The northwestern province of Guanacaste is still dealing with the Papagayo winds, which are keeping most of the action near shore. However, anglers there are reporting the best dorado (dolphinfish) action in the country, with a sailfish mixed in here and there. Close inshore, a few roosters are biting, as well as small tuna and snapper.
On the central Pacific coast, reports from Los Sueños and Quepos say the fishing is still off a bit with boats raising four to eight sails a day. Roosterfish and snapper have been active around the rocks near Herradura. Boats making the run toward Drake Bay, on the southern Pacific coast, are seeing somewhat better numbers.
Down south, the fish are giving me indigestion. One day we are raising 12 to 15 sails per boat, and the next day just one or two. Anglers are seeing lots of free-jumping fish, so they know they are there. There are still some tuna around, and the marlin have not yet left the area; a 50-pound blue was this week’s top fish. There was a flurry of roosterfish off the beach at Carate mixed in with Pacific jack crevalle.
On the Caribbean side, both Río Colorado Lodge in Barra del Colorado and Capt. Eddie Brown report similar action. With the sea somewhat rough, boats get out some days but not others. Anglers have been hooking four to 10 tarpon a day at the river mouth.
Up in Nicaragua at Río Indio, the calba action has finally slowed, but the water level has dropped enough to bring the guapote out of the jungle. The “handsome one” has been taking mostly spinnerbaits, but as the water continues to drop, they will start hitting topwater baits.
The National Fishing Club celebrated its 50th anniversary with a tournament last month in Jacó. The club is made up entirely of shore fishermen. Roman Alvarez took top spot with a 14-pound roosterfish, followed by Rudy Dodero with a 12-pound snapper and Sebastián Vega with a 10-pound jack. José Aguilar is currently leading the release division in the club’s annual tournament.
Skippers, operators and anglers are invited to e-mail fishing reports by Wednesday of each week to todd@crocodilebay.com or info@costaricaoutdoors.com, or call in reports to Dan Wise at 8816-2882. To post reports and photos on The Tico Times’ online fishing forum, go to wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com/Weekend/Fishing/Fishing-Forum.
