Sportfishing Boat in Costa Rica Attacked by Venezuelan Pure Seiner

by TBF Staff on August 04, 2010 at 11:31AM
The purse seiner "La Rosa Mistica" encircled the sportfishing boat "Silver-Rod-O" off of Costa Rica on August 1.

The following report was received by TBF today via Gary Carter:
On Sunday, Aug 1, 2010, at approximately 3:00pm, while fishing less than 20 miles offshore of Garza, Costa Rica, the US flagged sportfishing vessel Silver-Rod-O was attacked by the Venezuelan tuna seiner, La Rosa Mistica. 

The Silver-Rod-O was fishing around a school of spinner dolphin for yellowfin tuna and billfish when the helicopter from La Rosa Mistica began circling the area. We were celebrating one of our guest's first-ever The helicopter from La Rosa Mistica circles the area around the sportfishing boat.The helicopter from La Rosa Mistica circles the area around the sportfishing boat.sailfish releases, when the seiner veered from its course and headed directly toward our boat. The helicopter then began making passes The Venezuelan purse seiner La Rosa Mistica draws closer to the sportfishing boat "Silver-Rod-O."The Venezuelan purse seiner La Rosa Mistica draws closer to the sportfishing boat "Silver-Rod-O."over us, as it circled the dolphin school. As the seiner came closer and began setting its net, the helicopter started dropping incendiary devises around us and the school of spinners. Several landed within 50 meters of our boat and there was smoke billowing from the water in all directions. We were determined to continue fishing the area and not yield our position, but the seiner headed straight toward us, threatening to either encircle us in their net or be plowed into the sea unless we abandoned the school of dolphin. Rather than endanger our guests, we retreated and watched and listened as the La Rosa Mistica closed the net and its crew obnoxiously celebrated it's victory.

What makes this most concerning is that the La Rosa Mistica is Venezuelan and is one of the several tuna seiners reportedly owned by Hugo Chavez. It was not flying a flag, except for the US flag painted on the side of its helicopter. 

This is certainly not the first encounter of its type in Costa Rican waters, but it's time that something is done about it. 

I am sending this to you in hopes that you can and will use your influence to help. 

With personal regards,

Gary Carter

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Comments
Reply
oknod7363 @
06:50AM on November 11, 2010
Perhaps torpedoes need to be requisite safety equipment?
Reply
Capt Starrs @
01:07PM on August 23, 2010
Costa Rica might be a well advertised country for tourism and fishing, but you know they are getting kick backs left and right from other countries including the Asian markets for fishing rights. They will give a developing country with a easily corrupted system the tools like roads, cell phone towers, and even money for the politicians, in exchange for all the tuna they can net. Drives me insane! Coming from a American Capt in Guatemala where it hasn't gotten that bad, but it is going that direction. I hope those bastards get what they deserve.
Reply
MadDog @
07:14AM on August 05, 2010
Great article. I was on the boat and it was a very intense experience. Jim Van Voorhies
Reply
carolina magic @
01:27PM on August 04, 2010
I had a similar encounter off Cabo Blanco on my boat "Carolina Magic." This was 2 years ago. The purse seiner looked the same, but was named Andrea B,and the chopper was yellow. The helicopter buzzed by so low that it bumped my single side band antennae. I had a verbal exchange with the captain of Andrea B. They opted to leave. I was told it was one of Hugo Chavez boats, but it was flying a Nicaraguan flag. Capt. Gregg Penley
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