costa rica
The Ultimate Cast, A Short Fishing Story
It was another beautiful day in Playa Del Coco, Costa Rica. The usual early morning sounds were beginning to stir, melding with the waning sounds of nights creatures outside the dew adorned window. The aroma of strong and delicious costa rican coffee dominated the air ways, but it was the excitement and anticipation that filled the room, after all it was another day fishing the bat islands in northern Guanacaste. Gear was checked and re-check, special attention paid to every knot, hook, and florocarbon leader. No fish were getting away on a technicality this day.
The morning ritual continued to take place, involving a myriad of loose traditions until it was time to depart.
“Do we have everything?” Jeff said,
A last minute rustle and the green packaging of wasabi sliding into a bag pre-empted the answer
“Now we do!” said Ben as the dock locked with a loud ‘clink’
The walk wasn’t a long one, as rarely there is along an empty beach. The few people out were a variety of fisherman, beach runners, and borracho’s from the night before debating the impact of sunrise. The waves laped up calmly inthe semi protected bay which made it slightly more easy to board the tiny panga. The blue and black hull with a white johnson 140 on the back distinguished Captain Geraldo Reyes’, other wise known as ‘Comi’ to his friends, boat from the other pangas. The smell of the beach and ocean fueled the anticipation making for a quick departure.
The ride to the bat islands from playa del coco is not a short one, but when the wind dies down and the swell is low it only takes slightly longer then one hour, watching the splash and wake of the boat in relative silence a few beers were drank. The farther the boat traveled the more life was to be seen, turtles locked in a 24 hour tango of love, porpoise playing in the wake, and even distant humpbacks breaking the surface.
“Its going to be a great day!” Ben yelled across the rumble of the johnson and slap of the boat on the sea. Smiles around and a ‘salute’ brought us close to the end of one and beginning of another journey. The smell of fish was heavy in the air. Arriving near low tide poppers began to hit the water, the sound of braided line peeling off, splashes. chugs, and “fish fish!” replaced the now silent hum of the motor. It wasn’t long before blood was in the boat, it was breakfast time.
Already a decent day of fishing building, Jeff took to the bow of the boat hooking a jack travel, a frequent companion this day, the fight had begun, Comi also had a fish on as Ben steadily video taped both men in a double hook-up. The jack sounded and Jeff felt the lure slip from the fish The agony of defeat taking verbal form “Fuck, Fuck, Fuck”. Begrudgingly jeff begin to wind in his remaining line. Less then 5 rotations on a shimano 20,000 reel the line gave a sharp tug, and then a screaming run was heard around the boat
“Fish On!” Jeff yelled, the former agony quickly usurped in a boost of adrenaline.
“Whew! Big fish man!” followed Ben as more and more line continued to barrel out the drag whining a reminder of the struggle just beginning. Seconds to minutes, as the initial rush subsided the true battle had begun. Retrieving some ground Jeff fought the unknown fish only to see it vanish bank into the blue minutes later. As the white water of a splash against the rocks blew over us caught on the wind the fight began to reach the hour mark. The violent shaking of the head could be seen by even a novice fisherman, and following the 3rd gigantic bounce came… nothing. The sudden slackness of the line revealed the last effort of the fish won it its freedom.
Silence came over the boat frozen for a moment in time, shock. The shattering came in the form of foot pounding on the deck and a slurry of cussing that was apropro for the moment. One cast, Two fish hooked, two fish lost. The only redeeming aspect to the whole situation being that it would make a good fishing story.
This tale however, had a third act. On a slow retrieve, competitiveness like fire in the veins, and a myriad of what if’s in mind, the unimaginable happened. The rod tip bent and the front of the boat broke into shouts of excitement.
“Another fish! Fish On!” Jeff yelled back half bedazzled, but all excited.
The rest of the boat’s stupor quickly melted as for one more time on just one cast a fish was tugging at the lure
“Remind me to write williamson a letter” Said Ben while video taping the final moments of a cast that last over an hour and a half and cycled through three different fish. Laughter turned to cheers as the third fish broke the surface, a beautiful dog tooth snapper, or in these waters, pargo! Fish on board, and dinner settled for the evening the lure waas examined. 2 completely crushed treble hooks and one nearly straightened.
The hooks received and upgrade, the snapper made the table, but its the story of the Ultimate Cast that made the day.
By Ben George
The Ultimate Costa Rican Pacific Coast Fishing Trip: Part 3
As the sun set on Playa del coco, and the big catches and big misses fresh on our minds, we pressed forward in our adventure to our next destination, Manuel Antonio to fish out of the nearby town Quepos for our blue water shot for the trip, generally this time of year the sailfish are out en’force, The weather was on our side so all things were a go as we drove down down the Costa Rican coast a picturesque drive through tree covered highways that, while at times, can be a little hectic through the middle of the country. When you reach the coast a serene drive awaits you through acres of date palms and open roads ahead.
Manuel Antonio is a unique and beautiful section of costa rica accompanied a national park, a must do, hike when traveling through Manuel Antonio, the side trails to waterfalls, and a wide variety of wild life including; monkeys, sloths, racoons, and a plethora of birds will keep you entertained for more then a few hours… Throw in a few pristine white sand beaches and a little slice of heaven awaits. Did we mention the food?
The cuisine in Quepos/Manuel Antonio is top of the charts in costa rica with a wide variety of chefs from various places around the world there is an abundance of restaurants to choose from that should sate any pallet. All this beauty however didn’t serve a distraction for our main purpose in the area… fishing. The ride out was a joyful one as the fishing to this point in the trip was fantastic! Breakfast of champions in hand we joked about immediate hookups and with a good morning cheers out the way we were upon the fishing grounds, about 15miles out that day.
Rigged and ready we dropped lines, everyone settled in, anticipation ripe in the air, 3 minutes, 4 minutes, 5 minutes, line screaming.. a cheering captain directed our attention to a jumping sailfish in the distance… a big one… before he could jump again a second line strikes, another large sail, after a 30 minute battle one large pacific sail is in range tired and unhappy he fought and fought and fought some more, but ultimately was caught and released. The first bill had made the boat, and it wouldn’t be the last!
We came in contact with 6 sails throughout the day and a Dorado that put on quite a show, taking a cue from the mahi we got our show rolling once again and made our way down through the south western region of Costa Rica, driving down through the entire Osa Peninsula to Mata Palo, where we’d be fishing for our last stop on the trip, but getting there was a bit more interesting – The River Crossing – was quite the event, after yelling across the river for the boat man a younger Tico shows up via horse back and fires up a small dingy boat and maneuvers a huge steel barge across the pick us up. It was a David v Goliath looking scene as this tiny dingy slowly but surly moved that barge with its tiny little engine across the Rio Sierpe, but he landed on a dime and delivered us across in the same fashion. The Osa is an incredible drive all the way down to Golfito, across the Golfito Dulce, the last port before Panama.
It also hosts some pretty solid in shore and off shore fishing along with some of the longest surf breaks in the world. Whenever Addictive Angler makes its way down to Golfito we always stay at the very unique and always welcoming Casa Roland Resort. The art decor, all Costa Rican made, creates very rich environment and an incredibly well designed lounge/bar create an ambiance that will keep a smile well engraved on every fishermans’ face! Happily aching bones found a comfortable landing in the plush and relaxing rooms of Casa Roland, reinvigorating us for one more fishing trip.
Lindor Sr. and Lindor Jr. Were running the boat, great fisherman out of Golfito who we really enjoy fishing with! The weather was a bit on the wet side for part of the day, but it didn’t do much to slow down the bite, and before long we had fish in the boat, the day would be a little slower the up north, but we caught more then enough to fill our plates for the evening! A 3 course meal that was first class, and good enough to earn a sweet ass from Addictive Angler, 1.5 for the pie! It was an incredible trip, one that wont ever be forgotten, or as our great friend Porsche would say:
There is a saying in Costa Rica:”Pura vida” meaning pure life and that is exactly what they have there as the country is untouched with its natural beauty and abundance of wild life everywhere.The hospitality of the people are second to none.The fishing,both on sea and land [muchas chicas],was extreme to say the least.We did both inshore and offshore charters and caught such a wide variety of fish that knocked many “firsts” off of my personal list.Before the trip I was feeling as if I was stuck in a rut and this vacation has given me a renewed vigor for life and put a spring back into my step.Gaff and I would like to make it an annual event.Thanks again guys.May all your lines be as tight as Jeff in the morning after his breakfast of champions.We are now friends for life.Your good buddy respectfully, Porsche
Another slice of the AA Experience:
Want to have your own AA Trip and have a life lasting experience? Book it Here!
By Ben George
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