Costa Rica Fishing Report - November 2014

Report Date: December 8, 2014

We have been having excellent fishing for mahi-mahi (dorado as they are known locally) - some of the best we have seen in at least a year. Some days along tide lines or current edges within 20 miles of land you can catch all you want in a couple hours. Most every fish is 20 to 40 pounds!

The same can be found further offshore on floating debris of commercial fishing or free floating platforms (FADs) that occasionally drift in. These spots have been loaded with nice sized gaffer dolphin/mahi/dorado - literally thousands of them on some days. Even on days when you don't find anything floating, you will still land 1 to 4 nice mahi, which is always a pleasant bonus as some meat to take one for dinner.

The sailfish bite has been good, and is improving as we move into the high dry season which is the best time to catch high numbers of sailfish offshore. We have been getting 5-15 bites most days, and the numbers have been improving. Last year, January-April, we were getting 20-50 bites on average days, and 50+ bites on really good ones. On some of our best days fishing offshore, we had 80-100 bites a day. Most of these "Epic" days occur in the months of March and April.

A good marlin bite continued most of the month November and just faded a bit the last week. From October on, we had very good numbers of striped marlin in the area of Jaco, Costa Rica. Typically, we were getting a shot or two a day at striped marlin while fishing offshore of Los Suenos Marina.

There were some blue marlin around, but it has not been an everyday occurrence. May to July has been the best time for multiple blue marlin releases on day charters here on the central pacific side of Costa Rica.

After a very untypical slow season for yellowfin tuna (May - October), we have been seeing better numbers of them post season, since October, they have been fairly common. These are not "everyday" catches, but every few days we will find a pack of porpoises with tunas trailing with them. Depending on your approach, most tunas have been in the 20 to 50 pound range within the past few weeks, but always are a pleasant bonus.

Inshore, there have been smaller yellowfin tunas around the 26 reef. These fish can be caught trolling small lures or baits. Most are in the 5 to 20 pound range, but it is also possible to catch occasional small wahoo, multiple dorados, a couple sails and or a few other species if you spend time trolling around these inshore spots.

Feel free to call me on my U.S. line (561-459-5355) to discuss your next fishing vacation.

Captain Michael "MJ" Alligood
EPIC sportfishing Costa Rica
561-459-5355

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