Sunrise From the Pier at Crocodile Bay by Bryce Johnson
Costa Rica Fishing Report – January 2018 by Captain Allan Smith – December is a fun time of the year at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica. The kids are on vacation and we get a lot of families down for a fishing holiday in the tropics.
Crocodile Bay Fishing Report September 2017 by Captain Allan Smith – August and September have been good months for roosterfish. If you are in search of a trophy roosterfish, the “Green Season” (April 15 through December 15th) offers some of the best inshore fishing of the year. We have not been seeing as many of the smaller school fish, but the big boys have been around and if you are patient you will be rewarded. Typically, this time of the year is slower for tropical fishing vacations. People are busy with Labor Day weekend and the kids are going back to school. But for those that do come to fish, it is a good time to catch a quality roosterfish. With less people fishing there are less boats on the water and the fish are less pressured. Fishing spots that get a lot of daily attention during the high season may not be fished for days or even weeks at a time. With less fishing pressure, the big fish are less wary and feed more aggressively increasing your chances for that trophy roosterfish.
Inshore fishing has been yielding some nice snapper action as well. We have released several good Cubera snapper and have been catching a lot of yellowtail snappers. A good day on the water is always made better when you bring home a snapper or two for dinner. Jacks and African pompano have been around as well and help keep the rod bent when the roosterfish action slows.
From Dock to Plate: Whole fried yellowtail snapper “Costa Rica” style
Offshore has been a little spotty, but we have had some great days with lots of tuna. It is always interesting to see what the tuna are feeding on. Several days we found their stomachs full of shrimp and another day they were full of deep water crabs. The crabs must swim all the way up from the bottom to the surface to spawn which is quite a distance considering the depths we fish in are between one and four thousand feet. We usually find tuna eating flying fish, goggle eyes or squid, but clearly they will eat almost anything that is available in quantity.
Tight Lines
Captain Allan Smith,
Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula
Costa Rica
Terms and Conditions – special is for new reservations only and includes ALL meals and accommodations. Special does not include applicable tax, International and local flights, or transportation package. Vacation must be taken between now and November 6th, 2017 and offer is not valid in combination with any offers.
Costa Rica Fishing Report – News and Updates out of Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica – April 2017 by Fishing Director Todd Staley
Thanks to Dave Rimington, Rich Hahn, and Gary and Susan Ellis who hosted another Boomer Esiason Redbone@Large Celebrity fishing tournament at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica.
The competition among the group of former pro athletes was intense but friendly. Mike Knox was the eventual winner and partner Kelly the runner-up. Their combined score edged out Todd Calfee and Dr. Misko who boated 3 marlin in one day.
Pictured Above – MLB Hall of Fame Legend Wade Boggs with a sailfish on!
Dr. Misko was down with his 13 year old son celebrating his birthday and not only did they get to fish with some of their football idols – but they were able to experience catching their first sailfish and marlin.
Dr. Justin Misko posses with Wade Boggs and Mark Cooper as they present him with the tournament award for “Most Sailfish Caught”
Knox and Kai banged up the roosterfish inshore with a 1500 point day to edge out the others. Wade Boggs and Mark Cooper fished together and as always it was fun to hear their “in jest” comments back and forth – it was a good thing they didn’t play the same sport. Wade managed a few post-tournament snook the satisfy his fishing bug.
Offshore continues to be unpredictable and inshore reliable for the most part. Plenty of roosters, grouper, and if you are inclined sharks. Jacks and roosters have been hitting poppers.
Randy and Brandi Shapiro doubled up on marlin of 250 and 500 pounds. Lifetime fish and a trip to the spa afterward. They also became the first owners of our new Costa Rica real estate offering – Botánika Osa Peninsula Curio Collectin by Hilton.
Ocean’s been flat and more sun than you can stand.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort
Costa Rica
Crocodile Bay Resort Fishing Report by Fishing Director Todd Staley – July 2016 – Father’s Day has just past and it has been over two decades since I lost my own, But for repeat guest Rob Sekely the wound was much fresher, losing his father last Christmas. The decision to leave a good sailfish bite offshore was based on a lesson taken from dad. His own words…“I was actually down fishing in memory of my father who I lost this past Christmas. It was very apparent that he was gracing me with his presence and fishing philosophy. Prior to moving to the spot off the famous Matapalo rock, we were very blessed to have raised seven sails and land three. So, it was decided that we should tip our hats to the fish gods and go inshore to see what would transpire.The last fish of the day was a 70lb roosterfish. What a tremendous bucket-list day of fishing!!”
“Life is full of moments – good and bad…and things seem to get balanced out along the way. The philosophy my dad shared on many occasions with us and I shared it with Todd, is that if you want too many, you won’t get any. So,when Anna had mentioned to go inshore after our sailfish success, that philosophy kept ringing louder in my head. Fate is a fickle part of life that can shine on you at any moment.”
Thank you for the powerful words Rob, and sorry for your loss.
Here is Rob’s roosterfish from his previous trip to Crocodile Bay Resort in 2012 – also a monster
Offshore has been a let’s see what’s on the menu for today kind of fishing. Catches lately included marlin, sails, lots of tuna, and a wahoo here and there. The tuna law moving purse seine boats offshore sponsored by FECOP, the Costa Rica sport fishing lobby down here has paid big dividends all along the coast and lots of double and triple digit fish are being boated.
Inshore the roosterfish and snapper continue to please anglers and the annual run of big roosterfish this time of year has seem to have started as several fish over 50 lbs have been caught this week.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
Did you know our inshore fishery is home to 12 kinds of snapper? Pictured below is Braden Born and his brother with a beautiful Colorado snapper. One of the many species one may encounter on an inshore fishing trip at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica.
Here is what Pete had to say about his visit to Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica this past week:
David,
It would be bad manners of the type that disappointed my mother if we did not tell you and all the Crocodile Bay Resort team how much we enjoyed our adventure. It is hard but pleasing work to have that much fun. We will not mention any team member for fear of omission of any one name.
But we will say:
The experience began with your tireless attention to detail, coordination, and follow up and we stumbled along in cobbling a suitable game plan. You attempted to educate and serve while not being disappointed if the student failed to understand.
Our primary purpose was the fishing experience and we were quite pleased.
The boats and fishing staff were world class. Well maintained equipment and highly skilled personnel. All very professional and personable.
The fishing experience was the ‘main course’ of a grand experience.
All services of the lodge were 5 star. That may sound like hyperbole, But remember this is an isolated spot, which we found quite pleasant. The food was exquisite and service as well as attention to detail surprising to include even artistic carving of a breakfast fruit plate.
There was great effort to pay attention to the guest wants and needs ‘as to offer’ rather than be ‘asked for’, even the mosquitoes seemed to be trained to not bite the guests.
So many good things do not just happen! Dedication to mission fulfillment shines through.
Some may suggest parts of the resort to be dated, but everything works and all team members work at ensuring guest satisfaction.
Furthermore evidence of commitment as demonstrated in newer construction and surveyor flags is all around. Old or new —everything works and is well maintained.
We left the lodge with long list of new friends composed of both staff and guests.
Hope to have another experience with you during the black marlin season.
Pete
Thanks Pete! Black marlin are historically most plentiful between July and September. We hope to see you back down at Crocodile Bay soon!
We would like to thank Brianna from California for these photos of her recent vacation:
ICAST 2016 – If you are affiliated with the fishing industry and registered for this years’ ICAST, you may visit Crocodile Bay Resort at booth 2863 July 13th through the 15th for your chance to win the Costa Rica fishing trip of a lifetime! We will also be offering fishing trips at special “industry rates”. You will of course also have a chance to see all the coolest new fishing, gear, gadgets and apparel for the upcoming year before the rest of the world. For more information visit the Offical ICAST website.
June 2016 – Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica – by Fishing Director Todd Staley Offshore of late has been a hunting game. Most everyone who has a Pacific sailfish on their bucket list is fulfilling the wish with some patience but they are not popping up like popcorn as they were in March and April. Todd Vannatta who has been coming down for years missed his trip earlier this year because of an accident but finally made it with 15 year old son and future NBA star 15 year old 6 foot 7 inch Gunnar. Gunnar took his first sailfish and they added a 25 lb dorado which they enjoyed several times in the restaurant.
Inshore fishing has been wide open and couples John and Lorraine Sixsmith from England and Robert and Francine Schreiber of Fort Lauderdale came just for that. Roosterfish, African pompano, jacks, trevally, grouper, and tilefish are just a few of the species that stretched their string.
Above Robert Schreiber shows the food chain in action with this beautiful cubera snapper
Schreiber hooked a big cubera snapper estimated at 60 plus pounds but it won the fight as the big ones often do. The plate size Pacific yellowtail snapper they also caught hit the deep fryer and were a delight.
Pictuerd above Francine Schreiber holds up a nice sized Roosterfish before returning it to the Pacific
The Sixsmiths from England spent 14 days with us and caught just about everything. They also had a chance to go on a variety of our 30 Eco-adventure tours. See photos below:
Robert Sixsmith pictured above with one of many Roosterfish he released. The Sixsmiths caught a variety of inshore species and sailfish on their 14 day visit from England.
Tara Harrell – who many of you may have spoken with prior to booking your trip to Costa Rica- visited last week with her youngest son and had a great time fishing and exploring the rainforest. She released this roosterfish and caputured a lot of amazing wildlife photos which will soon be featured on crocodilebay.com.
As the month winds down we should see more marlin and tuna moving in. Tuna making short appearances now have been running 20 to 70 lbs. July through September are historically some of the best months to target blue marlin (with blacks and stripes in the mix) You can click here to check availability for July through September.
Father’s Day is quickly approaching and we have a great way for you and your family to celebrate this special day. When you book a Costa Rica fishing trip of three days or more, we’ll give dad a VIP boat upgrade from a Boston Whaler Outrage to a 33′ Strike Yacht (for a full day), so he can fish inshore or offshore like a pro!
Trips must be booked by Father’s Day 2016 and taken before October, 2016 (to receive the special one day upgrade valued at $700). Call 1-855-945-4171 for special offer details and restrictions or fill out the form below to check availability.
Crocodile Bay Resort is an ideal destination for family or group vacations as we offer over 30 eco, adventure, and cultural tours as well as a luxury Spa for non-anglers.
We also offer unlimited complimentary paddle boarding from our private pier and waterfront area. Check availability below.
Costa Rica Fishing Report By Todd Staley, Fishing Director – Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica – May 2016 – Who would think I would hate children after raising 10, but the last “El Niño” made me rethink the whole thing about “niños”. The El Niño which has officially passed made only one thing predictable about fishing in the Southern zone of Costa Rica. The only thing predictable was that it was unpredictable. We have a few months of normal weather patterns coming our way and if history repeats itself, a strong El Niño is usually followed a few months later by an “La Niña” which usually is favorable in this area.
In the coming months offshore fishing in the South means marlin. Most of the year we usually see blue marlin but now and then there are a few blacks and striped marlin mixed in with the blues. Find the spinner or spotted dolphins and you will find the yellowfin tuna.
Since the FECOP sponsored tuna decree moving purse seiners farther offshore, boats all along the Pacific coast have reported catching more tuna and have been seeing larger pods of dolphin. Sometimes during the Fiestas de San Juan when the schools are on vacation, an Indian summer will pass through and we will see sailfish numbers increase to double digit days.
Inshore our fishery is year round but the green season produces some of the biggest roosterfish of the year. Bridle up a live bonito and let him do his thing near Matapalo Rock and you have a chance at a 60 plus pound fish. A big cubera snapper may find your bait first and the tug-a-war is on to keep them out of the rocks.
Here are a few monster roosterfish catches (all fish released) from the past at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
The following photos are thanks to Jean and Hunter Michewicz and Garrett and Christina Hutto. The wives surprised their husbands with a surprise fishing trip to Crocodile Bay.
Keep your eye on the fish!
Don’t forget Father’s Day is right around the corner, and the kids are almost out of school – Summer is a perfect time to spend quality time with the family at Crocodile Bay Resort. We get lots of father/son teams down, but fishing is not just for the boys – and we offer a luxury spa as well as 30 eco, cultural and educational tours for those who want to do something other than fish. We know you’ll enjoy this video featuring local girls and some of our staff members catching a variety of inshore species including roosterfish, African pompano, and snapper.
By Todd Staley, Fishing Director – They say that El Niño is finally starting to go away and the temperature of Equatorial waters is finally beginning to drop. I don’t think I will recover any of the hair I’ve lost but the fishing just might get a little more predictable. The light seasonal rains have finally started after a long drought and everything that had turned brown miraculously turned back to green in 3 days. Schools of yellowfin tuna have started passing by with the dolphins. The last one was aggravating as the fish didn’t chew that well but we did manage an 80 lb block of steak and sashimi for the guests.
Sails are still around and still having days of double digits but they are also doing their pre-spawn ritual up on the surface. When there is that kind of flirting going on sometime they get finicky about running down a bait offered to them. The dropping water temperature should bring more marlin our way as well.
We have even seen a few dorado which were scarce in the height of the Niño season. Inshore has been decent fishing with good days and slow days but thank you fish gods, mostly good days. Roosterfish have been active and checked off a lot of bucket lists. Snapper are biting and looking good on dinner plates. Deeper, the grouper have been biting with some tilefish.
I am going to put up a couple of photos of some of the stranger fish we have seen this season inshore. Don’t quite know why, but interesting none the less.
Dennis Tilton of Boston Whaler with a Congria. Although not rare it is a strange looking and deliscious fish
A juvenile Mexican Hognose snapper from Matapalo Rock
![12745792_10208479142871901_614536680714487212_n[1]](https://www.crocodilebay.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/12745792_10208479142871901_614536680714487212_n1.jpg)
This deep-water Stargazer also came from the famous rock at the mouth of the Gulf
Rare Costa Rica barrelfish
This just in – The Kessler group went 24/7 on sailfish yesterday – congrats guys!
Todd Staley, Fishing Director Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
The inshore fishing has really been something to crow about. While offshore has been for the patient angler, inshore has been pretty much wide open. Roosters are crowing all day long and some nice snapper and other inshore smorgasbord has kept anglers busy.
The pictures will tell most of the story as our ace Will Briegel lays this report out in the magical way that he has, but here is a short recap.
Lorrie Potts with a nice roosterfish at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
Lorrie Potts gave the boys a fishing lesson in the Travis West group as she took 8 roosters out of the 21 they landed in a day fishing the coastline. Conner Scherer made a fantastic recovery from a queasy day on the water to catch a hen house full of roosters fishing with his grandparents Lewis and Mari Ann.
Elizabeth Bigley won her trip on the Wheel of Fortune and had some great inshore fishing
Elizabeth Bigley who won her trip here on Wheel of Fortune didn’t have to buy a vowel to catch a mixed bag of inshore species on a half day trip with her friend Kristen Mattern. They spent most of the week doing a variety of eco tours but they weren’t going to escape me by not doing a day of fishing.
“Quite the Neighbor,” Bob Shaw, a friend I hadn’t seen in a quarter century was down with his wife Pauline and caught some of the biggest “pargo seda” I have seen as well as a bunch of roosters. He knew his day would be good when he took an 8 lb grouper on a tiny gold hook on a bait rig before he started fishing for bigger fish.
Matt Gorup shows off a fat snapper
Joe Lencewicz III caught this 50lb yellowfin on a popper
Matt Gorup is down again with his wife Susan and a group of friends from Peterbilt. The just started a five day trip and we will probably hear more next month but I wanted to show off his monster snapper from a previous day.
The Lencewicz men, Joe III, and son Joe IV have been hanging tough offshore every day. They have had a couple shots at marlin that didn’t connect as well as sailfish, but this nice tuna pictured was not escaping when the tossed a popper in front of his nose.
Most anglers are getting a treat of seeing the humpback whales that are now in the Gulf with their calves.
Joe Lencewicz III with a nice yellowfin tuna he caught on a popper this past week
Bob Shaw with a nice pargo seda (wax snapper)
Bob Shaw’s surprise grouper on a bait hook
Ryan Downey with a nice cubera snapper
Peter Mazzoni holds on to a feisty roosterfish before release
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The Direct Line Fishing Report by Todd Staley
The tide had just turned and was slowly pushing toward the open ocean. The peak of the reef reaches up 83 feet below the surface. The volcanic terrain sits in the middle of the Golfo Dulce in Costa Rica’s southern Pacific region and the underwater structure is 120 feet below.
Bright orange cubera snapper hover just below the slick surface like a field strewn with huge Halloween pumpkins. An angler tosses a lively blue runner over the side and the nervous bait races back to the boat.
Like a huge fireball, a cubera explodes on the surface and throws water in every direction. Line screams off the reel. Even the blister raised on the thumb, as extra pressure is applied to the drag, is not enough. The snapper’s power is too much and it escapes into a rocky cavern below. The fisherman is left with the lasting memory of having a runaway freight train on the end of his line.
Scenes like this are among the reasons businessman Robin Williams (not the actor) chose Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica – located on the Golfo Dulce, to build his dream project, Crocodile Bay Resort (formerly Crocodile Bay Lodge)
Not only is offshore fishing for billfish sensational, in Costa Rica’s cobalt offshore waters, but the 30-mile long, 15 mile wide Golfo Dulce also offers some of the best inshore fishing action in Costa Rica. More than 40 IGFA world records have been established in the area. Several major rivers wind through the mangroves and dump rich nutrients into the gulf.
Crocodile Bay’s 40-vessel fleet includes 33-foot Strike tower boats and 26′ Boston Whalers and is currently Central America’s largest private sport fishing fleet.
The Spa at Crocodile Bay
The Crocodile Bay Resort project began with the purchase of a sprawling 44-acre farm adjacent to the airport in Puerto Jimenez, including 600 feet of frontage on the Gulf. Construction of the 6 quadroplexes and main resort began in June of 1999. Crocodile Bay Resort (as Crocodile Bay Lodge) opened it’s doors in September of that year, and the 750 foot private pier was completed in April of 2000. A new 5000 square foot luxury spa was completed in 2007 and currently offers 30 rejuvenating treatments, a big draw to anglers who opt to bring their spouses or for large groups including non-anglers. Other facilities include a conference and meeting center that seats up to 80 people, a crocodile lagoon, pool with swim-up-bar and raised jacuzzi, game room, restaurant and bar with outdoor grill, as well as countless walking and hiking trails. On these grounds you have a chance to witness 3 of the 4 species of indigenous monkeys, and 400 plus exotic bird species (including the surprisingly common scarlet macaws and toucans – which you normally will not see in many parts of Costa Rica)
The Rooms at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
Rustic Elegance
Built of concrete and local native hardwoods, the 34 rooms are spacious with queen sized beds and private Jacuzzi tubs (available in deluxe rooms) and air conditioning. Mr. Williams had a vision of the project more than a two decades ago. He began assembling his team by bringing Hardy Corea aboard as company president and manager of the resort. Todd staley joined the team as Director of Fishing and is currently still in charge of the fishing operations and was recently awarded the IGFA Chester H. Wolfe award for Outstanding Sportsman of the Year (2015 – for his work helping to push commercial fishing boats 60 miles offshore). Corea (no longer with the operation) and Staley both trained under the wing of the late Archie Fields, founder of the Rio Colorado tarpon and snook resort on the Caribbean coast and pioneer of early Costa Rica tourism. In all, Crocodile Bay Resort created more than 100 new jobs in Puerto Jimenez.
Fantastic Costa Rica Fishing
Offshore Fishing at Crocodile Bay – Sailfish
It is the dance of the sailfish and the lightning speed of the marlin that that attract most anglers to the Osa Peninsula. It is not uncommon to raise more than 15 billfish in a days fishing during peak months. Most dorado (mahi-mahi) coming to the dock have been over 30 lbs with Tuna in the mix. You can likely have a shot at catching a billfish any day of the year, with January through April the top months for marlin and sailfish along this region of the Southern coast. there is also a good showing of marlin in July -August and November, while months during and just after the rains produce more dorado, as the debris washed out of the rivers forms the inshore trash lines they feed under. Football-size tuna are almost always present and sometimes those that top out at 300 pounds.
Anglers trolling in the blue-water are often treated to pleasant surprises. Humpback and pilot whales blow geysers high in the air. Sea turtles sun on the surface. Manta rays free-jump and belly-flop with a loud slap on the water. The most awesome sight, though, is the sighed sight of a pod of killer whales migrating s along the coast.
An orca belly flops onto the wake of a groups Strike fishing boat only 15 miles offshore heading back to the pier after a day of sport fishing.
The Rio Esquinas enters the northwest corner of the gulf in a massive estuary system of creeks and mangroves. The dropoff at the revermouth quickly falls to more than 200 feet in depth, creating an ambush point for roosterfish, jack crevalle, snook and snapper. A local fisherman took a 63 pound black snook on a handline several years back that would have crushed the current world record for conventional tackle.
Rio Coto at Zancudo is also famous for its snook. Large schools of herring congregate on the flats in front of the river and with it schools of sierra mackerel, jacks and other game fish. The Zancudo beach has an inshore corbina population and gets rocky again as it turns the corner to Pavones, where roosterfish and surfers share the famous left break.The puerto Jimenez side of the gulf is made up mostly of mangrove shoreline.
Two volcanic reefs lay in the shallows offshore. One is nearly a mile long. Small cubera snappers in the 5 to 10 pound range jump all over a topwater plug worked over the rocks. Roosterfish to fifty pounds patrol these same mirrored waters, though they prefer a frisky live bait.
A humpback whale at Matapalo Rock
Matapalo Rock at the mouth of the gulf acts as a reference point for the blue water angler. “So many degrees” and “so many miles” off the rock is the common terminology used when talking about locating fish. The rock also has been described as and “underwater Jurassic Park.” It produces snapper so big you could never turn them on conventional tackle. Large schools of amberjack, massive goliath grouper, and sharks call it home. On rare occasions, anglers trying for roosterfish are surprised when a mako shark takes to the air after swallowing a bait.
The fishing tourism business in Southern Costa Rica has gone through a change in the past decade, attracting more couples and families in addition to groups of hardcore fishermen. Crocodile Bay brought in Eco Director and Photographer Dennis Atencio to coordinate activities for anglers taking a day off the water and for non fishing guests. Corcovado National Park, spanning the 2nd largest area in Costa Rica’s world famous National Park system, and contains the highest number of endangered species in all of Central America The area contains an estimated five percent of the planet’s bio diversity.
Zip Lining – One of Thirty Eco Tours Available at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica
Parrots, macaws, toucans and other exotic birds abound. Four species of monkeys, sloth, crocodiles and may other animals call the park home. Occasional sightings of the rare jaguar and other members of the cat family have been reported inside the park.
Tours include flying through the rainforest via a canopy by zip-line, relaxing jaunts, ocean and mangrove kayaking (and all new guided kayak fishing tours), mountain biking, bird watching, jungle and rainforest hikes, snorkeling, waterfall rappelling, botanical garden hikes and more. The world class fishing Costa Rica has to offer combined with a vision that began 20 years ago, has made Robin Williams and many a traveling angler’s dreams come true.
by Todd Staley, Fishing Director – Boston Whaler has been coming to Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica annually since 2002. Dennis Tilden coordinates their activities here at the hotel and though he makes sure everyone in the group has an exceptional time, he is sometimes too busy working to relax and enjoy the trip to the fullest. This year he managed to get on the water a little more himself. Fishing out at Matapalo Tilden connected with a big Mexican barracuda and as they landed the fish his captain mentioned he had never seen one so big. The captain took the head home to make a soup.
As the chef was preparing a barracuda ceviche and getting the rest ready for dinner, Dennis mentioned the captain’s comment. A check with the IGFA record book showed the biggest recorded was 28 lbs. Tilden’s fish at just under 32 lbs made a delicious world record meal.
You may be thinking to yourself that this is a dangerous proposition since some Atlantic barracuda are known to contain high levels of the toxin ciguatera they ingest when consuming certain coral reef animals. Pacific barracuda however is considered safe for consumption so Dennis decided this record breaking fish should be eaten immediately instead of filling out all of the paperwork. Dennis also won day two of the Boston Whaler tournament with the release of a beautiful 350 lb blue marlin. Not a bad day.
These are just a couple of highlights from the annual Boston Whaler trip this past week. Crocodile Bay once again hosted Will Rogers, Dennis Tilden and the gang for a three day fishing tournament with some eco adventure tours in the mix to reward employees for a job well done.
We had more anglers jumping off the pier this year than we have ever seen – which in case you’re not aware is the Crocodile Bay ritual for those who release their first billfish.
Over the three day tournament the Boston Whaler group of 25 raised 88 sailfish and released 32. Seven marlin were raised with three released as well. Other catches included dorado, roosterfish, snapper, jacks, and grouper.
The third day of the trip some folks were worn out from cranking and yanking and opted to tour Costa Rica’s largest coastal rainforest to experience the large variety of local wildlife. Boston Whaler continued their tradition of helping the community with an annual donation to the local high school in Puerto Jimenez to help the local children who study there. We thank you for your support and look forward to seeing you again next year.
Other highlights from the past several days include a sailfish that charged a group of anglers and nearly landed in the boat (see video below “The Angler That Got Away”) and a monster 150 pound sailfish that after a long fight narrowly escaped release by Ray Downs who was here on his bucket list trip to fight sailfish (of which he released several.)
We would also like to thank Chadwick, William and Robin O’Shields for visiting us for a father and son fishing trip. When 21 year old Chadwick was given the choice by mother Robin to go anywhere in the world, he selected Crocodile Bay Resort as the destination. We hope you had a great time and look forward to seeing you again.
The sailfish bite has been good with some large roosterfish and snapper in the mix. Historically the summer months (July – Sept) see marlin with a steady inshore bite (roosterfish, snapper).
Crocodile Bay has just launched its new 3, 4 and 5 day fishing packages as well as some 6 day fishing & eco combo packages for those who would like to experience the excitement of our 30 eco and adventure expeditions in Costa Rica’s most biologically intense region (see itinerary sample below).
Hope to see you soon at Crocodile Bay Resort.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez
Crocodile Bay Resort on Big Water Adventures Teaser Trailer from Crocodile Bay Resort on Vimeo.
Check your local listings for details
Check out this sample fishing package below. You can add as many fishing or eco adventure days as you like. Ask about our special pricing for kids.
Experience some of the worlds best inshore and offshore fishing on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast. You will enjoy offshore fishing for blue, black and striped marlin, sailfish, dorado, and yellowfin tuna. Inshore fishing offers an amazing variety including the sought after roosterfish, 12 kinds of snapper (Cubera being the most popular) as well as African pompano, grouper, bluefin trevally, and others. Inshore, offshore conventional or on the fly, it’s up to you. Our experienced bilingual crew will offer you as much…or as little help as you need in making this the fishing trip of a lifetime.
Arrive at Costa Rica’s International Airport (SJO) Our team of professional, bilingual drivers will greet you at the airport and take you to the luxurious Cariari DoubleTree by Hilton just minutes from the airport (15) and Costa Rica’s Capital city. This lovely hotel features a large outdoor swimming pool, casino and a gourmet restaurant with a lovely view of Costa Rica’s central valley mountains range. (*Note – your first nights stay in San Jose, meals in San Jose and domestic airfare is not included in the Crocodile Bay Resort fishing package price)
Your adventure begins with a breathtaking 45 minute flight from Costa Rica’s Capital City (San Jose) across lush coffee plantations and the spectacular Talamanca mountain range. During your flight you will experience spectacular views of Central America’s largest coastal rainforest and land in the charming town of Puerto Jimenez where the edge of the rainforest bathes in the warm waters of the Pacific. Our Crocodile Bay staff will escort you from the airstrip to Crocodile Bay Resort where you will have a fresh mango/rum cocktail in your hand within minutes. Welcome to paradise! Today is a perfect day to add an afternoon eco tour or spa treatment before your first day of fishing (may be purchased for an extra charge at the resort).
Inshore/Offshore Day 1 – After a quick orientation by our fishing director and an update on recent fishing activity, you can pick your pleasure – inshore or offshore – conventional or on the fly. Our 700 foot private pier is only a five minute walk from your room and is home to Central America’s largest private fishing fleet of Boston Whalers and Strike Yacht tower boats. Our boats are outfitted with top of the line fishing gear and you will be accompanied by professional, English speaking crew (captain and mate). Daily fishing includes lunch, snacks, soft drinks, beer, gear and fishing license.
Inshore/Offshore Day 2 – If your first day was spent offshore hunting for billfish, we encourage you to take a day inshore and pursue the roosterfish, snapper and the multitude of other species that can be found cruising the volcanic shoreline. Other inshore species include African pompano, Bluefin trevally and grouper. Make sure to check the daily catch boards to see where the action is!
Fishing Day 3 – Now that you’ve experienced inshore and offshore fishing, it’s up to you how to spend your third day! Staff from our fishing department will visit you each night around dinner time to see how your day was, address any concerns and to plan your next days trip. Our Boston Whalers and Strike tower boats go inshore or offshore, so spend the day doing either one or a little of both.
Departure or Extra day – Some anglers like to extend their trips with an extra day of inshore or offshore fishing. Additional Days may also be added for our new guided Kayak Fishing trips and shore casting (or you may enjoy a visit to our spa or explore one of 30 eco adventure tours). Anglers of all ages and skill levels are welcome. Talk to one of our team members about including an extra day just in case you just aren’t ready to call it quits.
Included at Crocodile Bay Resort
Sport Fishing Charters Include fishing boat, fishing gear, guide, fishing licenses, lunch cooler with beer & soft drinks
Not included: Alcoholic beverages at the resort, transfer fees, domestic airline overweight seat and baggage, international airfare, meals in San Jose, Costa Rican sales tax of 13% on room rates, airport departure tax, change fees, gratuities.
A transfer fee of $395 per person is not included in these rates and can be added to your package. The transfer fee includes inbound night stay at The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cariari San Jose (double occupancy), round trip ground transfers between airports and hotels, & scheduled round trip domestic air transportation between San Jose and the resort.
Payment Policy
Deposits, cancellations & refunds:
A deposit of $1,500 per guest is required upon booking. The balance is due 90 days prior to scheduled arrival at Crocodile Bay Resort. A refund of the deposit less a handling fee of $150 per person will be returned if written notice of cancellation is received at least 90 days prior to scheduled arrival. There will be no refund of any monies for “no shows” or cancellations received less than 90 days prior to arrivals.
Passport: For entry into Costa Rica, U.S. citizens must present valid passports that will not expire for at least six months after arrival, and a roundtrip/outbound ticket.
Travel/Trip insurance is strongly recommended for your protection in case of emergency; call your Agent or see our website.
Costa Rica Fishing at Crocodile Bay Resort is world-class with catch and release bill fishing in the Pacific Ocean for sailfish, striped, blue and black marlin, dorado, tuna and wahoo.
Fishing in Costa Rica’s Golfo Dulce (Sweet Gulf) for roosterfish, cubera snapper, jack crevalle, bluefin trevally, sierra mackerel, tripletail, and grouper is excellent throughout the year.
Costa Rica Marlin FishingMarlin
The “lady in the blue dress” or blue marlin is the most common of our marlin and cruise our cobalt waters all year. They peak in November and December as well as March and April. Black Marlin are most abundant in July and August and few Striped Marlin are around at the same time.
Costa Rica Sailfish FishingSailfish
Again year round when a half dozen are common any day of the year. From November to May the numbers increase.
dorado_BoxDorado
Any day of the year, common January through may and very abundant November and December.
tuna_boxTuna
Yellowfin is the main species. The big boys, those 100 to 300 pounds can test your back any day of the year if you are lucky enough to come across a school of porpoises offshore. The big Tuna swim with them and the feed on the same baitfish. “football size tunas hang around floating debris or peak in schools in July and August and November and December. No wonder the Marlin peak at the same time.
fish-art-wahoo-fly-fishing-artWahoo
A Wahoo can surprise you any day of the year but are not common in this area.
Voted #1 for Roosterfish!
Costa Rica Roosterfish FishingPuerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
the home of Crocodile Bay, is voted the #1 Roosterfish Destination in the world by Saltwater Sportsman Magazine!
The species most sought after is the Roosterfish. Twenty-five to fifty pound fish are very common and we catch a couple over 50 each week. The Resort record for this fish is 106 lbs.
Costa Rica Snapper FishingSnapper — We have a dozen different kinds of snapper with the cubera being top dog. They average about 15 to 20 lbs with the biggest to date here 63 lbs. Other bottom fish is the Broomtail Grouper as well as other groupers and the Goliath Grouper.
Costa Rica SnookOther species caught inshore include but are not limited to Barracuda, several types of Jacks, Snook, Bonito, Mackerel, African Pompano, Bluefin Trevally, Rainbow Runners, Shark, etc.
The great sailfish bite continues at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica – April has been on fire with daily double digit billfish releases. Inshore has been slow but productive with some nice snapper and pompano. Most people have opted to stay offshore given the high number of sailfish raises. For more information read the monthly Costa Rica fishing report by Todd Staley. Check back monthly for amazing Costa Rica fishing videos shot by our guests, for our guests! Reel Videos, Real Guests
Video produced by StepOut Entertainment
Crocodile Bay will soon open it’s doors for the 16th season of sport fishing on Costa Rica’s South Pacific coast. Since we don’t re-open until Saturday, I’ll talk a little bit about what anglers can expect in November. As always the blue marlin move in and dorado (dolphinfish) ranging 20 to 40 lbs will be here in droves. A few sails and yellowfin tuna will be in the mix. Inshore, the roosterfish will be circling the rock and also cruising around the reefs and beaches. Snapper and African pompano will be camped out on the volcanic reefs as usual.
Blue Marlin like the one pictured here are historically good to target in the month of November at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica.
One of the perks of this job is getting to meet tons of interesting people and sharing fishing stories, both present and past, jokes and other adventures with each other. One that comes to mind is Gene Moe who will be returning to Crocodile Bay again this season. He is lucky to be fishing anywhere. Back in 1999 while skinning a deer in Alaska a large Grizzly decided he would take out Gene and steal a meal. With only a Buck knife in his hand and no time to get to his gun, the bear attacked. After losing large chunks of flesh from his arm and leg Gene managed to get a direct hit in the vertebrate with the knife and put the bear down. Luckily he survived long enough to get medical attention, but is the only person I know of to take down a Grizzly with only a knife.
Face to Face with a Legend
While going through some old photos the other day I came across some photos of my visits to see a legend. I have always been a fan of Hemingway and probably watched the “Old Man and the Sea” a hundred times as a kid. I still watch it now and then. Before coming down to Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica to help start Crocodile Bay Resort with the Williams family, I had a friend here in Costa Rica who kept a boat in Hemingway Marina in Havana. When he asked if I could check on his boat a couple times a month I jumped at the chance.
One of the things I have always done when I travel somewhere is walk up to the oldest people I see on the street and start up a conversation. That is the best way to get a real picture of the place. I soon found everyone was eager to talk about Hemingway, his boat the Pilar, was on display at the Hemingway home and museum. I also found out Hemingway’s captain Gregorio Fuentes was still alive at 100 years old and living in his home in Cojimar and accepted visitors.
As I arrived in Cojimar the first time I was awed by seeing the same castle I had seen in the “Old Man and the Sea” standing proudly on the water’s edge. The locals directed me to the home of Gregorio and my hand trembled as I knocked on the door knowing I was about to be face to face with a legend. As we sat in his living room I saw the years on the ocean in his eyes and spots of skin cancer on this nose.
We sat for several hours and talked fishing, marlin, and of course Hemingway. Locals had told me that Gregorio and Hemingway would argue a lot about fishing technique, where to fish and so forth. As I pressed Gregorio he was a true professional and never admitted whether that was true or not. He did tell me that Hemingway did have a true disgust for sharks, especially when one stole a prized fish.
He told me after his death, Hemingway’s widow gave Gregorio the Pilar. Already in his early sixties and without Hemingway, he lost his desire to fish. Fidel Castro also took the boat from Gregorio to place in a museum. In exchange Castro gave Gregorio the right to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at the Terrazzo, a restaurant frequented by Gregorio and Hemingway in Cojimar. “I guess I got the better deal,” he laughed. “I have been eating there for 40 years.”
Gregorio demonstrated his sense of humor when I asked him how to live to be 100 years old. I often chuckle as I recall his secret. “Every day before dinner,” he started, “I have just two shots of rum, after dinner a good cigar and every once in a while a young woman.” I laughed and thought to myself, at 100, what’s a young woman, 80?
Over the next years I visited Gregorio many times. Each time I left with a feeling like I actually knew Hemingway. I have not been back to the Island since coming to Jimenez 16 years ago. The legend Captain Gregorio Fuentes passed shortly after in January of 2002 at 104 years old.
I am glad I came across those old photos. It made it all fresh again. I look forward to this coming season to see old friends and meet new ones and of course chewing the fat with them after a days fishing. We’re looking forward to our 16th season at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica and hope we get to see you this next year.
Watch “Crocodile Bay in 60 Seconds” to learn more about sport fishing at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica.
Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
