December 2017 – Costa Rica Fishing Report

Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado and Roosterfish keep Anglers Smiling in December at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica

Thank you to Paul and his group from Sportquest Holidays out of the UK for this monster rooster photo.

Crocodile Bay Fishing Report – December 2017 by Captain Allan Smith – November and December have yielded some of the best dorado fishing we have seen in years. There have been several days with boats returning to the pier with double digit releases. We have been finding schools holding along current lines, floating logs or other debris. If a sizable school is located , our crews have been stopping next to the fish and pulling out the smaller rods, for some light tackle action. You can cast poppers, pitch live baits or even cast flies to the dorado swimming around the flotsam. It is not uncommon to have two or three fish hooked up at once.

In addition to the dorado, we have been raising marlin on the outside of the currents. Yesterday, Susan Kalick decided to head offshore and look for a dorado. Her husband was feeling a little under the weather, but Susan wanted to fish, so she set off on her own. She managed to land her dorado first thing in the morning, but the next bite was something different. As the line screamed off the reel, the captain yelled marlin. It was a big fish, and Susan and her crew took turns fighting it. After two hours the blue finally came to the leader and it was estimated at over four hundred pounds.

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The yellowfin tuna action has continued and though we don’t see them every day, when we do, the sushi bar has been well stocked. We are starting to raise more Sailfish now and our captains have to stay on their toes, “Is that a sailfish or a marlin behind that lure.”

Inshore the rooster fishing has been very good. We had some choppy weather for about a week that really turned the big fish on at Mato Palo. You can see from some of the photos, not exactly a picture postcard day, but with a big fish in your lap, who cares.

Personally speaking, this is one of my favorite times of the year to fish. They say “variety is the spice of life” perhaps a bit cliché, but I like variety in my offshore fishing. In November and December there are tuna, dorado, sailfish, and marlin all here at the same time. It is the only time of the year when we have all four species in sufficient numbers, to potentially catch a “slam” (tuna, dorado, sailfish, and marlin in one day). It doesn’t mean you will encounter all of these fish every day, but the chance is there for something different every time you get a bite. When that line pops out of the outrigger clip, not knowing what is on the other end of it, adds a little bit more mystery and excitement to the fishing.

We would like to thank Paul Stevens of SportQuest Holidays and their group from the UK for visiting us again. We have been hosting SportQuest for over a decade and their groups are always a lot of fun. Here are some photos from their 5 day fishing trip last week.

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Tight Lines,
Captain Allan Smith

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