at the height of the big game fishing season on the northwestern Pacific coast of Costa Rica, just offshore from the luxury Peninsula Papagayo resort.

Sport fishermen or adventurous amateur anglers looking to nail the big one and earn a “whale of a tale” that lasts a lifetime can now book a sport fishing charter from Marina Papagayo with Billfish Safaris, an veteran Costa Rican sport fishing charter company with a fleet of 12 fully equipped vessels ranging in size from 26’ to 42’ in length and staffed by certified, experienced, enthusiastic captains and crew.

If it’s a world record you’re after, or even the biggest, fiercest fish you’ve ever had to wrangle with, you will likely score with a Billfish Safaris charter. Contracted to serve residents and guests of Peninsula Papagayo and yachtsmen mooring their vessels at Marina Papagayo, Billfish Safaris has 14 years of experience fishing inshore and offshore in Pacific Costa Rica.

The sport fishing charter fleet is a significant enhancement to the diverse array of active, intriguing, exotic pursuits offered at Peninsula Papagayo and Marina Papagayo. Peninsula Papagayo, a 2,300-acre luxury resort has a Four Seasons Resort Hotel with a full menu of eco-tourism activities. The resort also offers an Arnold Palmer Golf Course and clubhouse, tennis courts and the exclusive Prieta Beach Club & Spa. Peninsula Papagayo is slated to have 500 residences at build out.

The fleet of 12 vessels will be moored at Marina Papagayo and will running charters by Feb. 15, 2009, according to Darrell Furton, manager of the Billfish Safaris, and Capt. Dan Eaffaldano, General Manager of Marina Papagayo and President of Brandy Marine International’s Costa Rican operations.

Full-day offshore (15 to 35 nautical miles) sport fishing charters and half-day inshore (8 nautical miles) charters are offered. Boats are equipped with safety equipment, full electronics, International Game Fish Association (IGFA) certified tackle, bait, fighting chair, head (on some boats), air-conditioned cabins (on some boats) and other amenities necessary for a fun, memorable and safe fishing trip.

Offshore fishing charters are aimed at catching blue, black, and striped marlin, sailfish, yellow fin tuna and dorado. Inshore charters are seeking roosterfish, Spanish mackerel, bonito, snapper, grouper, dorado and wahoo. Full-day trips include lunch, beverages (beer, soda, water, juice), fruit, ice and snacks. Half-day trips include beverages (beer, soda, water, juice), fruit, ice and snacks.

Billfish Safaris also operates the official IGFA weigh station for northern Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Several world record catches have been recorded by Billfish Safaris at the IGFA station. Customized snorkeling, beach-going, sunset tours and sightseeing tours are also offered.

Marina Papagayo plans to add other sport fishing charters and other types of boat charters in the future.

Marina Papagayo, which opened in December, 2008, offers yachtsmen a safe, state-of-the-art harbor for their mega-yachts and sport fishing boats. The marina has 180 wet slips, an innovative floating dock system, ultra-wide slips and fairways, in-slip amenities, a fuel dock, a Customs & Immigration office, a swimming pool, a ship’s store, a bar and restaurant and other landside amenities. A Marina Village with shops, restaurants, nightclubs and condominiums is under construction. At build-out, Marina Papagayo plans to have 350 wet slips and a 200-unit dry storage facility.

Brandy Marine International, L.L.C. of Sarasota, FL has been involved in Marina Papagayo with design and consulting services and assistance in overseeing construction. Brandy Marine is managing the marina with Capt. Eaffaldano at the helm. Brandy Marine is a 32-year-old marina management, design and consulting firm that has been or is currently involved in marina projects in the U.S. and in other countries, including Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Panama, the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

Brandy Marine executives Capt. Bruce H. Blomgren, President and CEO, and Diana Michel, Director of Marketing and Sales, will be at the Miami International Boat Show Feb. 12-16 to share information on Marina Papagayo and other marina projects.

For information on Marina Papagayo and/or sport fishing charters from the marina, contact Capt. Dan Eaffaldano at 1-888-863-0301 or 011-506-2690-3600 or via email at dan.eaffaldano@marinapapagayo.com. For Founder’s Yacht Club Membership slip sales, contact Diana Michel at dmichel@brandymarine.com or 941-806-0860.