Tarpon Wide Open; Calba Early

Tarpon action at Barra Colorado on the northern Caribbean coast is wide open despite some heavy off-and-on rains in the area, according to Río Colorado Lodge operator Dan Wise, who reports that last Sunday and Monday saw heavy morning rains that cleared in the afternoon, and anglers fishing outside the river mouth had constant double and triple hookups.

A group of six anglers jumped 68 tarpon and boated 26 Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and also reported that a good showing of wahoo and tripletail and occasional tuna spiced the action,Wise said.

Fishing at the lodge three days last week, a party of 18 anglers jumped 93 tarpon and got 26 to the boat, while another six fishermen had 68 of the silver rockets in the air, boating and releasing 26 in three days.

Tarpon action is likely to continue into early or mid-December.

Calba (fat snook) are already making an early show, but traditionally move into the area in large numbers this month, with action continuing through most of December. There’s no better opportunity to fill the freezer with the great-eating small snook that are caught up the river and are dynamite on light tackle.

Wise said the lodge is offering a special calba fishing package discount for Costa Rican nationals and residents: $100 per day off regular prices through November, including guide, boat, tackle, lodging, all meals and happy-hour rum drinks in the bar.

Not  included are lures, fishing licenses or transport to and from San José. Call the lodge’s Hotel Corobicí office at 232-4063 or Wise’s cell at 816-2882 for more information.

No reports from any boat operators, lodges or fishermen on the Pacific coast, so I assume they aren’t catching enough to talk about.

I received an e-mail from George Bassel, on behalf of Peter Aspinall and the hotel association in the Southern Zone’s Golfo Dulce, regarding the proposed tuna farm that would create an immense spread of nets to entrap tens of thousands of tuna for commercial purposes (TT, Oct. 6, July 7,May 12).

He asks that those opposed to this project fax the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT) at 220-3559 and lodge their protest to this project that would severely damage and likely destroy a sportfishing resource that brings far more benefits to Costa Rica through tourism than would a commercial venture that benefits only a few companies while adversely affecting hotels, sportfishing lodges, charter boats, international and in-country airlines, tour operators and others.