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Keep a tight-line out there somewhere! |
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COSTA RICA
GOLFITO
for
Marlin - Sailfish - Dorado - Tuna - Rooster fish
Season:
December through May
The water of Golfito is a prolific
fishery, but expect more sails than marlin. All four Pacific
species of marlin can be found and fished from their lodge. I have seen many
fishing operations come and go over the years in this area around Golfito. By far the best to come along is Crocodile Bay Lodge.
Operators in this neck of the
woods fish center council boats, but Crocodile does have two fly-bridge
cruisers (my preference). You can expect an hours run to the
fishing grounds. The captain and or crew fish almost every day so
they keep track of the "Hot Bite".
Accommodations are like a small
tropical resort hotel with comfortable rooms, nice pool, big bar
(complimentary) good dining room with set meal times.
A basic fishing package for
5 nights, 3 days of fishing will run per $2195 person with four sharing a boat
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Costa Rica is easy to reach,
has good bill fishing, and this lodge is very fishing orientated, which
makes it a pretty good fishing package destination |
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GUATEMALA
for
Sailfish - Marlin
Season:
December through May |
Off the Pacific
coast of Guatemala, lies an incredibly huge concentration of sailfish in
the 100-130 lb class. For many years I considered this destination
as my semi-private fishing paradise. Now, the cats out of the bag,
so I may as well share this gem with the rest of you.
The historic
average is just over six fish released per day. I have only
experienced two days that slow in over 50 days of fishing. Thirty
pound. light weight tackle with rigged bait is the norm. The technique is
to tease them up, to about 10 yards behind the boat, then switch to the
strip bait and hold on for dear life. My best has been a 47 fish
release day! I have even caught several on a fly rod. You
will have to endure the run to the fish, sometimes forty five minutes,
but some times an hour and a half, but the fishing is worth the ride.
The coast is about
a two hour drive from the Guatemala City Airport, Your met at the
airport and transferred to your accommodations. You will stay in a
safe gated community, in a private guest house, with your own chef.
Picture a Florida beach house without the beach.
You can fly non
stop from Atlanta and Miami, don't expect to fish the day of arrival.
I wouldn't go for less than three days of fishing. Four nights,
three days fishing, all inclusive while in Guatemala is $2195 per person
with four sharing a boat.
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Catch fish
until your so tired you can't lift a beer!
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PANAMA
TROPIC STAR LODGE
for
Marlin - Sailfish - Dorado - Tuna - Rooster fish
Season:
December through May Tropic Star is the
grand daddy of all big game fishing lodges Late 50's). It's a top
notch marlin destination. It is
expensive, but all things considered, it's a good value and well worth
the money. It's a finely tuned fishing machine!
It sits by its
self in a monkey jungle on the Pacific coast line of Panama, assessable
by regularly scheduled (more charter then schedule) flights. They
fish well maintained 31ft Bertram's, with excellent Captains and crews.
The bait and drop lie a short 30 minute ride from the dock. The
marlin are primarily black but I've caught stripes as well.
Sailfish and tuna can be around all year. On one occasion that I
fished there, the lodge released 517 sails for that week!
The accommodations
are comfortable and well maintained with nice sea views. The food
and service is what you would expect to find in a fine hotel. The
bar and the pool are very refreshing after a day of skirmishing with big
fish.
The basic trip is
for seven nights, with six days fishing and costs (2007) $4545 per
person including transfers (4 to a boat). Expect to spend a night in
Panama City on the way down Saturday night. You wont fish the day
of arrival on Sunday, but will fish Monday through the following
Saturday, departing on Sunday morning. If you are lucky depending
on your return flight time you may make it home the same day.
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After a week
there, swapping stories around the bar in the evenings, you can finally
consider yourself a serious big game fisherman.
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