Fishing Outlook for September and October 2004
By Jerry Ruhlow
We normally get a lot of rain in October, but it doesn't seem to bother the fish, as evidenced by published fishing reports documented in my weekly column that appears in the Tico Times, Costa Rica's English-language newspaper during that time frame last year.
In early September of 2003, Mississippi angler Wally Jebrun, who has been fishing Costa Rica every year for the past 12 years, went four releases for 15 tarpon jumped. Next morning he trolled the mouth of Agua Dulce Lagoon and came back to with three snook, the largest 31 pounds and the other two in the 10-pound range. Three IGFA Pacific Snook Records, including the all-tackle record, have been caught in Costa Rica, all in October.
On his final fishing day, Wally hooked 30 tarpon and had seven to the boat in just 2 ½ hours, then finished off the following morning fishing offshore where he got three yellowfin tuna in the 20- to 30-pound bracket and a bunch of jack crevalle.
The tarpon bite got even better through September and October and after Florida anglers in the Bob Schweiger party tore up the Silver Rockets at Barra Colorado they flew to the northern west coast on Sept. 12 for two days fishing out of Flamingo on the Permit II, Dorado IV and Good Day, reporting about seven sailfish releases per boat each day, a yellowfin tuna in the 150 pound range, some smaller tuna, dorado and had a big marlin on for awhile.
A bit to the south, a black marlin estimated at over 700 pounds was caught and released on a half-day trip off Playa Carrillo on Rob Gordon's Kitty Cat in mid-October after a lengthy team effort by Dave and Cathy Stracke, Allison and John Kochie, Mark Balan and Erin Keane, all vacationing here from Delaware. The fish hit about five miles off the beach and towed the boat out another five miles before they got it along side for a photo or two before letting it go. They also caught a couple of tuna and some skipjack on the way in.
The previous day, Rob fished honeymooners Eduardo and Silvia Cabrera, from Puerto Rico, who hooked three of five sailfish raised while the same area, with one to the boat for release along with a pair of dorado.
During the same time period, Reel Pleasure skipper Bill Kieldsen reported from the central coastal area that Joe Laudadeo, from New Jersey, had seven sailfish releases, working 27 miles southwest of Los Sueños Marina.
From Crocodile Bay, all the way south on the southern coast of the Osa Peninsula, fishing manager Todd Staley said Becky Reynolds, of the Greater Miami Humane Society, fished three days in September, and on Day One, a 350 pound marlin in only one hour as the fish danced on the surface.
Becky also wanted some roosterfish, and wound up with more than 40 hookups bringing some to the rail and dueled with some for nearly an hour before breaking off the 60-pound-test leader. At the end of Day 2, her total included a dozen roosters to the boat along with a few snapper, some jack crevalle and a sierra mackerel that may be a new four-pound line test record. On her final day, Todd said Becky was back at the dock before noon with a 97-pound tuna.
On the northern Caribbean, Rio Colorado Lodge operator Dan Wise reported that on the afternoon of October 12 Scott and Greg Sprague, cousins from Missouri and Nebraska, had jumped 55 tarpon with 13 to the boat for release during the first 3 ½ days of a five day trip. They had two triples hookups, with both of the anglers and the guide working fish at the same time.
This was a continuation of a tarpon run that began in September and continued through October that is rated by guides born and raised in the region as perhaps the best bite in the long history of tarpon fishing in Costa Rica
Jerry Ruhlow is the founder of Costa Rica Outdoors. His "Free Spooling" fishing column appears in every edition of Costa Rica Outdoors magazine. He is the author of the definitive fishing brochure for the Costa Rica Institute of Tourism (ICT), now being extensively utilized on our newsletters and this website.
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