Report of October 20th 2004
By
Jerry Ruhlow
Some great fishing on both coasts right now, as evidenced by Florida angler Robert Claxton and his partner who fished two days on the Caribbean and one day on the Pacific last week.
At the Rio Colorado Lodge, they battled more tarpon than they could keep track of both days, then headed for the west coast for some blue water fishing on the Wetass II, and in only one day, skipper Sonny Kocsis reports they released 21 sailfish and a dorado on his boat, the Wetass II.
That report was echoed in an email we received Sunday from Tampa fisherman Lee Nelson who fished the lodge with a couple of friends about the same time, and reports that in two they days jumped an estimated 60 tarpon.
"I don't recall how many we released, but by the second day I could barely raise my arms," Lee said, adding that his fishing buddy Christian O'Ryan brought in one tarpon estimated by the guide at well over 200 pounds, the largest he had seen in over 18 years as a guide there and might have exceeded the Costa Rica tarpon record of 207 pounds.
Snook season is just getting underway in that area, as evidenced by a 30-pounder caught last week by a local angler fishing from shore at the mouth of the Parismina River, but with the hot tarpon bite, not many visiting fishermen are going for them.
We can look for the calba run to get underway most anytime in that area. Calba is the local name for the Fat Snook, a smaller species that average about three to five pounds but swarm in into the river system in huge numbers for a couple of months. They are mighty good eating . . .
The billfish action on the Pacific coast, unprecedented for this time of year, continues south to Quepos where Carib Sea operator Dennis Arnold reports that Karen Nash and four friends last Sunday released 12 sails and four bull dorado.
Fishing the same central coastal region from Los Sueños Marina, north of Quepos, Judy Kieldsen reports that Ted Sohn and party from North Carolina went seven releases for 12 raised, along with six yellowfin tuna and a dorado, aboard the Sailfish, out of Los Sueños Marina. The sails were estimated at 70 to 120 pounds each.
The day before, Stephanie Lee raised 60 sailfish with 22 releases, which is incredible in that area for October. Fishing normally peaks on the central coast in December and January, Judy said.
According to Rio Colorado Lodge operator Dan Wise, Moñgi Yoichi and five other anglers in the tackle business in Japan, hooked over 200 tarpon in four days last week, with 80 to the boat, and introduced a new lure to the area that was very productive.
Most tarpon are caught on heavy or deep running lures like the Ghost Hawk and Rapala, but they were testing a very large surface popper and had 20 strikes, much to the amazement of guides who are not accustomed to seeing the silver rockets hit a lure on the surface, Dan said.
To my surprise and consternation, we never get reports from any of the other lodges on the Caribbean coast, but have to assume all are enjoying similar action.
Tersio Hidalgo, my favorite guide on Lake Arenal, reports a lot of rain which has slowed action on the big rainbow bass most often caught trolling deep, but he says there is no problem catching smaller fish, in the one- to three-pound range, throwing spinner baits and surface lures along the shoreline in the early morning and late afternoon.
For more information on fishing or assistance in planning a trip to Costa Rica, contact Jerry at jruhlow@costaricaoutdoors.com or visit www.costaricaoutdoors.com and click PLANNING A TRIP on the home page, fill in the brief form that pops up and click SEND. Will be back immediately with a suggested itinerary and total cost; no obligation.
You can also call him toll free from the U.S. and Canada at their Costa Rica office, 1-800 308-3394. Skippers, lodge operators and individual anglers are invited contact Jerry with fishing reports by Sunday of each week. Call or fax: 282-6743 if calling from Costa Rica, or through the email address above
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