Costa Rica, Talk to me!

[hyefly]

Anyone have any suggestions for Costa rica, Pacific side... I'm talking fly fishing, big game, etc.. I want to hit it hard when I go down there.

[Too Fly]

Lucky Duck! I had a great opportuntiy to go last March and opted to go to Andros instead. I'm wishing I went. --124-3

Paul

[CaptGeneKelly]

check out http://www.tropicalfishing.com/costarica.html

[flyjon]

I fished out of the Golfito area about 5 years back. We were catching tuna, triple tails, blue runners, and hooked one sailfish on the fly . It's a beautiful place, nice people.

Cheers,

flyjon

[Toothfly]

We fished Quepos, on the pacific coast last June. We used Luna Tours and made our reservation with them about 2 weeks in advance. My son and I caught 6 sails using conventional trolling techniques and the capitan said it was a slow day.

[rkess]

Anyone have any suggestions for Costa rica, Pacific side... I'm talking fly fishing, big game, etc.. I want to hit it hard when I go down there.

I met a guy from Florida named Tony Tarallo on Andros last spring who owns two boats he charters in Costa Rico. He has been specializing in fly fishing for sails. He also has all the other gear. He can be reached at his restaurant (Sakura)in Stuart, Florida at 287-0018, I dont know the first 3 numbers.

A few of the people in his group had fished on his boats and boasted of many sails on the fly/day! If you call him tell him you heard about him from one of the guys from Massachusetts he met on Andros last year.

Good luck!

[CaptGeneKelly]

Quepos is very good until late April, and after that you are better off up in Guancaste.
For more info, check out http://www.tropicalfishing.com/costarica.html

Anyone have any suggestions for Costa rica, Pacific side... I'm talking fly fishing, big game, etc.. I want to hit it hard when I go down there.

[catspaw]

I've been there twice, both times to the Golfito area, once in Feb. once in March. Had great trips both times. One trip was at Roy's Zancudo lodge, I wouldn't go there again; personell problems and guests were on the "rough side". Second trip was to Golfito Sailfish Rancho, excellent trip, I'll return. Many sails to 110 lbs and a 200 blue marlin for 2 hours till rod broke, all on flies. Good accomodations, great food and great company. Contact Angler Adventures, they'll set the whole thing up, first class opperation.

[Quicksilver]

Don't mind me sports fans. I am wondering how many publications I would have needed to subscribe to for how many years to get the information I just got by scrolling down this thread. Thanks R/T !

[JDR]

Absolutely great info. Thanks very much.

Looks like I might be heading down to Costa Rica in march. Plan on doing some bluewater fishing but would also love to chase a few tarpon. I know almost nothing about fishing Costa Rica but have gotten a good start with this thread. One question, can anybody confirm for me if you can find bonefish there as well? I haven't seen a mention of them anywhere. Thanks much.

[CaptGeneKelly]

As far as I know, there is nobody in Costa Rica to take you bonefishing, but there my be some on the extreme southern portion on the Craibbean side.

Absolutely great info. Thanks very much.

Looks like I might be heading down to Costa Rica in march. Plan on doing some bluewater fishing but would also love to chase a few tarpon. I know almost nothing about fishing Costa Rica but have gotten a good start with this thread. One question, can anybody confirm for me if you can find bonefish there as well? I haven't seen a mention of them anywhere. Thanks much.

[Animal Chris]

Quepos through the end of April, Gulf de Papagayo in May through the Fall, Gulfito in the winter. If you go to Quepos, try some of the surf just off the Rio Parrita, 10-15 miles up the coast. Some big snook in that area. Where ever you go, you will find fish all year round, just maybe not as many. Most of my time was spent fishing out of Playa del Coco in Mid May with heavy tackle for Black Marlin. Buena suerte and let us know how you do. AC

[Capt. John]

Depends on what you want I guess- But I would say fish Panama! The fising is just as good if not better Same species both places, really same water if you are in southern Costa rica. You can fish in Panama for an entire week and not see another boat!! There is no where in Costa that I know of you can say that...and price is better. Just my two cents.. ;)

[JDR]

Animal Chris,

I am going to by in Playa del Coco for about 2 weeks in March. Going to do some heavy tackle fishing but also bringing along the fly rods. Never been to this part of the world, any advice on flies, particular species around Playa del Coco? Anything would be appreciated. Is it possible to access good fishing there on your own either on foot or in a small boat. I'm doing this with a friend who is moving down there, no lodge, just winging it. Although we do have a few contacts for blue water fishing, we don't know anything about the flyfishing around there.

Thanks for the help.

Jeff

Quepos through the end of April, Gulf de Papagayo in May through the Fall, Gulfito in the winter. If you go to Quepos, try some of the surf just off the Rio Parrita, 10-15 miles up the coast. Some big snook in that area. Where ever you go, you will find fish all year round, just maybe not as many. Most of my time was spent fishing out of Playa del Coco in Mid May with heavy tackle for Black Marlin. Buena suerte and let us know how you do. AC

[fernando]

Anyone have any suggestions for Costa rica, Pacific side... I'm talking fly fishing, big game, etc.. I want to hit it hard when I go down there.
Hi:My name is Fernando,and I just came back last week.My
brother in law has a great operation in southwest Costa Rica
Log to ranchopacifico.com,you`ll have the time of your life
great snook,roosterfish,snapper,you name it,is there,besides
been and incredible last Costa rica frontier.Best regards

Fernando

[AlderBrookFarm]

My husband and daughter just returned last night from Costa Rica. They fished out of Quepos 3 days and their group only caught 3 Sails and saw one Blue Marlin. The captains told them that it is the worst they've had in a long time and it is because of El Nino...the blue water line is 100 miles out instead of the normal 60.

[garyk]

Appears that Quepos shut down early this year. We fished on March 27, following reports of slow but steady catches averaging two to four sails per day.

Unfortunately, our day was pretty much a bust. One decent sailfish grabbed the teaser, and that was the only one we rose in a full day's fishing.

Muy disappointing.

When we go again, we'll likely try late January.

[hyefly]

how do you think it will be in june?

[Swalt]

From what I understand Guanacaste area, Gulf of Papagayo, is better for fishing in the Summer. May to September. Many of the boats that fish Quepos move to that area during the summer. There are lots of boats fishing out Flamingo, Tamarindo and Ocatol/Playa de Coco. Most of the hotels can set you up with a boat. I will be down in July, fishing 2 days out of Flamingo.

[PanamaJack]

There just so many differing threads through this theme. Certainly having fished Golfito I would recommend Sailfish Ranchero run by Abraham and Betsey - excellent boats with knowledgable skippers used to fly fisherman. It's a well run lodge, Betsey's an ex-horse breeder from Virginia, if my memory serves me correct. And as you move form early Spring into the summer months the numbers of Marlin start to increase. It's worth viewing their web site - www.golfitosailfish.com - it has regular catch reports noted.

Someone though picked up on a reference to Tarpon, mentioning the Caribbean side. Although not widely known you can encounter 'proper' Tarpon on the Pacific side as well. They're in isolated pockets but they do exist, having presumably migrated through the Panama Canal. I remember having this discussion with Abraham who discounted it, then a fortnight later one of his client caught a 40 pounder.

But bigger fish exist all along that coastline. The largest I've heard of was one just over 260lbs from the Bayno River in Panama, but they catch them off Isla Coiba as well. If you're interested, mixed in with big game and superb inshore fishing it's worth viewing these two Panamanian web site - www.coibadventure.com and www.panamafishingandcatching.com. I've fished with both Tom and Tony and would recommend them.
Kindest Regards
Dave West
Honorary Chairman - Sportfishing Club of the British Isles
www.scbi.org.uk