Costa Rica In March

[culrich]

I have a trip planned to Costa Rica from March 1st-7th. I am staying and fishing out of Manuel Antonio, two days of bill fishing and a day of inshore. Have any of you been during this time? If so, what can I expect? From the research that I have done it looks to be a great time to be there! Let me here what you guys have.
Thanks, Carson

[juan sapatos]

My family and I went to Quepos (which is the town nearest to Manuel Antonio National Park) about 4 years ago for Spring Break in March. We fished two days offshore and caught 8 sailfish. We raised a giant marlin but it didn't eat. We caught one dolphin about 40 pounds and two giant weird pacific snappers. A great trip overall with a very competent captain and deckhand. I would've liked to have fished a little lighter tackle. We were using 50 lb conventional gear. They were very concerned at the time about asian long-liners taking biillfish. I didn't see a lot of signs that the fishery was hurting, but it was discussed back then. Quepos is beautiful. I highly recommend a canopy tour and whitewater rafting, amazingly enough. Also, I highly recommend the tiny local restaurants that will cook your fish. they look more like picnic pavillions than restaurants but the food is fantastiic. Also, if you are game, the deckhand did a great Mahi sashimi on the boat.

[SHOWBOAT]

just had a buddy return a couple weeks ago. He caught a 400# blue, some sails, 2 mahi and 70#YF in one day. My understanding is that Christmas until about spring break is peak season. You should have a blast. Bring us pics

[silverking]

You picked a prime time to go. As Showboat mentioned, the dry season starts around the holidays and continues until late spring. It's rare to have more than a light chop on the water and it's often slick calm.

Nearshore you can expect sails, dorado and the occasional striped marlin. A run offshore (it gets deep quick) will give chances at blue marlin up to several hundred pounds and yellowfin tuna up to 150. Pacific sails average 100-150 pounds and are a blast on light tackle or fly. It's not unusual to raise dozens of sails in a day and have double-digit hookups.

Inshore, there's roosterfish, cubera snapper and almaco jacks. All fight like crazy and the first two will take big popping plugs. There's also snook in some of the rivers.

Haven't fished Quepos, but I have fished Golfito twice (on the Panamanian border) and Los Suenos once. It's a beautiful country, the people are friendly and the fishing can be phenomenal. The government has done a decent job in the last few years enacting conservation measures to protect the billfish stocks, since it is such a big part of the economy.

Have fun and give us a report.

[kneeknocker]

You will have a good time. We went to Los Suenos caught a couple sails and dorado plus raised about a 300 lb blue that would not eat just thought it would be fun to follow the boat for about five minutes. Make sure you try the roadside restaurants or Sodas as they are called. They are really cheap and the food is great. No Fluke going international I see. make sure you see the sites though. If you travel about an hour and a half north just before Playa Hermosa there is a really cool sea turtle farm. If you get there just after sunup you can help release baby sea turtles. Talk about nature when we released 50 about 7 of them were picked up by sea birds. Not sure if you and your brothers would like doing that but I am sure your dad would. Costa Rica is a cool place. Have fun.

[Jumptrout51]

I have picked up a few sea wenches but no sea turtles.
Lucky birds.

[Tom Keels]

My wife and I are headed there Feb 6 for a week. We are staying in Manuel Antonio and I will be fishing out of Quepos. I'll be sure to let you know how the trip goes.

[kneeknocker]

Jumptrout you should try it some time they have four flippers instead of two.

[silverking]

Press Release

PANAMA CITY, Panama and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., USA – After banning commercial purse seining from its waters in July, the Republic of Panama has taken further steps adding restrictions on longlining for the conservation of its marine life and its socio-economic growth.
In letters to Panamanian officials, Ellen Peel, President of The Billfish Foundation and Chris Fischer founder of OCEARCH, applauded the government for becoming the first of the seven Central America nations to restrict pelagic longline gear within its waters. The practice of commercial longlining in the region uses hundreds of baited hooks attached to short lengths of line spaced at intervals to main lines. The longliners target swordfish and tuna, but also hook bycatch species including sharks, turtles and recreational billfish like marlin and sailfish.
Panama’s Executive Decree 486 signed by President Ricardo Martinelli on Dec. 28, 2010, prohibits longline vessels of over six tons from operating within the nation’s waters.
“This action,” said Ms. Peel, “is the latest in a growing trend that makes Panama one of the most proactive, innovative and committed fishery managers in the world and results from the increasing influence of the collective sportfishing community.
“After prohibiting tuna purse seining in July the signing of these two agreements acts directly on two of the greatest sources of overfishing of marlin and tuna species while creating appropriate sustainable management plans for billfish and other popular game fish vital to growing sportfishing and tourism in the Central America region.”
OCEARCH’s Fischer who is also on the board of TBF said, “Through this decree the Republic of Panama becomes a global leader in the responsible management of ocean resources and a more established force in the international sportfishing tourism marketplace.”
In Panama, Dr. Ruben Berrocal, National Secretary of SENACYT (Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación) added, "The President's decision underscores his commitment to preserving our natural resources for future generations; and the economic and scientific benefits these measures produce are well-established. Through sustainable marine management efforts and the careful consideration of important advocacy programs to maintain our game fish--such as those supported by The Billfish Foundation--we are committed to ensure that Panama remains a world-renowned destination where commerce, science and economic productivity can live in harmony.”
TBF, through a 2009 agreement with the Organization of Fisheries and Aquaculture for the Isthmus of Central America (OSPESCA), developed a management plan for sportfishing in the seven nation region assisting each nation in developing appropriate national conservation goals to enhance sportfishing tourism. It includes recreational fishing monitoring and data collecting programs using TBF tags and catch reports to gather vital statistics for decision makers to better understand the dynamics of sportfishing as an important economic tool.
TBF has been working with the governments of Mexico, Costa Rica and Peru – some for over a decade – to protect billfish, mainly from overfishing coastal fisheries by commercial interests, while implementing tag and release programs for sportsmen.
Established 25 years ago, The Billfish Foundation is the only non-profit organization dedicated solely to conserving and enhancing billfish populations around the world. TBF's comprehensive network of members and supporters includes anglers, captains, mates, tournament directors, clubs and sportfishing businesses. By coordinating efforts and speaking with one voice, TBF is able to work for solutions that are good for billfish and not punitive to recreational anglers. Visit www.billfish.org or to reach Ms. Peel, ph. 800-438-8247, ex.108.
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[culrich]

Thanks everyone! To say I am PUMPED is an understatement. Keels, have a good trip and be sure to let me know how it goes.