Introduction
Thirty miles away of Cabo Matapalo, German, a sixty-year-old man who has spent at least three quarters of his life at the sea and half on the fly bridge, leads his strike pro of 35‘ feet pointing straight ahead on a huge stain on the horizon. Just few Europeans, has the fortune to see astonished a show like this, and for whom has been the opportunity to see it before has just to wait in silence while the adrenaline grows mile after mile.
German is going to pass between a huge flock of dolphins, hundreds of animals that swim on the surface, followed by boobies and frigate birds, between the dolphins we can see the characteristic profile of the yellowfin tunas jumping fast. All of these animals – and many other hidden by the waves – are hunting, and Capt. German has decided joining to the party. He prepares seven rods, with three teasers, three Kona, and one ballyhoo, while watching the movements of the herd he continues trolling at seven knots.
We are at the top of the food chain: tuna and dolphins chase a huge shoal of sardines, and when they can bring them to the surface, even the frigates and boobies (Sula leucogaster) participate at the banquet. Special 
guests, not reported on the surface, could be extra-sized Dorado, sailfish and Blue Marlin. German, obviously, wants to “get in touch” with these guests, and this is the reason why he’s not interested to drop a minnow to catch some yellowfin, that at this moment are an easy prey, and could give an amazing day to his European guests, given them some fun.
But he’s looking something else, and for him the yellowfins are just a bait. A few meters down in the same boat stays Anthony Lee Santos, another captain of the Crocodile Bay Lodge. While nobody is watching him he crosses himself and opens his arms to the ocean. He begins to prey to his God, and asks to the sea to be generous today, he wants to come back to home again safely. He’s a sea man, almost 250 pounds and 1,72 cm, a kind of cube of muscle, fast, responsive, that while is talking to you but at the same time has his glance on the bait in the water. A marlin tattooed on his right shoulder, certainly his first love, and a series of scars are the indelible memories of moments of passion with his blue dressed friends.
German and Anthony prefer to live in silence those waiting minutes loaded of adrenaline. Oppositely to what many think, the waiting is often the most crucial time of fishing. Much more than a strike, a fight or a release. The wait is a mix of extreme concentration that comes against the remembrance and the imagination about what could happens, also with a little fear of mistakes or illusions. The wait, the unknowledge about hat to expect, is like a cigar that is consumed with greed, is the desire before the passion , is an unexpected gift from the sea in a wonderful day of fishing on the high seas on the Pacific.
How and where
Outside Crocodile Bay Lodge (from now on CBL..) the deep-sea fishing takes place at 90% in this way: the captains go beyond the continental shelf and remain on bathymetric between 1000 and 1500 meters, following the cut of the tides , the movements of seabirds and forage fish ont the surface, as well as following the shade that appears on the eco between the 200 mts bathymetric and the surface. Other spots are the Sea Mountains, there are at least three in a radius of fifteen miles, but to the captains do not like fish it because are areas frequented by long liners.
The commercial fishing in Costa Rica is very orderly, as well as the sport fishing, the government invest a lot of resources in conservation and protection of Nature. Marlin and sailfish could not been fished, are prohibited, the current legislation allows a 5% of bonito that can be kept, defined purely sporting interest.
Another aspect related to the conservation are its park: 30 miles away at north west of the lodge, there’s the Parque Nacional Corcovado, one of the most wild and known park throughout the world: Both kind of fishing are prohibited along the park’s coast, it’s not a joke, the penalties are heavy: $ 56,000 dollars and the confiscation of the boat.
Maybe at this point you can think that beeing close to the Corcovado Park could limited our fishing zone, specially inshore, but The corcovado with its small and medium rivers flows is a reproduction and nursery area that feeds the environment. The CBL’s policy is base on a deep respect for fish, and in particular of the billfish: vela and marlin are never taken on board, the Rooster are treated with extreme caution (they’re great fighters and after the combat they suffer). The angler can choose to take home a Yellowfin, Dorado and pargos, although the C & R are strongly encouraged.
When
The fishing here follows the rhythms of the seasons, in Central America are essentially two, the wet season, which runs from May to November, and the dry season from December to April. The Lodge closed its doors in October for the maintenance of structures and boats, and also because is the rainiest month. After the rain period, the inshore and offshore waters begin to clear and appear blue and well oxygenated, and this allows that large pelagic approaches to the coast: The best period? November and December for blue marlin, and sometimes for black and striped too.
Instead the sailfish’s season, one of the flagships of the lodge, starts from December and continues until March. In high season the numbers are impressive, with an average of 8-10 fish released per boat, which means that some days you could be tired of fighting this amazing buddies. The tuna are presents throughout the year, as already mentioned, their presence is often joined to that of the dolphins, the size are extreme variable, from “football size” to beast from 200-300 pounds. The Dorado or mahi-mahi, but oversized version, (records of the lodge: 68 pounds) are presents all the year but their peak is just after the rainy season, when the trees and logs becomes natural FAD for these wonderful animals.
The Inshore fishing is fairly constant throughout the year with a remarkable wildlife: fish The Roosterfish, is the symbol fish of the lodge, the habit and temperature settle him. A great gamefish, the roosterfish can be undermined with almost all the attacks and fighting techniques. The records of the lodge, a 108 pounds roosterfish caught by a girl!, a dinosaur that will certainly not see every day, but catches like the one you see in the opening (60 pounds of muscle and power) are possible in the waters surrounding the Gulf Dulce.
Other inshore highlights are the Cubere, uncountable species of Pargo (Snapper), and Cernie, jacks and other typical coastal predators, the Amberjack, to Wahoo, Barracuda, giant needlefish, but also Spanish mackerels, Bonito, Skipjack, that are always present like an epidemy. There are also another two fish that is better not put them in the wish list but are pleasant surprises; they’re rare in this zone. The first one is the Tarpon, once Todd Staley, fishing manager of the lodge, registered a hatchery in the Pacific.
It was known that these fishes pass the Panama Canal and reach the the opposed ocean, the Atlantic, but discovering about their reproduction on it, is a interesting thing, at least for us fishermen!
Fishing technique & Fishing Tackle
The different environments and the variety of potential prey does that the CBL being an ideal place for almost all fishing techniques. Inshore the most profitable technique are spinning with lures and trolling with live, as well as the fishing in fondo. While Offshore trolling is a must, also the CBL is visited by many fly fishermen that want to catch Sailfish, Yellowfin, Dorado and Marlin (the maximum size normally does not exceed 600 pounds, with an average between 200 and 400lbs).
Nicola Zingarelli has personally inspired me with his fishing articles in this magnificent place, specially the one about Vela fishing with spinning. If Iberia had not lost our suitcases and equipment for our entire stage, it could have been certainly a dream to be crowned. Finally, for those who want to compete with Amberjack, Cuberas and other predators on the deep, it could be use vertical jigging, there’re different spots a few miles off the Golfo Dulce. The lodge has 12 boats for the inshore/offshore fishing, such as Boston Whaler, Rambo and strike pro.
Almost all the boats are open; they’re equipped with custom rods made specially by the CBL for Lamiglas to fish inshore and offshore, coupled mostly with Shimano and Okuma reels, everything in excellent condition. The lodge also has a good supply of Jigging rods, so if you are not fly fishermen angler or spinner you could travel light. Perfect are a spinning rod with fast action and good backbone, casting power on 2 ounces are ideal. For the reel from 8000 (inshore) to up, depending on what you are looking for. As baits, this is a topwater paradise, so depends on you, but don’t forget at home some skipping lures and some softbait XL for the Sailfish.
Useful information & how to arrive
The Crocodile Bay Lodge is located in Puerto Jimenez, at the Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica.You can reach the lodge by a domestic flight from the capital San Jose operated by the excellent airline Natureair, that covers various destinations and also connects to the neighboring states of Panama and Nicaragua (www.natureair.com). The capital of Costa Rica, San Jose is a hub most served in Central America with 4-5 daily flights from Miami, which is only three and a half hour flight.
If you’re travelling from Europe, the best routes are those that fly in the capital of Florida (remember to fill in the TSA – U.S. immigration – before the trip). There is also a direct connection via Madrid with Iberia. Unfortunately, because of my recent negative experience (one week without bags, customer service does not exist), strongly discourage the Iberian company. The CBL has instead a very good service from the shuttle to/from the airport and everything that make you feel at home, a homely environment but very professional.
Recently The Lodge ‘Resort become Resort thanks to the construction of a spa of 1200 m2 and offers in addition to fishing numerous packages of ecotourism, horseback tours, kayaking, etc., in short, a place where fishing is like a crime, because we’re near to one of the most famous national parks in the world. Just do not forget sunscreen, Autan and polarized glasses and camera to capture the alligators that swim (peaceful) just behind the lodge (the name is not casually random!). For more info you can visit the website: (www.crocodilebay.com) or write to the author (kahuna@videospin.it).
