| WINNER BIO | WINNER BLOG | EQUIPMENT LOG | TRAVEL LOG |
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New Jersey breeds a lot of fisherman, and Rick DiBruno is one of the most passionate. Having grown up in South Philly, Rick’s family summered in Wildwood, New Jersey where his father starting him fishing at 6-years-old. He was immediately ‘smitten’ by it. Although his family didn’t have too much means, they were able to rent a row boat from Captain Charley’s in Atlantic City. For the most part, Rick and his father caught ‘trash fish’ – sharks, oysters, crabs – but he was happy with anything he caught. As Rick got older, he started fishing off the beach, under bridges and in the back bay off a boat. “I crafted myself into a decent back bay fisherman. Most of my fishing now is iin the back bay.” After tackling the back bay waters of fishing, Rick yearns for the giant opportunity of going sailfishing off the warm waters of Costa Rica. “It would be so amazing, I just dream about that all the time. I’ve always respected the sailfish. They’re beautiful and I’ve only seen them on taxidermy wall. It would be a blast to catch one, I mean…Costa Rica! I’ve heard that it’s just paradise and I would love to experience that warm weather. Central America – I’ve never been. It would be a great experience. It would be awesome!” Rick is 47-years-old and has been a union electrician for 22 years. He’s proud of his job, makes a decent living and feels privileged to be part of the IBEW. Before he joined the union, Rick was a professional musician – a drummer in a band that played at the Atlas Hotel. His future wife, Lisa, was the singer. After the band split up, they married and he started working in another band six nights a week with guy’s his dad’s age. “That’s when I realized that I didn’t want to be doing this when I was their age. I thought about getting into a professional trade and being an electrician seemed to be the most likeable. Then a neighbor’s brother who was in the IBEW helped me get in and I traded my drum sticks for a hard hat and tool belt.” Twenty-two years later, Rick still loves his job. He loves working with his hands and seeing jobs get done. Since none of his family was in the union, it was a new experience for him to learn about unionism and brotherhood and looking out for each other. It was a ‘rich experience,’ which he feels blessed. Right now, he’s working in Atlantic City on the electrical work of hotel/casino Taj Mahal. In the winter of 2001, Rick was working at the Harrah’s and doing lots of overtime to save for a ‘Christmas present trip to Disney World’ for his wife and two kids: 15-year-old Hannah and 12-year-old Ian. On Christmas Eve, Rick was driving home late from one overtime shift and fell asleep at the wheel. He crashed into a tree and broke his leg in three places and was taken by helicopter to the hospital. That put him out of work for six months. During that time, his union brothers took up a collection for him and his family and helped them out big time. It was a tough road to recovery with a metal rod in his femur and a dozen screws in his leg, but he went back to work and is almost 100%. “I can fish and work, but I can’t run or water-ski anymore. And a year later, I was able to get the kids to take that trip to Disney.” Rick stays very active with his kids. Ian expressed an interest in hunting, so Rick took him through the hunter safety course and goes out hunting with him 4-5 times a year. They also all enjoy boating and fishing together as a family on their 17-foot angler boat. They both come from Italian families and have big get-togethers often. “I come from a family of immigrants, so we learned not to waste a thing. I don’t keep fish that I won’t take home for the table and I mostly do catch and release. I’ve passed down these values by explaining to my son the importance of nature and of keeping our natural resources.” |
WINNERS LOG
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Costa Rican journal- Rick DiBruno June 25th, 9:20 - All packed and ready to go. So excited. Chris picking me up at 10am! June 26 - Got up at 6:30a Costa time and walked down to the marina….”awesome”. Met the production crew at the Hookup Restaurant and had huevos rancheros….the real thing! Met the captain and mate for our trip tomorrow morning. Today we go on the Canopy tour adventure. It was incredible. Then we are shooting a pre-trip interview today. Had sesame encrusted tuna for dinner and hung out with the boys. Was an early night to prepare for first day of fishing tomorrow! June 27 - After breakfast, filmed the meet and greet. Loaded up on the boats and headed out to sea. Almost immediately we hooked a 10 lb. wahoo at the “Twin 26’s”. Then we ventured further and hooked a 100 lb. sailfish!!! Next, an 8 lb. dorado! Tom landed a June 28 - Up at 5, coffee with the boys and filmed mate and captain rigging bait. Off to find some marlin. Headed to Cabo Blanco and trolled…soon hooked and released a 130 lb. sailfish!! Later, the captain hooked a big rooster fish, 80 lbs. and handed me the June 29 - Left the dock at 7 and it’s straight to the Twin 26’s again. Wahoos all over and we caught and filmed 3. Then I caught a rainbow runner. We trolled over to the ledge and our chase boat hooked a sail and handed it off to me…filmed and released. On the last hour of that day, the left long line went off and I was at the ready! I free spooled the line. I lifted the rod out of the holder…pointed it at the fish for a 5 count…tightened up the drag with the rod tip down low…the fish was hooked and the fight began. A beautiful sail jumped 4 or 5 times and got him to the boat with the help of the captain in chase. Filmed him, revived him and released him…perfect ending to the trip. I was stoked….nobody touched the rod but me! Praise God! Got to the dock and made a TRCP/USA promo piece. Heading to the hotel for what I hope is the last interview. Great dinner with the resort’s representative Earl and his wife Pam in the nearby town of Jaco. June 30 - Over to the production crew’s condo for the last time, did Costa Rican breakfast.. Then the “after trip interview.” Got to see the countryside in the daylight on the way to the airport…so beautiful. Time to reflect and realize how this was truly a dream of a lifetime for me…one that I will never forget….one that |
EQUIPMENT LOG
| OUTERWEAR: | ORVIS FISHING CLOTHES | ORVIS.COM |
| MISCELLANEOUS CLOTHING | TRCP/USA | WWW.TRCP.ORG |
TRAVEL INFORMATION
| ACCOMMODAGTIONS/RENTALS | GOLF CARTS COURTESY OF LOS SUENOS AND LOS SUENOS RESORT MARRIOTT |
MARRIOTT |