Costa Rica Fishing Report
January 2009 - by Todd Staley
The first of the year brought families and couples to Crocodile
Bay Resort, Costa Rica and the fish were there to greet
them. Lots of marlin have been popping up in
the teasers and though the dorado action as slowed, there are
enough around for a little garlic and butter. Tuna pleased and
aggravated guests but the sailfish still haven´t
showed in big numbers. We have had a couple double-digit days
but not the consistency that will be here by the end of the month.
Lots of free jumpers have been seen but are shy to take a bait.
Graig Gosen and his son Hayden came down from the frigid ¨motor
city¨ so Hayden could show his stuff fishing light tackle.
I teased him every day about his light spinning rod. He hooked
everything on it including a marlin but it was a sailfish that
finally got the best of the tackle.
His pictures tell the story. Kevin Werts from Cabela´s in
Nebraska brought his family and friend Dave Rogers and family.
Dave managed to whip a 250lb tuna and 12 year old Blake Werts
has my vote for angler of the year with his sailfish. Paul Brown
and friend Dina put in a full day on a tuna. Every day Dina reminded
me she wanted to fight a big fish and the fish gods decided to
grant her wish. Together the pulled on a big tuna the crew estimated
at 350lbs for seven and a half hours getting the fish near the
boat several
times. When the fish was almost finished the hook broke and the
monster left them with only one heck of a story to tell at the
resort bar.
Almost all the other guests had seen them fighting the fish during
the course of the day. The amazing story goes to a couple of fisherman
visiting us from Kuwait. Al Soudan and Abdul Aziz have been fishing
the way they are accustom to,
with handlines. Fishing mostly on the bottom and catching an array
of snapper they decided to try the bluewater. The mate through
a bait on 20 lb gear into a school of dolphin and a 115 lb tuna
gobbled it up. The rod broke and the two did what they do best.
They landed the tuna by hand after a two hour battle. Not many
people fishing inshore but Ron Marrazo managed 8 roosters on day
and a few snapper and African pompano hit the decks.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director, Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Costa
Rica Fishing Report
December 2008 - by Todd Staley
Shayne Malone from Grand Rappids MI with a
Bluefin Trevally
We
have been open two weeks now and planes are coming and going from
the new and improved airport. As expected the dorado are like
rats out there and can be found around current lines with anything
that floats caught up in it. Most dorado are running 20 lbs but
some have tipped the scale at 50 lbs.
Jon Zeeff, Ann Arbor MI
The sails haven't moved in in force yet but we have had a couple
double digit days. Industry folks like Pure Fishing,
Pradco, and Pursuit boats have
already paid us a visit and left with some new fish stories.
Al and Edith Barr both on the closer side of 80 took their first
sailfish each and caught them at the same time. They had a shot
at a marlin but he didn't get hooked up. We have seen marlin to
400 lbs recently. As always, when the dorado are around the marlin
are close by.
Inside has been a little frustrating with the roosters going hot
and cold. We had the brightest moon and strongest tides of the
year and inshore fishing should improve with the milder tides.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director, Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Costa
Rica Fishing Report
September 2008 - Next Report
Nov. 20, 2008
by Todd Staley
News
Flash: Crocodile Bay opens again
for high season December 5th, 2008 - space is limited!
We
wind down the season with a good marlin bite. John Gregore and
Todd Jones had five chances on their last day broke a big one
off and landed a 250 lb blue. Jesse Ketz spends most of his time
playing hockey or fishing on top of ice in Minnesota. On his dream
fishing trip to Costa Rica he landed everything he came for including
a 300 lb blue marlin. I have never seen a happier guy. A crew
was down filming for a new DVD at the Resort, so I'm sure the
world will see the enthusiasm Ketz had as he took his customary
¨first marlin¨ plunge off the pier.
Ben
E. Keith Company had a group of 72 anglers down from Dallas that
mixed business with fishing and eco adventures. Ron Boyd led the
group and they got marlin, sails, dorado, roosterfish, snapper
and zip-lined through the jungle. The truly adventurous scaled
the waterfall. The girls in the spa put in extra duty to accommodate
the big group. As you have heard we are closing early this year
and opening a little later because the government is enlarging
and resurfacing the airport. When we re-open in December it will
be right in the middle of the dorado, and blue marlin run.
The Caribbean
trades winds begin to blow in late November across to the Pacific
in Nicaragua and across the Panama Canal area. This pushes the
surface water offshore and the up welling does not have enough
oxygen to support sailfish. This moves the fish in large numbers
to areas more suitable and fortunately for us Costa Rica is one
of them. By January large numbers of fish move into the area making
it less of a hunting game. The winds blow through April making
it prime time for sailfish.
I know it
sounds like a sales pitch but December is already filling up with
folks that usually come in November and the rest of the season
looks like a busy one. Reserve your spot early and we'll see you
in a few months.
To book your dream Costa Rica fishing vacation call 1-800-733-1115
or Click here to reserve online!
Todd Staley
Fishing Director,
Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
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more about Crocodile Bay Resort 
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