June marks the beginning of the second high-season in northern Costa Rica. Most of the country is already in the grips of the rainy season, but the remote location of the Nicoya Peninsula has a completely different weather pattern than the rest of the country.
Most of Costa Rica’s fishing operations are on the hill until November, but the fishing continues well into late August in Nosara. The tour books haven’t caught onto this trend, but the captains of FishingNosara have been posting excellent catches during the summer months for the last 10 years.
Actually, the fishery is energized by massive rains in the middle of the country. The mountain streams that empty onto shore are swelled with fresh water, and this highly oxygenated nutrient-rich water hits the feeder fish population like a jolt of steroids. Combine that with porpoises herding up the bait fish, and you have the recipe for incredible bluewater action.
For instance, FishingNosara Hall of Famer Chuck Harris has been coming down to Costa Rica from Tallahassee, Fla. every summer for the last five years. Once again, his group nabbed several marlin releases, swarms of sailfish, and excellent yellowfin tuna catches.
Meanwhile Nosara was also invaded by groups of anglers from Texas, who thirsted for big-game bluewater action.
Bryan Wood, of Wortham, Texas, scored more than enough yellowfin tuna to eat for the week and lost a fistfight with a big marlin.
“Thanks to the crew on the Harvester today!” Bryan posted to Facebook. “Got supper but I lost the Marlin for you guys. My bad, but we had a great day and a great crew! Thanks again FishingNosara and we hope to come back soon!”
Lila Weirich brought such a big group of folks from Texas down that they needed both the Wanderer and Discoverer to hold them. Over three days offshore, the group scored sailfish, yellowfin tuna, and multiple dorados better than 60 pounds.
Nosara is also lucky enough to welcome journeyman anglers who are willing to come from all over the country to fish in the “Land that the rainy season forgot.”
Scott Burke, of Elkhart, Indiana, is one such fishing enthusiast. We picked this guy up in Tamarindo (3 hours away) at 3 a.m., brought him to Nosara, fished a full day, and took him back at the end of the trip. The odyssey proved worthwhile, with multiple great sailfish releases reported.
Most recently, Jacksonville angler Jeff Broome flexed his First Coast fishing muscles with a back-to-back day of world-class marlin action. He marked the scorecard with a 300-plus-pound blue marlin release on the mega-panga Harvester.
The next day he posted the trip of the year so far. First off was a simultaneous double sailfish release. Then the real monster arrived as the Harvester reports a 400-plus-pound massive Marlin release.
Clearly the fishing is on fire this summer, so come on down to Nosara… and leave the rain gear at home!
By Matt Jorn
For more information, go to www.fishingnosara.com.