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Action inshore on northern Pacific; billfish down south

The northern Pacific coast is reporting lots of dorado (dolphinfish) running in schools about seven miles off the beach. Billfish action has been slow, and those tired of catching dorado are moving inshore where the roosterfish and a few wahoo are keeping anglers busy.

Down toward Quepos and Los Sueños on the central Pacific coast, the billfish action has also slowed. Dorado are not present either. Anglers have been running south toward Drake Bay to find a better concentration of sails. Inshore, the action is fairly good with a variety of roosters and mackerel taking live bait and trolling lures.

Most of the billfish action has been down south. After getting blown out last Wednesday, the bite quickly recovered. Double-digit sails are a daily occurrence, but the marlin action has slowed quite a bit. Greg Mufson of Zancudo Lodge had his boats get into schools of tuna this week, with the 225-pound fish pictured above as the top catch. Most fish were running in the 70- to 100-pound range. Donald McGuinness of Puerto Jiménez had a super week snook fishing, catching and releasing a 46-pound black snook near Sierpe.

Eddie Brown reports the snook action has improved at Tortuguero on the Caribbean side, but most of the tarpon action has been up near Río Colorado. Mike Lilla out of Río Indio in Nicaragua said the calba (fat snook) action continues to be the best bet and focus of most anglers.

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. 

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