Costa Rica is a must-visit destination for saltwater anglers, offering a variety of inshore and offshore species all year long. Interested in breaking a line-class or all-tackle world record? The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) documents anglers fishing in Costa Rica have set close to 200 world records, including bottom fish and pelagic species such as Pacific cubera snapper and sailfish.

One Pacific hotspot is the fishy coast off Nosara. Given its remote location and limited infrastructure, the fishing pressure is low compared to more popular fishing communities like Los Suenos, Quepos or Crocodile Bay. And unlike other Costa Rican fishing spots, the fishing grounds off Nosara are just six miles from the beach. Fishing along this northwest region is truly for diehard anglers. You won’t find mega-million-dollar fishing machines or fancy night clubs, but it is a place where world-class fish roam.

Costa Rica Inshore Targets

I stepped onto the small wooden skiff that transports clients from Playa Guiones to our 27-foot super panga called the FV Explorer. We were fishing with Fishing Nosara, a top sport-fishing operation that also offers a great vacation stay. Morning excitement was building, even if expectations weren’t too high. We were visiting in August, the end of peak season. After navigating the surf zone — including three sets of head-to-overhead waves — we made it to the mooring area.

Captain Antonio and mate Raffa greeted us. Antonio quickly asked me, What species do you want to target today? Familiar with the area, I answered, “Let’s spend the morning inshore, targeting roosterfish or cubera snapper and the afternoon targeting offshore species.”

A few minutes later, we were trolling small metal lures and catching foot-long skipjack tuna and bonito for baitfish. Once the tuna tubes were filled, we hit the local fishing hotspots, spending a hot, hazy morning in search mode, tossing surface plugs for roosterfish and bottom fishing for cubera snapper. But the fishing was slow and we didn’t hook a fish. Our spirits were low until the VHF radio started chirping loudly and a Spanish voice shouted, “Fishing Vessel Explorer, can you read me?”

A Spotlight on Dorado

When Antonio got off the radio, he eagerly asked us if we wanted to chase dorado. He told us his colleague had spotted a homemade fish aggregating device (FAD) about 10 miles south of our location. It was swarming with dorado. FADs are manmade structures that are commonly deployed or anchored throughout the Pacific Ocean to concentrate marine life. Fish are attracted to these manmade objects just like natural floating debris, such as seaweed, logs and coconuts.

“Sure,” I answered to Antonio, but with less enthusiasm than he would have liked. I hadn’t flown to Costa Rica to catch school-size dorado.

My mahi-mahi fishing experience dates back to my days as a federal fishery observer aboard commercial pelagic longline vessels in the northwest Atlantic Ocean. As a fish biologist in the late-90s, I measured numerous mahi-mahi that were caught incidentally on longline gear. Plus, I landed plenty myself on hook-and-line along the weedlines where we often set commercial fishing gear. During my time on the high seas, I learned mahi-mahi are pretty easy to catch in large numbers. Despite being an acrobatic flyer, I had never battled a large one. The biggest mahi-mahi I landed weighed 15 pounds, and the largest I recorded was maybe 30 pounds.

In my opinion, dorado are the most colorful fish in the ocean — bright yellow, blue, green, or other electric tints on their sides. They change color dramatically as soon as they hit the deck. I’ve seen schoolies change from bright yellow to blue to grey in less than a minute. Although both sexes have similar vibrant displays, their body morphology is much different. Females (called cows) have a sloping forehead; males (bulls) have a blunt, vertical forehead. Unusual for the fishing kingdom, males grow much larger than females.  

Hot Costa Rica Dorado Action

“How big are these dorado?” I asked Antonio, as we reached the homemade FAD. Raffa was rigging 50-pound-class boat rods with large live baits. Terminal tackle included an 8/0 Eagle Claw circle hook tied to seven feet of 50-pound-test fluorocarbon leader. “Grande!” he said. Apparently, the light-wire circle hooks were the key to hookups in the clear Costa Rica waters.

First tossing frisky large baits into the blue abyss and reaching a slow trolling speed, we approached the FAD from the south. The captain yelled “Listo!?” Almost immediately after passing the small FAD, our two stout rods doubled over. The reels started to scream.

My wife and I quickly grabbed the rods and held on. Handling the rod with a tight grip, I was confused by the sheer power of the fish. These fish couldn’t be dorado. They were both digging down like a yellowfin tuna or billfish. Glancing over at my wife, she too had a look of excitement and shock. I could feel the power of every head shake. When the fish hesitated, we pumped and retrieved as much line as possible.

About 10 minutes later, both fish launched toward the surface at full speed, going airborne like missiles fired from a sub. Twisting and turning out of the water, it became apparent our fish were not majestic sailfish, but iridescent bull dorado. With each crank of the reel, our fish came closer to the gunwale. My wife’s flamboyant green-blue beast was first to the gaff. The fish was so big that Antionio had to help Raffa heave it over the gunwale. About a minute later, my dolphin met the same fate. Thrashing on the deck, the colorful fish began to change colors like LEDs synchronized to music. With our hearts pounding and sweat dripping off our faces, the adrenaline rush left us wanting more.

Big Dorado Want Big Baits

I was shocked the dorado attacked such large baits given their relatively small mouths.

“This is the only way to catch big dorado,” Antonio told me. “The bigger, the better. If you want to slay schooling dorado you can sight-fish with small jigs, plugs or natural baits. But if you’re after large bulls, you need to troll large marlin-type plugs or live tuna at least 12 inches long.

“The bigger dorado are often found below the smaller ones, so you have to troll slowly to allow the baits to swim deep. Obviously, small dorado are found year-round in our area, but if you want to catch the big bulls, then you need to fish during June through August.”

How deep do the baits swim? I asked.

“Our baits are probably 30 to 40 feet down,” explained Antonio. “Also, if you noticed, we started trolling about 100 yards before the FAD. If we throw the baits out next to the FAD, they will just get attacked by the smaller dorado first.”

With the hot sun beating down and calm seas, we continued hooking, fighting, and landing dorado until the bait was gone. The cooler was full enough to feed a village, so we called it a day and headed back to the mooring area. Later, we brought our fresh catch to La Luna, our favorite local restaurant, where they cooked us a feast while we sipped margaritas and watched the sunset.  

The post Costa Rica’s Mega-Sized Dorado appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

With a wealth of well-established marinas, resorts and fishing charters all along Costa Rica’s 630-mile Pacific coastline, visiting anglers will find no shortage of options in this small heavily jungled Central American Mecca for tourists. Besides its pristine beaches, Costa Rica offers visitors tropical rainforests, mostly protected and teeming with wildlife, as well as mountains (as high as 12,500 feet) and volcanoes to explore. The country has become known internationally as an eco-tourism center.

But of course, it’s also well known for its great sportfishing, with many options and well-established infrastructure for enthusiasts. Those options include entirely different fisheries on Pacific and Atlantic coasts. The Pacific side is larger and receives the lion’s share of sport-fishing effort in three major areas: Guanacaste in the far north (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Papagayo); the central coast (Los Sueños, Quepos) and the southernmost coast (Osa Peninsula, Golfito). 

These are the major game fish that anglers come to Costa Rica to catch:

Marlin – It’s possible here to catch all three marlin species in a day: blue, black and striped. Blues are particularly prevalent and the advent of anchoring FADs — fish-attracting devices — to offshore seamounts has led to some amazingly productive blue marlin fishing, mid spring through mid fall on the central coast. Since the FADs are 60 to 130 miles out, most FAD operations book trips for two, three or four nights out. Dorado (mahi) are a likely bonus on FAD trips.

Sailfish – They can be numerous enough that double-digit days are not at all uncommon. These are big fish — bigger than western Atlantic sails, running 75 to 100 pounds on average and sometimes much larger. The majority are caught on trolled rigged ballyhoo, but there are good opportunities for fly-fishermen as well (it’s worth noting that 10 of 15 tippet-class fly-rod records for Pacific sailfish came from Costa Rica).

Roosterfish – Central America’s high-finned, high-status inshore game fish, roosters are abundant all along the country’s rocky/sandy Pacific coastline, making it an iconic species for the country. Slow-trolling live blue runners or small tunas provides most of the roosterfish hookups though the powerful fish will hit poppers and stickbaits and at times, flies as well.

Yellowfin Tuna – The Pacific off the coast of Costa Rica is definitely tuna country, where anglers look for big pods of spinner dolphins, knowing well the symbiotic association between the mammals and yellowfin. Often where you find one, you find the other. Add in diving birds and get ready. And tuna action for anglers has gotten even better in recent years, thanks to a 2014 Tuna Decree that prohibited big purse seiners from operating within 45 miles of the nation’s coast.

Planning a Trip

When to Go: Like most great fishing destinations, plenty of opportunities await year-around, but peak times vary in part by area. So, on the central and north coast, late spring/summer offer the best chances of blue marlin while winter might be a better bet in the country’s southern reaches. For sailfish, hit the north coast in summer and winter/spring along the central and south coast. Yellowfin all year for the most part, though the far north is generally best in the summer. For roosterfish and Pacific cubera: any time, any place. The Atlantic-side tarpon fishery is all year, though October-November often prove to be peak months.

Where to Go and How to Get There: Most visitors fly into the country’s capital city, San Jose. The other alternative for international flights is the newer Guanacaste airport in Liberia. The San Jose airport requires a 30- to 45-minute ride to most of the city’s hotels. A variety of small airlines offer in-country service to both coasts. Winter into early spring on the Pacific is a bit drier and a bit windier in general, while summer through mid-fall days are usually calm but often with heavy interior showers spreading out toward evening. Whenever you plan to go, booking far in advance is advisable.

What to Expect: Costa Rica offers fishing resorts, marinas and charters all along its Pacific coast and several in the Rio Colorado and Parismina area on the Caribbean. Boats available for charter can range from small pangas for inshore/nearshore fishing (always check for basic safety equipment including VHF radio) to convertible sport-fishers more than 60 feet long for offshore/FAD trips. While Spanish is the official language of Costa Rica, it’s common to find locals who know at least some English. You’ll need a valid passport to enter the country — and a return flight ticket, proof of which you’ll have to provide to immigration at your time of arrival. Exchange rates for Costa Rica colóns are usually better at the airport, though U.S. dollars are generally accepted and desirable, so bring some U.S. currency. Pay the $29 departure tax before your departure day if it isn’t included in the return flight cost, as lines to pay can get long at the airport.

Helpful Links

There is so much more to do in the country in addition to fishing — ziplining, whitewater kayaking, mountain hiking, horseback riding and more.

• Essential Costa Rica
• U.S. News & World Report Costa Rica Travel Guide
• Crocodile Bay Resort
• Zancudo Lodge
• Los Suenos Resort and Marina
• Marina Pez Vela

The post Costa Rica’s World-Class Sport Fishing appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

On Dec. 6, while trolling a ballyhoo bait aboard the charter boat “Discoverer” about 10 miles offshore the Pacific side of Costa Rica, angler Jill Petrol hooked the dolphin of a lifetime.

Using a Shimano TLD 30 spooled with 40-pound test line, and a 100-pound leader, Petrol, 46, hung on as the massive dolphin leaped, sizzled line from the reel spool, and kept on going. The fish struck at mid-morning, during a stellar day of fishing offshore Costa Rica, near Nosara, a small coastal village on the Nicoya Peninsula, due west of the capital city of San Jose.

It took Petron about 20 minutes to beat the fish and boat it. The bright rainbow colors of the just-caught bull dolphin almost dwarf Petrol as she struggles to hold the over 60-pounder.

“The fish was over five feet long, a giant of a dolphin,” said Craig Sutton, head man of Fishing Nosara, the charter boat operation handling Petrol’s fishing. “Our season is just getting started, and she kicked it off in a big way with that over 60-pound dolphin.”

Sutton says anglers aboard the “Discoverer” boat that day had banner fishing, boating nine dolphin, releasing a pair of sailfish and a striped marlin.

Read Next: A Near-World Record Dolphin

“We always seem to have a hot bite of fish just before the full moon, which was on Dec. 7,” says Sutton. “Last year about the same full moon time in December we had an angler catch a 72-pound dolphin. These are world class fish.”

Indeed, the IGFA All-Tackle world record dolphin is an 87-pounder, measuring just over 5-feet long. It was caught in Papagayo Gulf, Costa Rica, about 100 miles north of Nosara.

Petrol’s dolphin is sure to be the talk of area anglers for awhile.

“That fish is a sure-fire, first-ballot Fishing Nosara Hall of Fame inductee,” says Sutton.

The post 60-Pound Dolphin Caught in Costa Rica appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Simply put: I find no greater enjoyment on the water than fishing with other women. When I can combine that with prime accommodations, bragworthy meals, rainforest nature and a pampering massage, sign me up — again and again.

In June, I traveled to Crocodile Bay in southern Costa Rica to test new tackle from Penn Fishing. Also new to me was the recently opened Botanika resort. During the three prior visits I’ve made to this location over the last 12 years, I stayed at Crocodile Bay’s original property — which I would call a nice fishing lodge. It had just enough comfort and amenities to suit groups of guys and even families, as well as some extra perks and options like eco-tours to see sloths, toucans and monkeys, and ziplining through the tree canopy.

But Botanika attains a level of class that’s rare for any location, particularly one that offers the kind of offshore and nearshore fishing available here. Over three days, we encountered acres of spinner dolphin and yellowfin tuna feeding and breaching like aquatic missiles. During prior trips, I’ve caught Pacific sailfish, snappers and groupers and punched a bucket-list ticket by boating a 30-pound roosterfish on a topwater plug.

On this recent adventure, and once about seven years ago here, I was fortunate enough to fish with a group of women. This time, I spent the final half-day aboard one of the resort’s Striker Yachts with two women anglers from Penn — Kimberly Hoffman and Jen Ripple. We asked to fish nearshore to target roosters, so we spent our first hour catching sardines with gold-hook rigs — sublimely simple fun.

As the captain started slow-trolling the livies inside the Golfo Dulce, our mate rigged a popper on one of the new Penn Carnage III rods that was paired with a new Penn Authority spinning reel. Jen and I took turns at the bow with the popper rod and a fly rod. Bait was everywhere. We saw one follower, but found no takers.

The rest of the morning, we slow-trolled just outside the breakers along the ocean beaches, where the bow heaved too dramatically for casting. While the bite proved slow, we spent hours talking about experiences and eating perfectly spiced and blended fresh-tuna salad. No tension. No competition. No comparisons. No bragging.

Toward the end of the morning, our captain — who had been casting the popper from the fly bridge — hooked a rooster and handed down the rod. Kim fought the fish to the transom where the mate brought it aboard for multiple photos before release. You might have thought we’d won the Super Bowl.

Target fish notched, we headed back to the dock for our rendezvous with Gloriana, the massage therapist. One muscle-melting hour later, and I met the others for drinks and fresh tuna sushi for supper.

At dinner, I asked a Crocodile Bay representative if the resort had any package offers for female anglers, so others can experience a getaway that’s unique and special to women. They do. For a limited time, visit this link to see the Girlfriend Getaway Fishing Special. Sign me up.

The post Costa Rica Girlfriend Fishing Getaway appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

Not until the early 1990s did sailfishing off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast attract major international attention, and by the turn of the century, Costa Rica was billing itself as the “sailfish capital of the world.” Just after that, however, sailfish numbers began to take a major hit, and many anglers ended up more disappointed than excited.

But thanks to the adoption of regulations limiting the commercial exploitation of sailfish, sailfish populations have rebounded and remain strong enough to justify the country’s self-anointed title. For example, consider the one-day total from 43 boats during the second leg of the Los Sueños Triple Crown in 2016, when 1,103 sailfish were caught and released.

But there’s more to Costa Rica’s billfish story than sailfish alone. Marlin were, of course, always here and part of the action, but until recent years, Costa Rica wasn’t really known as a marlin destination. That has changed as well, in part thanks to the overnight trips to seamounts and FADs (fish-aggregating devices) far offshore, trips a number of charters now offer. When boats start raising close to 30 marlin in a day, the international billfishing community takes notice.

This is not to suggest that catching 30 marlin or dozens of sailfish in a day is a foregone conclusion off Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. But are such days possible? Absolutely.

Costa Rica is fortunate to have two billfish seasons: The fishing peaks from November through April in the central and southern regions and from May through December in the north. There are fishing clubs such as the Club Amateur de Pesca and the National Fishing Club that have been around for decades, but tourists traveling to Costa Rica is also very common these days.

Billfishing in Costa Rica

Wherever you fish for billfish in the world, the approach is a little different; each location has its own style. Costa Rica is no exception.

Most charter captains here troll a combination of teasers, lures and natural baits, including bonito and ballyhoo.

No matter where along the country’s Pacific coast you look to charter a sport-fisher, keep in mind that communication is key to any good charter-fishing trip, and that should start before you step on the boat. Many wholesalers and captains rely on repeat business, so they want to be sure your trip provides more than a boat ride.

If all the info you need isn’t on an operation’s website, feel free to call and ask about such things as fishing hours, type of equipment, if fishing licenses are provided, if the crew are women- and child-friendly, and the level of English spoken on board.

Once you arrive for a chartered day and step on the boat, have a conversation with the captain and crew before you leave the dock. Be honest about your level of experience as far as fishing for billfish is concerned, and remember, there are no stupid questions—particularly if billfishing is a whole new ballgame for you. Most crews will be happy to give you as much or as little help as you want.

When a fish appears in the spread, often the captain on a tower boat is the first to see it, and will start shouting the position of the fish behind the boat to crew and anglers on deck. In these first crazed minutes, the captain’s adrenalin might have him frantically blurting this out in Spanish for the crew, using words that mean: short, long, left and right, depending on which teaser the fish came up.

Six words that can help during the melee of hooking up are often shouted out in Spanish:

• marlin = marlín (mar-LEEN)
• sailfish = pez vela (pays BAY-la)
• left = izquierda (ees-KYEHR-dah)
• right = derecha (deh-REH-chah)
• long = largo
• short = corto

Though most crews speak at least some English, it might not hurt to learn a few simple phrases in Spanish before traveling to Costa Rica because that is the native tongue. Long before you arrive at the coast, you will have probably already learned “Pura vida!” which is a Costa Rican greeting that basically means “Everything is great.” “Cerveza fría” will get you a cold beer. Crews love to teach and love to hear about the fishing you do back home, so don’t be shy. Their world is much smaller than yours. Share it.

Many Costa Rica charters practice bait-and-switch fishing, a particularly exciting method for catching billfish that requires a well-coordinated effort, with the captain keeping track of where the fish is, the mate keeping the fish interested, and the angler presenting the bait at the right moment. With luck, the sail or marlin is interested, but you need to wait for it to eat, turn and start to move away, while feeding it line. The use of circle hooks is required in Costa Rica when using natural baits, so calmly place the reel in gear and just start winding.

Read Next: Fishing Vacations for Anglers

If you understand everyone’s role in the process, you have a much better chance of hooking up the first fish in the spread rather than learning from your error.

A fishing license, which is required by law, can be purchased online at the website of the fisheries agency INCOPESCA (incopesca.go.cr) before your trip. A permit good for up to eight days is $15. The agency allows sport fishermen to keep a total of five fish per boat. (Selling fish is not legal for anglers or sport-fishing charter crews.) By law, all billfish must be released.

Costa Rica Fishing Operations, North to South

Today, there are more than 600 boats registered to charter for billfish and other gamefish in Costa Rica, most of those operating along the country’s 780 miles of Pacific coastline. Here’s a sampling of time-tested operations, most with a good variety of boats to choose from. All of these operations and crews speak at least functional English, and many individuals are fluent. “Cost” refers to one day of fishing unless noted otherwise.

Flamingo

Flamingo Bay Pacific Charters (fishincostarica.com)

• Area fished: Northern Guanacaste (Papagayo to Flamingo)
• Getting there: One-hour drive from Liberia airport
• Crew: Captain and one or two mates
• Season: May-October; peak for sailfish May-August, for marlin June and July
• Accommodations: Can be arranged by Flamingo Bay Pacific Charters in Flamingo and Tamarindo
• Tackle: Penn and Shimano
• Fly tackle: On some boats
• Average run to billfish grounds: 30 minutes to one hour
• Fishing day: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Phone: 506-8713-3386

Gamefisher Charters (gamefisher2.com)

• Area fished: Fishes both seasons, Flamingo in the North and Quepos in Central
• Getting there: One-hour drive from Liberia airport
• Crew: Captain and two mates
• Season: May-December; peak for sailfish and marlin June-August
• Accommodations: Beachfront condos or private houses can be arranged by Gamefisher Charters
• Tackle: Penn International reels, Shimano rods and reels, 20- to 80-pound
• Fly tackle: 14- to 18-weight, with Billy Pate and Able reels
• Average run to billfish grounds: About an hour (20 miles)
• Fishing day: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Comments: More than 50 years’ combined captain and crew experience; comfortable teaching newcomers or the most seasoned anglers; specialize in fly-fishing
• Phone: 904-410-1041

Fishing Nosara (fishingnosara.com)

• Area Fished: 3 to 30 miles from Nosara
• Getting there: 2 ½-hour drive from Liberia airport
• Crew: Captain and mate
• Season: Year-round; peak for sailfish and marlin July, August and November
• Accommodations: Private houses on a nature reserve are part of Nosara’s fishing packages
• Tackle: Shimano Tiagra conventional and Penn spinning
• Fly tackle: None provided, though some crews have fly-fishing experience
• Average run to billfish grounds: 30 minutes to an hour
• Fishing day: 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Comments: Friendly, responsible atmosphere with local, English-speaking crew; on-site staff always available; deep water quite close to beach, often making for a short run to the fish
• Phone: 904-591-2161

Herradura

Maverick Sportfishing, Los Sueños Resort and Marina (mavericksportfish.com)

• Area fished: 20 to 40 miles from marina; up to 150 miles out on longer seamount trips
• Getting there: 1 ¼-hour drive from San Jose
• Crew: Captain and one or two mates
• Season: Year-round; peak for sailfish January-April, marlin November and December plus July-September
• Accommodations: Condos, private homes or Marriott Hotel arranged per anglers’ wishes by Maverick
• Tackle: Alutecnos conventionals with 20-, 30- and 50-pound-test
• Fly tackle: On select boats
• Average run to billfish grounds: One to two hours
• Fishing day: 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; two to three days for FAD trips
• Comments: Professional, well-maintained boats; benefits from close affiliation with Los Sueños Resort
• Phone: 866-888-6426

Quepos

Ifish, Quepos Marina Pez Vela (ifishquepos.com)

• Area fished: 15 to 40 miles off Quepos
• Getting there: 2½-hour drive or 20-minute domestic flight from San Jose
• Fleet: Represents large fleet sport-­fishers from 26 to 57 feet
• Crew: Captain and one or two mates, depending on boat
• Season: Year-round; peak for sailfish January-April, for marlin November and December plus July-September
• Accommodations: Villas available
• Tackle: Shimano and Penn, 20-, 30-, 50- and 80-pound gear
• Fly tackle: On some boats
• Average run to billfish grounds: One hour
• Fishing day: 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Comments: Experienced, professional captain; Ifish organizes tournaments at the marina
• Phone: 506-2774-9006

Puerto Jimenez-Golfito Area

Crocodile Bay Resort (crocodilebay.com)

• Area fished: South to the Panama border and out to 25 miles or more
• Getting there: Six-hour drive or 45-minute flight from San Jose
• Fleet: Ten 24- and 25-foot Boston Whaler center-console Outrages, and 33- to 35-foot Strike inboard tower boats
• Crew: Captain only on outboard boats; captain and mate on tower boats
• Season: Year-round; peak for sailfish January-April, marlin November and December plus July-September
• Accommodations: 28 rooms and three private houses available as part of all-inclusive-package trips (daily rates also available)
• Tackle: Penn International 30s and 50s, Fathom levelwinds and Spinfisher spinning reels
• Fly tackle: Templefork 10- and 14-weight rods
• Average run to billfish grounds: About an hour
• Fishing day: 6:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
• Comments: Named by Sport Fishing magazine as one of the best places for a family fishing vacation; many of the staff have worked at the resort for more than a decade
• Phone: 800-733-1115

Zancudo Lodge (zancudolodge.com)

• Area fished: Southernmost Costa Rica out to 12 to 45 miles; up to 60 miles for FAD fishing
• Getting here: 45-minute flight from San Jose to Golfito
• Fleet: Five 32-foot Contenders with twin 300 hp outboards, five 28-foot open-fish pangas with single 140 hp
• Crew: Captain only unless mate or mates requested
• Season: Year-round
• Accommodations: 12 standard rooms, two junior suites, two master suites
• Tackle: Okuma Makaira 10-, 30-, and 50-pound lever-drag reels and Okuma Azores spinning reels
• Average run to billfish grounds: 30 minutes to an hour
• Fishing day: 6 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Comments: Many improvements made in this boutique lodge; lodge located on the beach
• Phone: 800-854-8791

Also, coast-wide, Fish Costa Rica (fishcostarica.com; 800-407-9438) can help anglers find the right operations for them. With 4 decades of arranging fishing trips, Fish Costa Rica represents many operations and captains, from inshore to FADs.

History: Fisheries Management Made a Difference

Early in this century, the number of fish caught by anglers off Costa Rica began a steady decline, leaving tourists disappointed and charter fleets scratching their heads. Then it was discovered in 2008 that more than 600,000 pounds of sailfish meat were being exported to the United States each year, often ending up in restaurants as smoked-fish spread. Most consumers had no idea the tasty fish they were eating was sailfish.

A small group of charter captains formed La Federación Costarricense de Pesca, or FECOP, a nongovern­mental federation of sport-fishing interests to lobby the government, backed by science, to better manage Costa Rica’s territorial waters. (The country’s territorial waters are 11 times greater than the size of its land area.) The group lobbied INCOPESCA, the governing agency of Costa Rican fisheries, citing the importance of sport fishing to coastal communities. In March 2009, Costa Rica banned the exportation of sailfish. More than a decade later, sailfish numbers have come roaring back. Sailfish can still be taken as accidental bycatch and sold on the national market, but they must be released if they’re alive on a line when captured.

In 2013, FECOP showed the government that the country’s tuna resource was being given to foreign purse seine boats for as little as $37 a ton, and that the purse seiners also were affecting populations of pelagic species that attract tourists. When the purse seiners’ nets actually wrapped up some sport-fishing boats out of Los Sueños Marina as the seiners encircled a pod of spinner dolphins, it was the final straw. In 2014, a decree was signed moving the tuna boats out 45 miles from the coast to protect numerous seamounts, creating an area of 77,220 square miles where purse seiners could no longer operate. Their catch was limited to 9,000 metric tons a year, down from a one-time high of nearly 25,000 metric tons, and that catch had to be sold to the local cannery in Puntarenas.

Moises Mug, a scientist for FECOP, analyzed observer onboard reports for the purse seine fleet in 2018 and discovered that moving the purse seiners farther out was saving 25 tons of marlin annually from ending up as seiners’ bycatch. During the past 10 years, the recovery of various pelagic species off Costa Rica has been remarkable.

Costa Rica FADs

Then there’s the FAD issue. Critics of fish aggregating devices claim that they are akin to hunting in baited fields, putting too much pressure on the fish, and once commercial boats find the locations, they end up killing too many marlin. But more study is needed to really assess the situation. Toward that end, a Stanford University team led by Larry Crowder, Ph.D., made trips to Costa Rica every few months in 2019 to place satellite tags on marlin and sailfish.

At the time of this writing, biologists Danielle Haulsee and Hanna Blondin had placed tags on 33 marlin and 14 sails. They tagged many of the marlin on FADs. The tags were set to pop off and transmit data at intervals of six, nine and 12 months. As they return data, scientists should have a clearer picture of how FADS are affecting these fish.

The post Billfish Angler’s Guide to Costa Rica appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

During its earliest days, ­saltwater fishing seemed as exotic as big-game hunting: expensive, wildly adventurous, maybe even dangerous. But with global development, ­abundant air-travel options, and advances in marine technology, anglers of all shapes, sizes, genders, ages and skill levels can access—and enjoy—once-remote destinations and challenging, sought-after species.

Fishing has become more family-friendly, and just in time to encourage a revival of the sport.

The Recreational Boating and Fishing Foundation, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2018, leads the drive to recruit women and children to fishing. While focusing primarily on the abundant freshwater resources and opportunities in the United States, RBFF also addresses prospects for coastal saltwater fishing.

In May 2018, the ­organization released its Top Mom-Approved Places to Fish and Boat in the U.S., which included two coastal locations: Grand Isle State Park in Louisiana and Pōka‘ī Bay in Oahu, Hawaii.

To enhance that list, I compiled recommendations from Sport Fishing staffers: Some ­destination ideas emanated from personal experience, others from reputation. All offer not only excellent fishing opportunities, but also options for day trips, kids’ activities, adventurous dining and comfortable accommodations. (The destinations, which include specific lodges as well as general regions, are listed alphabetically. Pricing is included where feasible.)

1. Bahamas—Abacos (Elbow Cay)

Family Attraction
Favorites include island hopping, boating, sailing, fishing, shelling, water­sports—such as snorkeling and scuba diving—and beach options. Elbow Cay, which lies just off the main island of Great Abaco at the northern end of the Bahamas, is known as the “Hollywood of the Abacos,” home to Tahiti Beach and the last candy-striped lighthouse in the world. Accessible and ­navigable by private boat or easy to fly to from South Florida cities, the Abacos offer a variety of lodges, upscale resorts and rental homes.

Fishing Information
On the flats—including the famed Marls west of Marsh Harbor—anglers can catch trophy bonefish and permit on fly. Offshore, troll for wahoo, marlin and mahi; on the reefs, anglers bottomfish for groupers and snappers. Best offshore months include April, May and June, though wahoo migrate through in winter and spring. On the flats, target May through October.

Other Activities
Brendal’s Dive Center on Green Turtle Cay, north of Elbow Cay, offers an adventure that includes snorkeling on the reef followed by hand-feeding stingrays and turtles. Afterward, enjoy a picnic on the beach prepared over an open fire, with taste treats including lobster, grouper, chicken, conch salad and coconut bread. Also on Green Turtle, stroll the pastel-colored village of New Plymouth. One island south, Nipper’s Beach Bar and Grill on Great Guana Cay sets the quintessential Caribbean scene on a white-sand beach. Secluded Tahiti Beach, at the southern tip of Elbow Cay, is accessible only on foot, bike or by boat, and optimal for shelling. Ferries and chartered boats transport visitors throughout the island chain. Visit theabaconian​.com/ferry-schedules.

Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels
On Elbow Cay, try Firefly Sunset Resort or Hopetown Inn & Marina. Around the Abacos, investigate Abaco Beach Resort; Treasure Cay Beach, Marina and Golf Resort; and Bluff House Beach Resort and Marina.

Booking/Contacts
Book at least three months in advance for the best options. A typical five-night stay with two days of fishing and airfare varies, but Bahamas sources estimate $3,500 to $4,500 per person.

2. Costa Rica—Crocodile Bay Resort

Family Attraction
Crocodile Bay lies at the southern tip of the Osa Peninsula, touted as one of the most biologically diverse places on the planet. While providing first-class inshore and offshore fishing, Crocodile Bay also offers more than 30 rainforest expeditions and ocean safaris. All rooms come with air conditioning and surround a tropical garden with a pool, hot tub and swim-up bar. An on-site spa delivers a wide variety of services. Flights from multiple U.S. locations deliver anglers to San Jose—Costa Rica’s capital—in two to three hours. From there, small planes ferry them to Puerto Jimenez (a 45-minute flight). Lodge trucks pick up arriving fisher­men for the remaining five-minute ride.

Fishing Information
Aboard the lodge’s fleet of Strike sport-fishers and center-console Boston Whalers, anglers can fish inshore for roosterfish, pargo (snappers, including seven different species), groupers and jacks. Offshore, target blue, striped and black marlin, Pacific sailfish, wahoo, dorado (mahi) and yellowfin tuna. Try winter months for blue marlin, and summer for striped or black marlin. Tuna, mahi and sailfish can be found throughout the year.

Other Activities
The Osa Peninsula features a quarter of a million species of animals; in the waters of Golfo Dulce swim massive pods of dolphins and humpback whales. Off-site tours include canopy zip-lining, horseback riding, surfing, waterfall ­rappelling, visiting a chocolate farm, panning for gold, cross-country biking, paddleboarding and more.

Booking/Contacts
An all-inclusive five-night package (excluding international flights) with two days of fishing ranges from $3,185 to $5,285 per person, based on double ­occupancy. High (dry) season falls December 16 through April 14. The resort advises anglers to book six months out or more during the high season. Contact Lynn Alban at lynn@lynchcreektravel​.com or visit crocodilebay.com.

3. Florida Keys—Hawk’s Cay Resort

Family Attraction
Hawk’s Cay Resort, on Duck Key between Islamorada and Marathon in the Florida Keys, encompasses 60 acres and features a hotel as well as 250 fully equipped two- and three-bedroom villas for families and groups (some villas offer dockage). On-site, guests will find six restaurants, five pools (including a pirate-ship pool), a spa, and a full-service marina providing scuba, fishing, snorkeling, parasailing, kayaking and kiteboarding charters. Anglers fly to Miami (a two-hour drive) or Key West (an hour-and-20-minute drive) and rent a vehicle.

Fishing Information
Anglers can target backcountry species such as tarpon, redfish and snook; nearshore species such as groupers, snappers and king mackerel; and offshore gamefish such as sailfish, tunas and dolphin. Near the resort, kayak anglers can fish bridges and rock piles. While some species, such as tarpon, migrate and become more accessible during peak seasons, others can be found year-round. The marina accommodates vessels up to 110 feet, so anglers can bring their own boats or charter a Hawk’s inshore or offshore guide.

Other Activities
Besides the various outdoor activities already listed, the resort features an on-site educational dolphin experience and a kids camp with hands-on environmental-education programming. Adults and kids of all ages can enjoy any of eight lighted tennis courts, or enroll in tennis clinics or camps. Families also have access to a basketball court, soccer field, putting course and volleyball.

Booking/Contacts
Room rates start at $249 in the low season, September through November ($399 for a villa). Room rates during high season—from Presidents Day through Easter and on all major holidays—start at $349 and $499. A daily resort fee for internet, parking and access to a variety of amenities costs $42. Fishing charters start at $500 for a half-day inshore trip. Call 877-484-9342 or visit hawkscay.com for packages and specials.

4. Maryland—Ocean City

Family Attraction
While temperatures in the South mostly remain warm throughout winter, average highs for Ocean City, Maryland, can dip into the 40s. But from spring through fall, visiting anglers and families find enormous diversity at this mid-Atlantic hotspot, from outstanding white marlin and bigeye tuna fishing each summer to beach-and-boardwalk outings, as well as visits to nearby Assateague Island and its famed wild ponies. Most visitors fly to Baltimore or Philadelphia and drive two to three hours south, along the Delmarva Peninsula to Ocean City, however US Airways serves the proximate Salisbury/Ocean City regional airport.

Fishing Information
Each August, Ocean City hosts the White Marlin Open, when boats of all sizes run to the offshore canyons to troll primarily for whites and bigeye tuna. Other popular catches include mahi, blue marlin and sharks. Anglers can also fish from the surf or from smaller inshore charter vessels on the Assawoman and Sinepuxent bays, targeting striped bass and flounder.

Other Activities
Iconic shops, including Dolle’s Candyland with its saltwater taffy, line the city’s 3-mile-long boardwalk, which dates back to 1902. The town also offers putt-putt golf, 18-hole golf courses, Ocean Downs Casino, go-cart racing, waterslides, ghost tours, watersports, bicycle rentals, and the ­country’s oldest continuously ­operating merry-go-round. Other local summer specialties include Maryland’s renowned steamed blue crabs.

Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels
Three Ocean City hotels offer extra amenities for families. Francis Scott Key Family Resort features on-site putt-putt golf and an indoor swimming pool. Castle in the Sand, on the ocean, provides free kids’ activities, a beach volleyball court, and a game room. The Carousel Hotel boasts an indoor ice rink, movies on the beach, indoor and outdoor pools, and family photo night.

Booking/Contacts
For peak-season summer visits, book six months to a year out; during shoulder seasons, a week to a month should suffice. Lodging costs vary widely, but during summer, expect to pay $350 to $500 per night for ocean-access hotels. Offshore fishing charters range from $1,500 to $2,500 per day and up to $5,000 for overnight trips. Two-hour bay charters range from $15 to $18 for kids and $25 to $30 for adults. Visit the following websites for more information: ococean​.com, visitmaryland.org and fishandhuntmaryland.org.

5. Mexico—Los Cabos

Family Attraction
Los Cabos technically includes both Cabo San Lucas, at the tip of the Baja California ­peninsula—gateway to the Pacific Ocean—and the East Cape region on the Sea of Cortez, one of the most biologically rich bodies of water on the planet. Fishing options range from roosterfish and snappers to blue and striped marlin, tunas and mahi (dorado). Other activities include golf, scuba diving, surfing, ATV rides, whale-watching and turtle-release programs. One airport serves both regions: The Los Cabos International Airport is a short, affordable flight from many U.S. hubs.

Fishing Information
Cruise the East Cape beaches on ATVs or run the coast in small pangas for roosterfish, snappers and dorado. Just offshore, the summer in the Sea of Cortez means good numbers of blue and striped marlin, sailfish, tunas and dorado. The Puerto Los Cabos Marina in San Jose del Cabo provides quick access to the famed Gordo Banks, which produces huge yellowfin tuna, blue and black marlin, as well as wahoo. Cabo San Lucas hosts one of the largest fleets of sport-fishing boats in the world. Striped marlin are king in Cabo, with blue and black marlin frequenting the area, along with large tuna and dorado. (World-class tournaments, including the Los Cabos Billfish Tournament and Charter Boat Classic fall in October and November.)

Other Activities
Los Cabos hosts a rising culinary scene, and many resorts and restaurants offer cooking classes. Arts, sports and cultural events run year-round. Outdoor adventures include those mentioned above as well as hiking, biking, bungee jumping, ultralight hang gliding, sailing, paddleboarding, kayaking and even camel rides on the beach. Many families opt for whale-watching: Every year, female humpbacks migrate to the Sea of Cortez to conceive and nurse newborn calves.

Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels
Many of the region’s top resorts—including but not limited to Solaz, Grand Velas Los Cabos, Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos, and the Westin Los Cabos Resort Villas and Spa—offer family amenities such as kids and teens clubs, spas and golf courses. Travelers should book at least a month or two in advance. High season runs from December through April.

Booking/Contacts
A wide range of pricing is available at the many resorts, condos and hotels (visitloscabos.travel). For charter information, visit piscessportfishing.com, picantesportfishing.com and redrumcabo.com.

Tour operators can be reached through ­cabo-adventures​.com/en, caboexpeditions​.com.mx and wildcanyon​.com​.mx.

6. North Carolina—Crystal Coast

Family Attraction
The Crystal Coast of North Carolina comprises 85 miles of shoreline and sounds along the southern end of the Outer Banks. From Emerald Isle to Harker’s Island and the Down East area, this region includes 11 separate communities. Each has its own vibe and experiences, including inshore and offshore fishing, of course, as well as paddle sports, culinary tours, shelling, wild horse and dolphin viewing, beach yoga, eco‑tours, and sightseeing cruises. Visitors usually fly to New Bern, about a 40-minute drive north of the Crystal Coast.

Fishing Information
As in many coastal marshlands, inshore fishing on the Crystal Coast excels with redfish and trout the prime players, joined by flounder, black drum, bluefish, cobia, Spanish mackerel, tarpon and even striped bass. The prime season for redfish and trout stretches from May through November. (Action slows from January through April, with marginal expectations for stripers and bluefish.) Offshore, anglers target blue and white marlin, sailfish, wahoo, kingfish, and bluefin, blackfin and yellowfin tuna. Giant bluefin tuna migrate through this region in December and January, chasing baitfish fairly close to shore. Peak season for king mackerel is September through December, and summer is time for dolphin and marlin species. Charters of all sizes and shapes, including party boats, work out of the region’s ports.

Read Next: Shark Fishing With Kids

Other Activities
Some of the top family opportunities along this coast include visits to Fort Macon, a restored Civil War-era fort with a coastal education center in Atlantic Beach; outings to the North Carolina Aquarium at Pine Knoll Shores; boat rides to see the wild horses on the Shackleford Banks; and forays to the Cape Lookout “Diamond Lady” lighthouse.

Family-Friendly Resorts and Hotels
Options range from campgrounds and bed-and-breakfast properties to resorts to condo or home rentals. The Peppertree Atlantic Beach Resort features condo-style units with full kitchens and porches. It offers mini golf, tennis, volleyball and other activities. The Fisherman’s Inn, on the Atlantic Beach causeway, offers lodging with dock slips.

Booking/Contacts
Visit crystalcoastnc.org.

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FECOP has asked the government to reject the bill, which would create the nearly 2,390-square-mile reserve.

“We (FECOP) are very much in favor of marine conservation and management of marine resources but we like it done correctly,” said Carlos Cavero, the FECOP President.

The group sent a press release citing several reasons why it cannot support the bill, which are listed below:

• There wasn’t a complete technical study done consulting with Costa Ricans who would be affected, as required the law.

• The area is larger than all other marine protected areas and encompasses areas already under protection. Proper analysis to make that change has not been completed, according to the group.

• There is no management plan or budget for proper control for an area that size effectively, which would make it only a “paper reserve.” Proponents are urging passage of the law with the management plan developed afterwards.

• The new law would change control of the area to another government agency, one that has not been so favorable to sport-fishing interests in the past.

• The proponents of this bill have used the FECOP name without authorization, making it appear that FECOP supported the bill and would be involved with management of the reserve. The affiliation continued even after FECOP requested it to stop.

• There are already procedures in place to create management areas. In 2015, 35 activities with 190 participants had workshops to create a Marine Area of Responsible Fishing. FECOP supports this procedure, which offers protection without changing control to another government agency.

The FECOP listed its accomplishments at the end of the press release:

• Stopped the exportation of sailfish from the country in 2009

• Sponsored the Tuna Decree, which protected 120,000 square miles of territorial waters from tuna purse seiners in 2014

• Backed by scientific data, FECOP lobbied the government to reduce purse seine licenses from 43 to 13 in 2017, saving 25 metric ton of marlin that would have been bycatch as well as other pelagic species and marine mammals.

For more information about FECOP or the proposed law, contact info@fecop.org or visit the organization’s website.

The post Costa Rica Fishing Groups Reject Proposed Marine Reserve appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The post Amazing Blue Marlin Jump Off Costa Rica appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The new Penn Clash reels are available in seven models, handling 8- to 80-pound braid, with 10 to 30 pounds of max drag. Reel prices range from $180 to $260 — reasonable costs for the quality of performance we experienced.

Getting to the fishing lodge required a 45-minute Nature Air flight from San Jose to Puerto Jimenez. Flying into Puerto Jimenez seemed a bit ominous, with the cemetery just feet from the runway, but all the flights went smoothly. Staff picked us up for a short ride back to Crocodile Bay Resort.

At Crocodile Bay, our rooms had wooden porches that extended seamlessly into the surrounding nature. Each morning, we were woken by a chorus of macaw parrots — a great alarm to make it to breakfast and the docks on time.

Inshore fishing consisted of casting Sebile poppers and plugs to jagged shorelines and outcrops made up of rocks and corals. Some anglers preferred live-baiting or trolling goggle-eyes, sardines and other live baits.

This juvenile mullet snapper blasted a Sebile Stick Shadd meant for its bigger brothers.

Besides mullet snapper, other species are available for anglers. This yellow snapper (Pargo Amarillo) bit a chunk of cut bait in 200 feet of water.

Probably the snapper that garners the most attention in area waters is the cubera. Angler Zeno Hromin landed this impressive cubera near the inshore rocks on a Sebile Magic Swimmer soft bait.

One of the most-popular and recognized casting spots is Matapalo Rock. Angler Alex Suescun peppered the area with poppers, along with plenty of coastline near the mouth of Golfo Dulce.

Besides snappers, a variety of jacks hunt the same waters. This big-eye jack was one of a few pulled from a school that aggressively patrolled the famous outcrop.

Roosterfish are the prized jack species for anglers out of Crocodile Bay. The rooster may have an outrageous-looking dorsal fin (not so unlike the comb of a rooster), but its aggressive feeding behavior and fight make it a top inshore target. Watch a video of a roosterfish attacking a topwater plug on this trip at Sport Fishing‘s Facebook page.

Jack crevalle are a common catch, mixed in with the other inshore species. This jack hit a plug over a reef just outside the mouth of Golfo Dulce.

Ron Kliegl, SpiderWire‘s brand business manager, landed this African pompano inshore.

Offshore, yellowfin tuna are a common catch, often bigger than the one pictured. Angler Andrew Cox hooked this fish in the morning, just after lines were put out.

One of the most common areas to troll for marlin offshore Crocodile Bay is at a FAD (fish attracting device) 50 miles from the lodge. A blue marlin pulls tight to angler Dave Morel’s line after a hookup near the FAD.

After the hookup, the marlin tail-walked and jumped across the surface, providing a show for all the different boats trolling around the FAD structure.

Dave Morel, in the Penn hat, fought the marlin to the boat skillfully, allowing anglers on the boat to take a couple photos of the billfish. With energy left, the marlin kicked away from the 33-foot Strike back to the depths.

Back at the Crocodile Bay docks, angler Scott Goodwin tossed out a jig and chunk-bait to land this catfish.

Even in mid-December, high sun and temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s tired all the anglers at the Penn Fishing Crocodile Bay Clash event. After a day’s fishing, the rooms were cold, clean and refreshing.

All fun trips must end, so after three days of solid fishing, it was time to leave Crocodile Bay Resort. The flight back to San Jose provided bird’s eye views of solid-green mountains and valleys.

The post Pura Vida in Costa Rica appeared first on Sport Fishing Mag.

The Green Welcome

Scenic Drive

Local Fauna

Morning Start

Into the Blue

Perfectly Prepared

Sail On!

Pacific Pelagic

Tag Time

Cha-Ching!

Write Stuff

Hammer Down

End Game

Catching Dinner

Spreading the Wealth

Body Count

Dock Talk

Billfish Bath

Technical Gear

Slimy Catch

Reef Wrangling

Pacific Red

Denizen of the Deep-ish

Bait String

Needle Work

Popping Gallos

Dream Catch

Productive Plug

Wow Fish

Say Cheese

Perfect Pose

Picture of Paradise

Hasta la Vista

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