news

August Fish Report at Crocodile Bay: Roosterfish, Tuna & Sailfish

Great August Fishing at Crocodile Bay: Big Roosterfish, Yellowfin Tuna & Sailfish

August gave us plenty of reasons to stay excited about the fishing at Crocodile Bay.

The incredible roosterfish bite we enjoyed throughout the summer continued strong, with big fish and some high-action days inshore. Cubera snapper and a variety of bottom species added to the mix, while offshore, yellowfin tuna continued to run with the porpoise and sailfish began showing up in the spread.

It was a great mix of what has made this summer so memorable, along with the first signs of the seasonal transition ahead.

Perhaps One of the Biggest Surprises of August Was the Weather

Mother Nature was remarkably cooperative throughout the month, giving our anglers calm seas and comfortable conditions on the water. Afternoon rain generally arrived around the time we were making our way back from fishing, allowing us to enjoy some beautiful days without interfering with the majority of our fishing time.

Inshore, the Roosterfish Continued to Be the Big Story

We experienced some of the best roosterfish action we have seen this season, with multiple days producing more than 40 roosterfish bites. Even more impressive was the number of adult-size fish in the mix. When the roosters are fired up and chasing bait around the boat, things can get absolutely crazy!

Roosterfish weren’t the only ones keeping our anglers busy.

Big Cubera Snapper Put Anglers and Tackle to the Test

August also produced some serious Cubera snapper. These powerful fish continue to put both anglers and tackle to the test. When a big Cubera decides to eat, you better be ready. Getting the bite is only half the battle—the real challenge is stopping that fish before it can get back into the rocks.

Bottom fishing provided plenty of additional action and variety throughout the month. Along with Cubera, anglers encountered several other snapper species, bluefin trevally, amberjack, grouper, and more.

That’s one of the things we love most about bottom fishing at Crocodile Bay: you never really know what is going to be on the end of your line.

One drop might produce a hard-fighting snapper, while the next could result in an amberjack or a grouper trying to bury you in the rocks. That variety is a big part of what makes fishing these waters so much fun.

Offshore Action Shows Signs of the Seasonal Transition

Offshore, August brought some encouraging signs of the transition ahead.

Sailfish began showing up in the spread again, chasing teasers and, in some cases, absolutely crushing the baits. There is nothing quite like watching a sailfish rise behind the boat, light up on a teaser, and suddenly turn its attention toward your bait.

The fish comes into the spread lit up and ready to eat. Your heart starts racing, everyone on the boat suddenly has a job to do, and when that sailfish finally eats—hold on!

For anyone who has never experienced a sailfish charging into the spread and attacking a bait right in front of them, it belongs on the fishing bucket list. It’s one of those moments that stays with you long after the trip is over.

Yellowfin Tuna Remained Strong Offshore

Yellowfin tuna also remained a strong part of the offshore fishery throughout August, with schools continuing to move through the area alongside porpoise.

And there have been some big fish in the mix.

Several of the yellowfin we encountered pushed well beyond 100 pounds. A tuna of that size is a completely different battle—fast, powerful, and capable of testing an angler and tackle from the first run to the final moments at the boat. These fish don’t give up easily, and landing one is an accomplishment no matter how experienced you are.

Looking Ahead to September Fishing at Crocodile Bay

As August comes to a close and we move into September, we are beginning to see the fishery change.

The roosterfish bite continues to give us excellent opportunities inshore, Cubera and the bottom fishery remain productive, and yellowfin tuna are still providing plenty of action offshore. At the same time, seeing sailfish return to the spread gives us an early glimpse of what the coming months may bring.

September is one of our transition months, and that is part of what makes it interesting. We will be watching the offshore fishery closely as the month progresses while continuing to take advantage of a very strong inshore bite.

September can also bring some rain, but this is Costa Rica. Warm tropical days and afternoon showers are part of fishing this time of year, and August was a great reminder that the forecast doesn’t always tell the whole story.