The beginning of the end.

[rolmops]

I was walking my golden retrievers this morning along a creek at a place where they love to jump in and swim around. The creek cleared up again after yesterdays rain. I threw a ball in the water for them to chase and as they jumped in and swam, two very large shadows moved under water swam away upstream. I walked a bit upstream and saw them again. Two large kings about a mile and a half away from the lake in the creek. 

I did what I already thought about. I started planning a trip to Costa Rica in the end of October to chase the 40 pound mahi mahi and the large yellow fin tuna for maybe ten days.

 

Edited August 26, 2025 by rolmops

[Gator]

Hell, yeah, I'm in brother!

[Gill-T]

Why didn’t you drive the fish downstream back to the lake to keep the good times rolling???👍

[Last One]

Any pointers on Costa Rico, it tops my bucket list for Marlin? 

[greenhornet73]

 Bring a fly rod for those Costa Rican marlin

[rolmops]

1 hour ago, greenhornet73 said:

 Bring a fly rod for those Costa Rican marlin

I don't know about that. Maybe for sailfish, because there are plenty of those in the 50 to 80 pound range. As for marlin, the smallest one I caught there was 420 pounds. Not your regular fly fishing target. Besides, it takes at least a few miles of trolling before you find one and there are days that you don't find any.

Also marlin is strictly protected in Costa Rica  waters and the people I fish with over there ,see them as part of their heritage and often frown at targeting them.

[greenhornet73]

That’s awesome and you are right , I was mistaking it for sailfish in Belize.  My ex boss landed around 50 sailfish on a fly rod in 3 days many years ago. I only fished for marlin once in Lanzarote years ago and never got hit but was cool to see flying fish sailing along the boat most of the trip.  It’s an amazing experience for anyone to try, can’t imagine the thrill of actually hooking up with a billfish.

Edited August 31, 2025 by greenhornet73

[Tomb]

I am heading to Costa Rica for a quick work trip in a couple weeks, but will likely be going back in the fall for a longer stay..  curious who you use for a charter and what the rates are like.    What port do you go out of?   Have you ever targeted rooster fish?

[rolmops]

7 hours ago, Tomb said:

I am heading to Costa Rica for a quick work trip in a couple weeks, but will likely be going back in the fall for a longer stay..  curious who you use for a charter and what the rates are like.    What port do you go out of?   Have you ever targeted rooster fish?

I fish out of Mal Pais fisherman beach. The rate as of last year is $1000 per day off shore fishing and $75 per hour for inshore. This is a very small village  that is at the end of nowhere. I usually fly in from San jose in a piper cub. Although the road has been paved now and it is also possible to go by ferry and car. Just google Santa Teresa , Costa Rica. That will give you an idea where it is. And yes, I have targeted and caught rooster fish. They are a protected species and are only catch and release.

 

 

Edited September 2, 2025 by rolmops