Photo courtesy of Capt. Pete Rae
Greetings from Costa Rica
Tom Hauer
The term “world class” is so over used that it’s hard to take the term seriously. However, if you get the chance to fish the seamounts off of Quepos, Costa Rica you will realize what that term is supposed to mean.
Capt. Pete Rae and Pat McCotter, owner of the Sea Spud, a 60’B&D, would have never guessed that their fishing experience in Costa Rica would turn out to be as phenomenal as it has been. In the span of 194 days, February 2014 through the July 27 2015, the Sea Spud crew caught and released 1,001 blue marlin off the coast of Quepos, Costa Rica. That’s caught and released; it doesn’t include the hundreds of others that were raised!
After their most recent four-day trip out to the seamounts, Capt. Pete and the Sea Spud crew caught and released 57 of the 71 blue marlin they raised. Day four of the trip proved to be red hot as they caught 25 of the 33 marlin they raised all on lures! Capt. Pete says, “That has to be some kind of record in itself.”
Pat, a 2014 Billfish Foundation Angler of the Year recipient, turned 81 years old this last March. He has reluctantly decided to sell the Sea Spud and retire back to North Carolina. However, Capt. Pete (captpeterae@yahoo.com) plans on continuing his adventures as soon as a new boat owner that shares his passion is found.
The area of seamounts 85 to 155 miles southwest of Quepos has to be one of the prolific blue marlin fishing grounds in the world. Until recently it was the exclusive domain of a few private sport fishing vessels that had the range and equipment to undertake the trip. That’s no longer the case. Ken and Amanda Cofer operate the 57’ Spencer sport fish “Tranquilo” out of Quepos (http://tranquilocharters.com/). In addition to offering day trips, they also offer two, three and even four day seamount trips. Typical seamount trips consist of two 12-hour days of fishing and traveling to and from the seamounts at night.
Once in the vicinity, the Tranquilo team usually begins trolling a spread of two dredges, two teasers, and four lures at 8 to 10 knots. The lure spread remains deployed until live bait is spotted. Once bait is spotted and caught, most likely small tunas, the crew will switch over to live bait. Live baiting marlin is one of the biggest adrenaline rushes you can have as you watch the fish zone in and violently attack. Lures or live bait, the action is incredible, and it’s not uncommon to release up to 30 or more marlin daily.
Seamount fishing is just one aspect of the incredible year-round fishing here in Costa Rica. If you want to find out what “world class” fishing really means, Costa Rica is the place to be.
Tom Hauer is the co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine-Costa Rica. He can be contacted at tomh@coastalanglermagazine.com.
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