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Jerry's Fishing Report
October 27th
by Jerry Ruhlow
Tarpon have been all but jumping in the boat on the northern Caribbean coast, and the action couldn’t have come at a better time with all three lodges – Casamar, Silver King and Rio Colorado – all booked to capacity and everyone catching fish. Haven´t had a report from Parismina Lodge, further up the Tortuguero Canal, since I can remember but assume they were doing equally as well.
Rio Colorado Lodge operator Dan Wise reports that Tom Larkins, from Mississippi, even scored two wahoo in the 30 pound range while trolling the rip line, an unusual catch for the area which is internationally renowned for the tarpon and snook fishing.
Most impressive catch reported was a 150 pound tarpon caught n a 12-weight fly rod after a two-hour battle by Innus Tetsuo, from Japan, Dan said.
Ken Moreau and Tom Bechnal, from Houston, fishing just two days, hooked and released 16 tarpon, and jumped a few others they didn’t get to the boat he added.
That’s the good news. Bad news is, the snook are in but the locals are netting them illegally at night for the commercial market while the authorities, as usual, look the other way, the lodge operators report.
“We complain to them, and the park department just says they don’t have gasoline to send their boat out, Dan said. “The snook bring a good price but there is no market for tarpon, and we found 10 tarpon carcasses that were discarded by the netters on the beach last week ,” Dan said.
At Lake Arenal, guide Ron Saunders reports condition back to normal this past week after the wind changed and blew out of the west rather than off the Caribbean which is more usual. That westerly wind kicked up a chop which slowed fishing, but it was back on course as of early his week, Ron said.
No reports from the Golfito area on the Pacific coast, but we are finally seeing some action out of Quepos where fishing has been slow in recent weeks. J.P. Sportfishing reports 11 sailfish releases aboard the Wild Lady Oct. 4, 5 and 8 and a few dorado on Oct. 9, but judging from the dearth of reports out of the area, fishing apparently continues slow.
Further north, Wetass II skipper reports bad water conditions and slow action early last week and not much cooperation from the fish.
Was unable to raise any of the other skippers on the northern coast and want to remind any and all to give me a call with fishing reports as early as possible on Monday of each week. My telephone number is 282-6743; email is jruhlow@sol.racsa.co.cr.
I did get an email and photo from Tico Times reader Joe James, who fished with Tranquilamar Sportfishing at Ocotal along with Steve Vanfleet and Clint Johnson. That’s Joe with and a dorado the size of a tank (see photo), the largest I’ve seen here in a long time. They also caught and released a sailfish and a few smaller dorado.
To submit fishing reports, for more information on fishing or assistance planning a trip, fishermen, skippers and guides can call Jerry at 282-6743 or email him at jruhlow@racsa.co.cr. Fishing reports should be submitted as early as possible by Monday of each week.
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