Sun is Shining, the Fishing is Sweet

Fishing along the Pacific coast has been steady the past few weeks. The red tide is gone and weather patterns are normal with beautiful days and some showers at night. The boats in the northern Pacific have been catching some eating fish and some nice marlin. On the central Pacific, we have been bottom fishing and chasing schools of big tuna. The inshore fishing and tuna bit has been the main focus in the southern Pacific. The fresh water bite at Arenal continues to be good and the fishermen in the northern region are getting ready for their big tarpon tournament in September.

Northern Pacific

Capt. Randy Wilson on the Talking Fish in Tamarindo took the Wilkins family from South Carolina out for a great day on the water. They caught a 250-pound blue marlin, six yellowfin tuna, six grouper and a nice mahi mahi. The Ross family recently fished with Capt. Adam Hermsen on the Ocean Smasher. Hermsen said they found a trash line about 10 miles off the beach in Tamarindo with a bunch of logs and debris and the bite was “wide open.” They ended the day with eight wahoo, 25 yellowfin tuna and about 20 dorado with all fish being in the 15- to 40-pound range. Capt. Warren Sellers reports no red tide and calm blue waters at Flamingo Beach. Mike Hurd and family recently fished on the Scorpion (58 Bertram).

They caught a bunch of tuna and released a 350-plus-pound blue marlin. William Tuomela went kayak fishing with Captain Ralph Solano and caught some nice roosterfish and a small grouper. Chris Atkins from Go Due South said the highlight of Williams trip was a near hookup on a big wahoo and a near hook up on a small marlin. Rob Gordon from Sportfishing Carillo reports a solid bite and blue water with good numbers of sailfish, dorado and tuna.

Central Pacific

Capt. Jeremy Trujillo on the R&J in Los Sueños took a father and son out for a day on the water. They got into the tuna right away and before noon had eight tuna in the 40- to 60-pound range. They also caught a nice mahi mahi. Capt. RJ Lilley on the Predator continues to catch fish at the “26 rock.” The “26 rock” is a local hotspot between Quepos and Jacó. Lilley took a couple of guys from Florida out and caught eight wahoo and eight yellowfin tuna. The Lohmann family fished on the Signed Out with Capt. Mike Parr and found a pod of sailfish. They ended the day going 13 for 18 on sailfish. Thirteen sailfish in one day is good anytime – but in July, it’s amazing.

The captain said they just got into a migrating gang of sails that were feeding on small shrimp. Capt. Bill Kieldsen on the Sailfish released five sailfish. They fished a popular drop off about 25 miles from Los Sueños Marina called “the corner.” Capt. Dave Mothershead on the Miss Behavin fished the 26 rock and caught one of everything it seems. They caught sailfish, dorado, wahoo, tuna, two types of grouper, two types of snapper and a few others. I went fishing with some friends on the Dragin Fly. The captain found some spinner dolphin and over the next few hours we caught seven tuna in the 30- to 60-pound range. We kept four fish and released the others.

We could have easily caught 20 tuna had we stayed on them. We had a few tuna rookies on the boat and the hard fighting tuna wore those boys out. I didn’t see any tears – but it was close. It was a fun day with good friends on a great boat and, to top it all off, we caught some nice fish. Raúl Cabezas reports the guys on the Reel Deal in Quepos have been catching a nice mixed bag of fish each day. They have been averaging two sailfish, two wahoo, two mahi mahi and two tuna per day. Leanne Batten from Quepos Sailfishing Charters had a few groups in recently. Larry Elliot caught snapper, grouper and his first roosterfish on his honeymoon trip to Quepos. The Debbie Futterer group was so big they needed 2 boats and caught sailfish, mahi mahi, lots of snapper and lots of yellowfin tuna Patrick Somereville and Danielle Pierce from Pittsburgh fished with Capt. Dave Dobbins on Fish LaManta and caught two sailfish, some grouper and a nice dorado.

The next day anglers Mike Corn and Robert Maloney had steady action with all the yellowfin tuna and wahoo they wanted. Bluefin Sportfishing reports a steady bite in July. They have been catching sailfish, roosterfish and lots of tuna, wahoo and mahi mahi. Highlights were a few giant roosterfish and several tuna over 80 pounds.

Southern Pacific

Rudy Dodero of Sportfishing Dominical had a few anglers out recently and big tuna was the main target. The hot spot has been the Furuno Bank just south of Quepos. Deflet Sabok went out alone and caught some big amberjack and hooked up a 200- plus-pound yellowfin tuna. Paul Bradley from Georgia spends time in Dominical and fishes the Sierpe River with Captain Pablo Chaves. Paul said “the fishing this past week was excellent, with multiple sea bass, grouper and snappers.”

Northern Region

Fishing conditions on Lake Arenal through mid-July have been excellent. There has been an excellent top-water bite and on several days anglers have caught eight to 12 guapote in the 4- to 8-pound range. The International Rio San Juan Fishing tournament will be held Sept. 13 and 14. This is the oldest fishing tournament in Central America. Last year there were 25 participants, and this year, they are hoping for 50. You can bring your own boat into Nicaragua from Los Chilis and there is no fee or tax if you are participating tournament. Anyone interested in fishing in the 50-year-old tarpon tournament can contact Philippe Tisseaux of San Carlos Sport fishing.