From the Crocodile Bay Lodge, Puerto Jiménez
by Todd Staley, Fishing Director
November 8, 2001
Holy Mackerel. . . ! "There' more Tuna out there than I have ever seen" says Capt. Lindor Jimenez, who joined our staff this year and captains one of our Strike 33 footers. That is quite a comment from a guy who has spent the last 30 years cruising Costa Rican waters in search of big game fish. John Beath of Western Outdoors Magazine and friend Tim Lloyd enjoyed some of this line stretching action as they caught a boat load of Yellow Fin mixed in with Dorado to 50lbs.
Bob & Melanie Pereira of Pioneer, Ca. had a field day on Dorado, catching 13 and raising 7 Sails in the process. Inshore the action has been big Roosters and Cubera Snapper. Beath & Lloyd found out how strong these fish are as snapper over 30 lbs hollered "Adios Gringos", busting off in the volcanic reef below. Sid Carlson chased Roosterfish in front of the Tigre River and took several between 35 and 50 lbs.
November 19, 2001
This is a good news bad news kind of report. I always like to get the bad news out of the way first. The sailfish are slow to bite. The good news is… The lady in the blue dress isn't. Blue marlin have been stretching some string around here making for some happy customers and captains alike. Michael Nueman brought down a group of Georgia boys who started their trip with a 400 lb. blue. The Casper family from Minnesota took a 300 lb. blue as well as Guss McFadden from New Mexico whose fish also went about 300 lbs.
Dorado are everywhere going up to 50 lbs. Boats are catching as many as 13 each with some football yellowfin tuna mixed in as well. Inshore has been all roosterfish. Two anglers both enjoying their 8th decade took top honors.
Constantine Gober who fished with McFadden is an 80 year old light tackle buff. He returned to the dock with a whale of a story. Something took the bait on the "three thread" line he was fishing and began peeling drag. Soon McFadden's rod doubled over and they were both doing battle. Line screamed from Gober's reel until it was gone. It parted at the reel with a loud snap. McFadden continued to battle his fish and when it was boatside, a 60 lb. roosterfish had both hooks in its mouth. Gober is claiming an assist on the catch. Irv Baker from Novata, Ca. is 82. His 50 lb. roosterfish took second biggest for the week. No assist here he says with a heavy breath!!
November 25, 2001
A few more sails are starting to show up in the area. The blue marlin are still around and cooperating. The seas were uncommonly bumpy this week with a storm front working offshore.
Dr Alexander Rubin and son Milo made a return trip this week and were rewarded with a 300 plus pound blue. Dr. Rubin planned his trip for Thanksgiving again this year due to Chef Joe's turkey dinner last year. Well Joe, you did it again! Todd Bluechel and Valentina Cugnasca had an angler's dream day on the water. At dinner the night before Todd rattled off his wish list for the following day's fishing. "Who wouldn't", I thought to myself. They returned to the dock with big smiles and sore arms, the result of a blue marlin over 300 lbs., a yellowfin tuna 168 lbs., and a sailfish. The tuna made for grilled tuna steaks for all. The Nakaki's from southern Ca. took advantage of the inshore action this week with two roosterfish over 50 lbs and several smaller ones. They added many amberjack and cubera snapper to their inshore mixed bag.
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