Sails Up on Pacific Coast; Tarpon Fast and Furious

THE main body of sailfish is still well to the south on the Pacific coast, where Roy’s Zancudo Lodge in the Southern Zone’s Golfito area reported that the one boat they had fishing offshore over last weekend released five sailfish. Big tuna are appearing closer inshore, with a 300-pounder and three from 150-300 pounds boated last week, along with eight dorado.

Sails are also appearing in increasing numbers farther north, off Quepos, on the central Pacific coast, with the Swordfish reporting three releases in one day late last week.

One of the J.P. Sportfishing boats out of Quepos on Friday released three sails and two dorado, and the Wild Lady scored five sail releases and a pair of dorado.

ON the northern Pacific coast, Kitty Cat skipper Rob Gordon reports the inshore fishing off Carrillo has been spectacular, with schools of sardines enticing tuna and dorado to within four miles of the beach, where he nailed 50 football size tuna and five dorado last Friday. The following day they had to be satisfied with only 20 tuna and four dorado, one of the tuna weighing in at 50 pounds. They also hooked a wahoo that cut the wire leader.

Rob said the water temperature is over 80 degrees and rising, so fishing should continue to improve.

The only report from farther north was from Gamefisher II skipper Richard Chellemi. He said the wind is lying down, but the water is still green and the water temperature is about 80 degrees, a bit chilly for good fishing.

ON the Caribbean coast, tarpon fishing continues fast and furious at Barra Colorado, where the Río Colorado Lodge reported that Mr. and Mrs. George Neblett in two days jumped five tarpon, with three that ran about 120 pounds to the boat for release.

The next day, Terry O’Toole and Steve Voss jumped 14 with three releases on their first tarpon-fishing trip, along with some big jack crevalle and a stringer of calba for the dinner table. The lodge is offering a $100 per day, per person discount through the end of December. The same discount is also being offered by Roy Ventura at Roy’s Zancudo Lodge, near Golfito on the

southern Pacific coast.

PHILIPPE Tisseaux reports from San Carlos Sportfishing that tarpon action also continues fast and furious in his region on the Nicaraguan side of the San Juan River, west of Barra Colorado, where fishing traditionally continues fast and furious through the coming months. They also get a lot of snook in the region, and some of the best rainbow-bass sport you’ll find anyplace, fishing the nearby Solentiname Islands. The lodge is offering a 10% discount through Jan. 15. For more information, visit www.nicaraguafishing.com or contact Philippe at tarponsnook@hotmail.com.

For more info on fishing or assistance in planning a trip to Costa Rica, contact Jerry at jruhlow@costaricaoutdoors.com or visit www.costaricaoutdoors.com. Skippers, operators and anglers are invited to contact Jerry with fishing reports by Sunday of each week. Call or fax 282-6743 within Costa Rica or write to the e-mail address above.