This is the time of year many fishing violations happen. This turtle was released this week off a longline that was illegally using J hooks. Circle hooks are required on both commercial and sportfishing boats. If you have photo proof of a violation, please note the location and send the photo to fecopt@gmail.com.
The area off Quepos on the central Pacific coast heated up again this week, and sailfish have been the main attraction. According to Rolando Chaves, the fishing has been wide open with double-digit raises most every day. Quepos fleets have been running down to the Furuno Bank, where the largest concentration of fish can be found. Not many marlin are popping up, but anglers are staying real busy with the sails.
Boats out of Los Sueños are also running down toward Quepos as most of the Central Pacific action is down at Furuno or out in front of the port town. Up north in Guanacaste, fishing has been a little better to the south offshore, but the northern part of the Nicoya Peninsula has had good action on roosterfish and snapper.
The sails have been driving anglers crazy to the south; one day they bite and the next day they come into the teasers and take a look and leave. Marlin have made an appearance the last few days. Most of the fish have been in the 200-pound range, but two nice fish of 400 and 500 pounds have been landed and released the last two days. Snapper fishing remains strong inside the Golfo Dulce.
Over on the Caribbean, Eddie Brown reports good tarpon action on the outside and also in the Río Colorado. It is a dance to get out to the river mouth, but fish wait outside at the color change to stretch the string on some anglers. Those who don’t want to take the bouncy ride to the outside are jumping a half dozen fish a day in the river.
Todd Staley is the fishing manager at Crocodile Bay Resort in Puerto Jiménez, on southwestern Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. Skippers, operators and anglers are invited to email fishing reports by Wednesday of each week to todd@crocodilebay.com. To post reports and photos on The Tico Times’ online fishing forum, go to www.ticotimes.net/Weekend/Fishing and click on Show Us Your Catch.
To comment, write a letter to the editor to letters@ticotimes.net. Please make sure to include your full name and location. Letters must be 500 words or fewer. Submissions should be original.