costa rica fishing

[capt.T]

Booked our flight to costa rica yesterday! Leaving on the 22nd and not back till the 14 April. We didn't book any accommodation, where just going to explore around. We want to see both coasts and maybe Nicaragua. Can anyone recommend good places to go fishing?(fresh or salt). I cant afford to hire a charter every day, was hoping to be able to fish from shore (cervasas and buzz bombs). I will bring my own reel(s) and buzz bombs.

Also wanted to know where I could pick up a fishing rod/tackle?

is it worth bringing my 4pc 5wt fly rod or is it not appropriate for fishing in costa rica?

Does anyone know where to rent a panga , for self guided fishing?

I would also appreciate any other recommendations on fun stuff to do/or places to stay.

this is also our honeymoon
thankshttp://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif

[Sasquatch]

Sounds like you have a nice vacation planned capt.

I have never been to CR but always fish from shore when I visit the tropics. Buzz bombs on a steelhead rod worked great for me every time. I leave the trebles at home and use single hooks or streamers with the bombs.

My normal practice was to find a taxi driver and have him drive me a few miles out of town, til I see a likely spot. Tip him well and ask him to return in a few hours for you. I haven't been left behind yet.

I would leave the 5 wt at home and take something with a little more backbone, even the smaller fish down there fight like hell. It's not that you can't land them with a light rod, but when the fishing get fast and furious, you don't want to be wasting time trying to bring them in the last 15 feet.

Congrats on your honeymoon and good luck! Take some pics for us.

[capt.T]

thanks for the tip on the trebles. I'll tie up some barbless streamers to take as well.

anyone know if it will be easy to find a fishing rod down there. I dont want to bring one on the plane, and all the travel casting rods i've seen look kind of wimpy (trout rods).

[stitch]

Hey I have a buddy that moved to Nicaragua a couple of years ago. He paid his house off in victoria....banked the money and moved there. Bought a property...built a house and loves living there. I'll shoot him a note and see if I can get any tips for you. I know he buys his fish fresh and eats it daily. I let ya know!

[capt.T]

thanks stitch

[Salty]

capt.T we've been there twice and both times to Playa Zancudo in the very sw corner of CR- close to Panama. You can fly from the city to Golfito and then in our case it was a 45 minute boat ride to get to Zancudo which is a small village.

There's very good fishing in the area and some lodges set up for deep sea fishing in the area. Also owner oporator guides in Pangas are available for more in shore fishing. You can fish from the beach as well. Google Golfito, Playa Zancudo, Gulfa Deuce and you'll get a good idea of the area. Golfito itself is an old port town, a little shabby, I think 50,000 people. Outlying areas are small, nestled in wilderness laid back and gorgeous. Trying to remember the penninsula across Gulfa Duece (gulf of Duece) from Zancudo... heard good things about that area

Again no experience in north Costa Rica but we warned that the Nicaraguan border area is sort of like the Mexico/Us border where lots of Nicaraguans try to get in to Cosa Rica - with associated crime and violence at times. .

[log_roller]

My family has a house in Costa Rica unfortunately its rented out
I know Costa Rica all too well

here is a great place to stay just steps to the beach I have stayed there before, its in the best part of Costa Rica http://www.hoteliguanazul.com/junquillal-hotel.htm
this place is nice too and probably a bit cheaper http://www.1-costaricalink.com/hotels_guanacaste_costa_rica/hotel_tatanka_costa_rica.htm

heres another http://www.guacamayalodge.com/

are you flying into Liberia or San Jose? the best part of Costa Rica is the guanacaste province I circled the best area on a map all the hotels and resorts are in the area , its a 40 min drive from Liberia or a 5 hour bus ride from San Jose but its a beautiful ride and you see alot without the worries of getting lost

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac148/kenno56/IMG_0024.jpg?t=1267557345
any one of these hotels/ resorts will be able to send you in the right location for fishing and possibly set it up and are all highly recommended , ask about river kayaking its alot of fun and it will be an experience you wont forget all kinds of exotic wildlife, heres another tip the locals are very good thieves it might sound stupid don't wear expensive watches or rings especially wedding bands ,buy a couple of fanny packs and keep a photo copy of your passport in it along with your money ,leave your original with the front desk at your hotel, buy a translation book keep it with you ,Be careful of locals they may try and rob you after a few drinks it happens all the time remember its a poor country, don't buy drinks for people in the bars you will regret it if you do trust me and keep track of your tab.If you take the buses they make stops and local vendors come on the bus and have food for sale , its the best way to travel , negotiate for everything you buy from the locals , there are gringo prices and tico prices , you want tico prices , you will see locals swimming in the rivers I advise against that heres what came out of the river behind our house you decide not to mention the snakes and piranhas, local ranchers will rent out horses to ride around on and if there a rodeo defiantly check it out there insane !, snorkeling is fun and so are canopy tours


http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac148/kenno56/IMG_0009.jpg?t=1267559356

http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac148/kenno56/th_IMG_0016.jpg http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac148/kenno56/th_IMG_0017.jpg http://i894.photobucket.com/albums/ac148/kenno56/th_IMG_0018.jpg
Oh ya almost forgot I see it all the time be careful of bar food away from the resorts , it might not be beef or chicken :mrgreen:

have fun :-D

[Salty]

Wow the north sure sounds different than the southern parts I've been to. It was a big deal when a guy's flip flops got stollen from outside his beach hut last time we were down. lol. .. Very safe down there in my experience. Which I found to be the case in some of the outskirt areas of San Jose as well like Alajuela. Downtown San Jose though is a zoo - and you need to know where to go/not to go.

[capt.T]

Thanks log roller, we are flying to Liberia. We appreciate the tips and links. We will check out that area first. Sounds like it shouldn't be a problem getting a fishing rod over there. and thanks salty we will probably make it down south as well. I'll check out playa zancudo.

Any suggestions on what color buzz bombs?

[Salty]

I had some action with 1 1/2 ounce chrome spinnows (made by buzz bomb) off the beach last time. One of the inshore boat charter guys that I met in a bar swore by floating poppers that the bass guys use for shallow water fishing. Id bring my own rod and gear if I was you. I brought an 8 foot two piece in a tube with no extra fee or much hastle including on the local small planes to golfito. I didnt see much for good fishing gear in my travels. ..

[kootenayslam]

We flew to Liberia too, bused to Playa Samara, it was safe and fairly small plus and unreal beach i know it was yellowfin season though but you could fish from shore, from there we rented motorbikes and rode north to tamarindo, great place too but a few more people...definetly go for a coastal cruise on some cheap motorbikes, Great time!

[log_roller]

We flew to Liberia too, bused to Playa Samara, it was safe and fairly small plus and unreal beach i know it was yellowfin season though but you could fish from shore, from there we rented motorbikes and rode north to tamarindo, great place too but a few more people...definetly go for a coastal cruise on some cheap motorbikes, Great time!

I drank alot of imperials and guaro at the tammirindo bar along with some horse burgers ha ha:mrgreen:

[capt.T]

motorbikes sound fun, do they have full size motorbikes or just scooters?

I'll be sure to have a couple imperials to wash down the horse burger. don't know what guaro is? but if it compliments the flavor of the horse burger I'll give it a try.

[one-shot-wonder]

Went down with 4 buddies a few years back, had a blast. One other guy and myself both brought down our fly gear and did some fishing.

Met a local 'expert' in a bar one night and the next day he took us out in his 12' tin can.....wough big mistake, he was more hungover then we were and his POS Johnson outboard died on us many times. Trolling into a canal once I hooked something big and much to my dissapointment all I landed was a water logged coconut.

No tarpon we cought just sun fish and other junk.

Oh well lesson learned.

No need to book accomodation, we just toured around and always found places to stay. Do both coastlines they are very different and both worthwhile The west has lots of good party and surfing spots. Out east I highly recommend Tortugaero National park, that is spanish for sea turtle for obvious reasons. It is a bit out of the way but well worth it and not touristy.

CR is a great country you will have a blast!

[capt.T]

I just realized that we will be there over easter. I heard it is a big deal in costa rica. I'm worried we might have a hard time finding somewhere to stay. it sounds like everything shuts down for a few days.

has anyone been there during easter? should I try to book a room for that week? or should I not worry about it?

[Salty]

Costa Rica has more percentage of its country as park than any other. Don't miss out on the nature stuff. ..

[Salty]

I just realized that we will be there over easter. I heard it is a big deal in costa rica. I'm worried we might have a hard time finding somewhere to stay. it sounds like everything shuts down for a few days.

has anyone been there during easter? should I try to book a room for that week? or should I not worry about it?

That could be an issue. Christmas and easter are the two busiest times, and for tico tourists in their own country too. You might want to have something booked at least for the first few days.

[capt.T]

hay salty, I checked out zancudo, it looks like my kind of place. was thinking of trying to book a cabin for easter. I found a place run by people from B.C. called los Cocos cabinas. did you stay there? or is there something better?
also I have a couple 10' med shamano convergance spin rods, with 12lb line I use for buzz bombing coho, do you think these will be good rods to bring for beach fishing?

[log_roller]

motorbikes sound fun, do they have full size motorbikes or just scooters?

I'll be sure to have a couple imperials to wash down the horse burger. don't know what guaro is? but if it compliments the flavor of the horse burger I'll give it a try.

guaro is an outside drink :mrgreen: they have good rum too its called Ron centanaro probably mutilated the spelling

[savage30-06]

Hi i have been to Costa Rica over a dozen times.I have cought lots of big fish from the beach,just hand lining with a spool,line,a sinker and hook with a sardine hooked through the back so the sardine can still twitch around near the bottom.Ive always wanted to bring my stealhead rod,with a level wind real,or a surfcasting settup would do great.I did most of my fishing from the beach as it can cost big money for the charter boats to take you out.If you really want to fly fish,I would bring a 4 piece rod that can be put in your suitcase or backpack.I also bought a little throw net to catch the sardines with for bait or you can ask the locals for some, they are usually very helpful.Let me know if you need any more specific info and i can help you out.Pura Vida.

[capt.T]

Hay savage, thanks . Is there lots of tackle stores or places to buy a fishing rod? If you know of a good one, could you tell me what town its in? I'm going to the north pacific first.
hand lines are fun, we used them in Cambodia. there they wrap the line around a water bottle, they spin and chuck the lure out, and point the water bottle in the direction of cast and line comes off like a spin reel. We only caught small squid on that set up. I think that would be quite a challenge with big fish.

[savage30-06]

Yeah the pop bottle works good or a piece of wood to wrap the line around.There wasn't much for fishing stores there,i got some fishing stuff and a speargun from the bicycle store in Puntarenas.I would definetly bring your own gear just in case your in remote towns.I also bring a mask and snorkel for catching lobster.

[Salty]

hay salty, I checked out zancudo, it looks like my kind of place. was thinking of trying to book a cabin for easter. I found a place run by people from B.C. called los Cocos cabinas. did you stay there? or is there something better?
also I have a couple 10' med shamano convergance spin rods, with 12lb line I use for buzz bombing coho, do you think these will be good rods to bring for beach fishing?

That. is. hilarious!! There's quite a few decent places in little Zancudo but you zone in on Andrew and Susan's (los Cocos). We've stayed there twice. :-D He's actually a Brit and she an American but they tree planted in BC for years. They have a couple Pangas so they pick you up in Golfito and its dead easy. Otherwise you need to take a water taxi with limited schedule. Plus Susan does a way cool charter up the rivers into the real deal jungle. Recommended :cool:

On the beach fishing with your spinning rods you'll be golden. If you go to Zancudo there's big snook that head up the river and they can be caught off the head of the spit area. For a charter guy that specialises in cast fishing ask around for Capt. Jack. There's a big resort in Z that specialises in off shore if that's your trip plus lots from Golfito.

feel free to send me a pm if you're going to go this route.

[capt.T]

Hay guys, getting may tackle box together. Got some rapalas, buzz bombs, mac deeps, croc spoons, some blue fox spinners, atomic plugs/spoons, hooks and weights for bait, and some hearing jigs for catching bait. Anything else that I should bring? What size hooks and leaders should I have?

[Salty]

It sounds like you're covered pretty well there capt. I probably wouldn't worry about herring jigs as bait is only used for trolling normally and the first thing the charter guys do when they head out is cast net for some bait - sardines usually so its handled for you. But hey, bait fishing from shore might be worth trying.

For hooks I'd say about a 5/0 octupus style or something with a 1" or better opening. Leaders. Good plan everything down there has sharp teeth and lots of them. Look in to some of the newer steel/composite leaders that the fly fishers use for south seas. Stays flexible but still tough enough to resist being cut. 15lb test or so, but in any case lighter than your main line.

[capt.T]

thanks salty, cant wait! :-D

did the smile work that time

[Salty]

thanks salty, cant wait! :-D

did the smile work that time

you're an interweb posting animal now man :-D