900-pound marlin caught on Pacific; action slows on Caribbean

The action on the Caribbean coast has slowed a bit but should pick up again after the full moon passes. The ocean can’t make up its mind whether to be fishable or not, but on the days anglers can get out a few tarpon are taking baits. Those stuck inside are rewarded with the start of the annual calba (fat snook) run.

On the Pacific side, the biggest news lately was the recent catch of a 900-pound blue marlin by Capt. Richard Chellemi on the Gamefisher II. Patrick Cooney played the monster fish on 80-pound tackle and had it boat side and released it just over an hour. We are going to talk a lot more about marlin in next week’s print edition.

Los Sueños has been blessed with some great fishing, and lots of fish were caught in the recent marlin tournament. The World Billfish Series Grand Championship kicks off this weekend out of Los Sueños. Dave Embry of Costa Rica Dreams reports good marlin action and sent me some great photos of some orcas recently spotted in area waters.

The folks at Primo Fishing Tackle in Herradura report action has really picked up, and the talk around the shop lately is the reported “super grand slam” taken on the Macushla with Capt. Johnny. The crew reportedly took a blue, black and striped marlin plus a couple of sailfish, all on the same day.

JP Sportfishing out of Quepos reports that anglers willing to run a little farther are being rewarded with two or three marlin apiece about 40-45 miles out. Those fishing 20-30 miles out are taking good numbers of sails, tuna and dorado.

Down south, the fishing has also improved, and boats out of Zancudo Lodge and Crocodile Bay have had some good action with billfish, tuna and dorado. Greg Mufson out of Zancudo reported his boats got in some nice tuna in the 80-pound range, and marlin and sails have been popping up in the spread. Jim and Leighanne Nunes had the big fish this week at Crocodile Bay with a 650-pound blue marlin. The inshore action, however, has slowed the last few days.

Todd Staley is the fishing manager at Crocodile Bay Resort in Puerto Jiménez, on southwestern Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Skippers, operators and anglers are invited to email fishing reports by Wednesday of each week to todd@crocodilebay.com. To post reports and photos on The Tico Times’ online fishing forum, go to ticotimes.net/Weekend/Fishing/Fishing-Forum.