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Shore fishing Ocotol Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Jan 14, 2022 22:22:04   #
ann.quattlebaum Loc: Nelson County, VA
 
Hello friends,
I'm going to The northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica next week and have read that the surf fishing is great. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience to share?
Thanks,
Annie

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Jan 15, 2022 22:26:02   #
Bigbum Loc: Washington
 
ann.quattlebaum wrote:
Hello friends,
I'm going to The northern Pacific coast of Costa Rica next week and have read that the surf fishing is great. Does anyone have any suggestions or experience to share?
Thanks,
Annie


Hi Annie,
I have surf fished Costa Rica's Pacific side at Montezuma, Quepos, Drakes Bay, and Puerto Jimenez on four different visits. I brought my own saltwater 3 pc. spinning gear and an assortment of heavy spoons, jigs, bucktails, and some lead/hooks for bait. I remember evenings it seemed the whole town would come out for the feeding frenzy. You'll have to check with your locals for locations and times. Kids with hand tossed lures on line wrapped around plastic water bottles as their reels, adults tossing nets. Standing in the surf up to my waist getting peppered by the baitfish trying to escape the "jacks" coming in to feed. I gave away what I caught to the locals. I suggest bring a selection of lures but you will be scrutinized through airport security. While equipment is probably available for rent, I liked having my own to be able to toss a line whenever and wherever.
If you've never been, you'll be in for a lifetime experience. I'm jealous.

Rick

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Jan 16, 2022 11:51:38   #
ann.quattlebaum Loc: Nelson County, VA
 
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the info. I am bringing an ugly stick 4 piece rod with a Battle II 4000. I also will bring 3 Panamanian hand lines like the ones you described the kids using, only they are wrapped around sanded balsa wood. I was very successful at catching pan sized snapper with these in Panama where I lived and fished for 15 years and am hoping Costa Rica fishing will be similar. If we're lucky maybe we can find local fishermen with small boats or pangas that might take us trolling or bottom fishing around the bay for a fee we can afford. We can't afford a fishing charter and prefer to mostly fish from shore with the locals. We are mainly interested in catching pan fish to eat. Our home stay host says they catch small grouper, triggerfish, spanish mackeral and jacks at Ocotol beach. I have some squid and shrimp that I dried in rock salt for pier fishing in Florida. Do you think it would work there? I'm bringing spec rigs, spoons, a few trolling lures, buck tails and gotcha lures and plenty of line, hooks and lead to fabicate rigs. What do you think? Would it be good to bring a Sabiki rig to catch live bait? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm leaving on Jan 24th
Thanks,
Annie

Reply
 
 
Jan 16, 2022 17:30:35   #
Bigbum Loc: Washington
 
ann.quattlebaum wrote:
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the info. I am bringing an ugly stick 4 piece rod with a Battle II 4000. I also will bring 3 Panamanian hand lines like the ones you described the kids using, only they are wrapped around sanded balsa wood. I was very successful at catching pan sized snapper with these in Panama where I lived and fished for 15 years and am hoping Costa Rica fishing will be similar. If we're lucky maybe we can find local fishermen with small boats or pangas that might take us trolling or bottom fishing around the bay for a fee we can afford. We can't afford a fishing charter and prefer to mostly fish from shore with the locals. We are mainly interested in catching pan fish to eat. Our home stay host says they catch small grouper, triggerfish, spanish mackeral and jacks at Ocotol beach. I have some squid and shrimp that I dried in rock salt for pier fishing in Florida. Do you think it would work there? I'm bringing spec rigs, spoons, a few trolling lures, buck tails and gotcha lures and plenty of line, hooks and lead to fabicate rigs. What do you think? Would it be good to bring a Sabiki rig to catch live bait? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'm leaving on Jan 24th


Thanks,
Annie
Hi Rick, br Thanks for the info. I am bringing an ... (show quote)



Sounds to me you have your bases covered with gear, tackle, and bait. I would definitely toss in the Sabiki rig as you my find yourselves around schooling bait fish. Tackle wise, I say, if you have the room, bring it, and if some locals do you a good turn, share it. You should be able to pickup some of the local baits and info while there too. I've hired small pangas before out of Boca Del Toro, Panama and Cahuita, CR for reasonable costs to fish along the reefs for snapper and rockfish, and occasional Barracuda. That was on Caribe side. And I've done the same out of Golfito CR and Mexico, just have to watch the conditions a little closer on the Pacific. I remember packing a Seveylor inflatable kayak (check on) with us down to Melaque, Mexico and using it in the ocean and lagoons, but there were a few times it was too rough to launch. Saw a local come in on an old scarred up fiberglass kayak with a sailfish longer than his kayak, like the old man and the sea LOL.

Good luck,
Rick

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