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.

Check Out The Video of Randy’s 500lb Pacific Blue Marlin Below

March Highlight Reel –  Watch all the sport fishing highlights from this past March at Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica.

Ocean’s been flat and more sun than you can stand.

Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort
Costa Rica

Book Your Costa Rica Sport Fishing Vacation Today!

Costa Rica fishing report By Todd Staley, Fishing Director, Crocodile Bay Resort – August 9, 2016 – I just got back from Florida where I went to the ICAST tackle manufacturers’ trade show and spent time with my family.

I spent almost all my time with mom who will be 93 in September, but did take time to jerk my long time fishing buddy Steve Brown out of the cardiac ward and go fishing with him and my son Jason with another old buddy Captain Dave Zalewski.

Upon returning to the resort and getting back to work it was refreshing to see many family groups here. The fish Gods were good to them also. Bill Putman’s family got an up close and personal look at a 600 pound marlin who ripped the outrigger off the boat during the hook-up. They also went 5 for 14 on sailfish that day. The rest of their trip they pulled on tuna offshore and a mixed bag of roosters and snapper inshore.

Sawyer and Merrick Ellenberger got off to a rocky start but after getting their sea legs they kept mom and dad busy between fishing on the boat and spending time on the pier. David and Jackson Hendrick came back late because they hooked a tuna estimated at 200lbs near the end of the day which they pulled on for over two hours.

Earl and January Schmus stretched lots of string while here catching some really nice roosters as well as joining in on the tuna party.

Louis-David Sansoucy and his new bride Melanie decided to stay inshore and the roosters gave them a great honeymoon experience.

In a nutshell there is enough going on both inshore and offshore to supply some great dinners as well as big grins.

All the above left me some great photos…..enjoy.

Congratulations to Mac McGlamery who took roosterfish off his bucket list and spent some quality time with his sons Beau and Brandon.

Todd Staley
Fishing Director
Crocodile Bay Resort,
Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica
Costa Rica Sport Fishing and Expeditions

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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

More News and Updates

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.

Guest Testimonial of the Week

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.

Book Your Costa Rica Fishing Vacation – Check Availability Below

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.

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

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!

Ask about our Father’s Day Special with VIP boat upgrade when you book before June 19th!

Book Your Costa Rica Fishing Vacation Online

One thing I really don’t like is to write a fishing report when the fishing is not good. But I always do and always tell it like it is. I have even had guests tell me they picked Crocodile Bay because after reading reports from other places, mine was the only one that did not always say the fishing was great. El Nino or something had the start of the season get off to a slow start but just like I don’t like to have to report slow fishing, I am superstitious enough to not want to report real good fishing. But what the heck……………FISHING IS GREAT!!!!!!!!

Old friends Mike (pictured lower left) and Ann Pizzi thought their children, Eloise and Finn, ages 6 and 4 were finally big enough for a trip to the resort. Since they have been old enough to talk we have had phone conversations and they have always referred to me as Tio Fish, (Uncle Fish).

 We tested them inshore where they reeled in 20 triggerfish and small snapper and the little ones decided they were ready for offshore. With Dad’s help they each wound in a sailfish and then watched Papi Mike take a nice sail on a fly rod. Kids come first, but enough sails were popping up for Ann to get her turn also. The kids even got to see a real life Shamu(Orca) on their way back to the dock. The Brits really tore up the waters lately when Stephen and Julia Ramshaw and Ken and Jan Parkinson told me it was there best trip ever. Ramshaw landed 43 sailfish during his stay and had two fantastic days where he raised 71 sailfish.

An Orca shows up to to greet the Pizzi’s during their phenomenal family vacation at Crocodile Bay Resort.

Here are some shots of Mike Pizzi’s first sailfish on the fly!

Also traveling from London were good friends Pip Earl and Ian McCormack. Earl served the Queen and was one of the guards that all the people try to make change their expression or smile while on duty. He would have been in big trouble back home because nobody could knock the smile off his face after catching his first sail on a fly rod. McCormack on the other hand caught plenty of fish but hearing his story of surviving the sting of 5 box jellyfish was amazing. He was clinically dead for over 20 minutes and came back. A movie called “The Perfect Wave” starring Scott Eastwood, tells a Hollywood version of his story, but the book “A Glimpse of Eternity” tells a more detailed story of his visit with death. You can Google Ian.

Inshore, my saving grace for the last couple of months when fishing was wide open has slacked off. The rooster bite has slowed and apparently they have decided the sailfish needed to pick up the slack – because as soon as the sailfish bite picked up, the roosterfish numbers fell off. The snapper bite is still good. Guess you can’t have it all.

Fishing Director Todd Staley (Tio Pez) Gets a nice photo with Eloise and Finn Pizzi after the two youngsters released their first sailfish. This is an experience these kids will never forget  – can’t wait to see you guys soon!

Check availability for your dream Costa Rica Fishing vacation now!

Todd Staley, Fishing Director

Costa Rica Fishing Calendar

Note: On any given day it is possible to catch a Costa Rica Sailfish, they are here year-round, but tend to concentrate in greater numbers mid January, February and March. The inshore species such as Roosterfish, Snappers, Jacks and Grouper  are also here year-round.

Offshore Fishing Opportunities:

Marlin: The majority of marlin taken here are Pacific blue marlin, though occasionally a black or a striped marlin are taken as well. Blues peak from November to January when the big Dorado run is on. There is also a small peak in April as sailfish numbers drop. July through September there is a better chance at a black or striped marlin mixed in with the blues.

Costa Rica Sailfish: Again there is a year round opportunity for sailfish with the bigger numbers coming from late December/January through April. Read more about catching and releasing Costa Rica sailfish here.


Dorado: Dolphinfish, Dorado, Mahi Mahi (Mahi translates to “Strong” in Hawaiian) – whatever you prefer to call them run really thick from November through January and occasionally in February – averaging 20 to 40 lbs. We take Dorado year round but not in the same numbers as the months listed above.

Tuna: Yellowfin and Big Eye tuna can pass through any day of the year especially if the spinner or spotted dolphins are present. Football size tuna schools seem to appear every December. A new decree in Costa Rica has protected 44% of territorial waters from tuna purse seine activity.

Wahoo: They can surprise you any day of the year and are even sometimes taken inshore when the water is clear. Wahoo is not a prevalent species, but anglers are very happy when they are caught as they are a great fighting fish and make excellent table fare.

Inshore Fishing Opportunities:

There is no real peak time for inshore species as all are year round the residents are in this area.

Roosterfish: Our “bucket list” fish, famous for their unique looks and incredible fighting ability. Everyone should schedule at least one day of inshore fishing to challenge these and other inshore species. They are taken regularly on live bait, poppers, and jigs. Roosterfish are known as one of the most challenging fish on a fly and difficult to fool with fly tackle.

Cubera Snapper: Top dog of our list of nearly a dozen different snapper. Since the Golfo Dulce became the largest Marine Area of Responsible Fishing several years ago – and shrimp boats and gill nets were banned from the gulf, snappers and other inshore species have made a great comeback. A big Pumpkin size Cubera will rush from the depths and smash a fast moving popper.

Costa Rica Fishing Calendar (Southern Costa Rica – Osa Peninsula)

Other Inshore Fishing Species:

African pompano, bluefin trevally, a variety of jacks, grouper, mackerel, barracuda, bonitos, and an endless list of surprises including snook, wahoo and sharks make up the list of other fish caught while targeting roosters and snapper.

Crocodile Bay Sport Fishing Fleet:

Our fleet is comprised of 33 and 35 foot Strike Tower boats as well as several 27 foot Rambo inboard diesels. We also have 24 and 25 foot Boston Whaler Outrages. All of boats have the ability to fish either offshore or inshore because of our generally calm sea conditions. In 17 years of operation we have only had two days when the ocean was too rough to go fishing. You will be pleasantly surprised to find an English speaking crew member on your boat as that is not always the case in other fishing operations. Do to an increased demand, we haven also added a fleet of fully outfitted OldTown fishing kayaks to increase the variety of fishing options offered at Crocodile Bay Resort. Book Your Costa Rica Fishing Trip

Fishing Tackle:

Our boats are outfitted with Penn International 50’s and 30’s as well as both Penn spinning and conventional gear in 20 and 30 pound outfits. We always try to have live bait on-board before you leave the dock. We use Temple Fork Fly Fishing gear on-site but we welcome anglers to bring their own gear if they prefer.

Our sport fishing crews:

Most of our crew members grew up in the area and know the waters well. Our crews will give you as much or as little help as you want. We want this to be a great experience and communication with your crew enhances your visit here.

Crocodile Bay Resort offers the most extensive selection of private, guided ecotours and expeditions designed to introduce you to Costa Rica’s most biologically intense region. With over 30 Costa Rica ecotours and activities, we are the perfect destination to discover the magic of Costa Rica Osa Peninsula. Enjoy kayaking, zip lining, snorkeling, surfing, birding, hiking, biking, waterfall rappelling, and more!

For more information on customizing your Costa Rica eco tour or sport fishing vacation call 1-855-945-4171 or Reserve Online

Image Source: Serendipityadventures.com

When planning a family vacation finding the right activities that keep your kids out of mischief and that even the adults can enjoy are key to a successful vacation. Mountain biking and kayaking are two great day activities that everyone can do and no one will be bored!  You can explore the rustic countryside and rainforest by bike or travel along one of the many waterways in this region. Either way you are guaranteed to spot lots of wildlife ranging from white-faced monkeys, Scarlet Macaws, alligators, dolphins and whales just to name a few. You can also gauge the difficulty and length of the trek to suit your experience level and your family needs. Every family has different needs finding a a hotel or resort that can cater to your needs and  provide your family with the best experience is a critical factor when deciding where to stay. Continue Reading

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Thanksgiving is quickly approaching along with the biggest retail day in the year, Black Friday. Which one do you choose: being in an over crowded mall and stuck in a traffic jam to buy the latest gadget or spending a relaxing fun day with family and loved ones?  As Thanksgiving approaches many people are contemplating what to do with the time, why not take advantage of the long weekend and spend time with the people that mean the most to you?  If you and your family are on vacation, hopefully somewhere warm like Costa Rica, or even at home this Thanksgiving how about rounding up the troops and having everyone write down five things they are thankful for and why. This exercise is something you can easily do at the table whether it is your own or at a resort. Continue Reading

A photo blog of a Crocodile Bay ecotour of a Tilapia Farm in Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula. This farm in an example of the popular micro-farming taking place throughout Costa Rica’s rainforest. A sustainable farming technique that has minimal impact on the ecosystem.  Most of these farms include the highly profitable Cocoa tree as one of their crops. Tilapia is a very popular Costa Rica fish.

Image Source: Crocodilebay.com

The tilapia pond found on the farm.

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Image Sources: Costaricavacationplanning.com Accuweather.com

Thanksgiving is the biggest travel day in America with packed airports and roads, not to mention the super long lines in stores often with screaming kids in tow.  Maybe the best option for Thanksgiving and avoiding the inevitable mess in the kitchen is hopping a plane with your family, and maybe even bring your in-laws, to Costa Rica’s Osa Peninsula.  You can spend real quality time with your family while someone else takes care of the shopping and cooking for you.  Thanksgiving brings to mind images of football, overeating, pumpkin pie, and afternoon naps but what about swapping those activities for fishing, hiking through an exotic rainforest, waterfall rappelling or just being pampered in one of the most exotic places in the world?  Due to the large number of expats and American travelers, Thanksgiving is widely celebrated in Costa Rica making it a great place to jet to during the holidays. It is only a few hours from most airport hubs in the USA and right now travel deals and specials are still possible. Continue Reading