Costa Rica’s 2010 Sportfishing Season Ends

Jim Tyson Snook

"The anglers were nestled all snug in their beds, while visions of roosterfish danced in their heads". Apologies to Clement Clarke Moore, who wrote 'Twas the Night before Christmas' almost 200 years ago, for this bit of poetic license. Of course, had he been a fisherman — and we can't rule that out — he would surely understand. There was more than roosterfish on the mind of Steve Hanna … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Sportfishing Vessel Attacked Off Garza – Tourists Threatened

The helicopter from La Rosa Mistica circles the area around the sportfishing boat

Helicopter drops explosive devices as Venezuela tuna seiner threatens tourists; tenth attack in past two years ... GARZA, Costa Rica and FT. LAUDERDALE, Florida, USA --- A U.S. based world fisheries conservation association is demanding disciplinary action after the attack by a commercial Venezuelan tuna purse seining vessel and its helicopter on a sportfishing boat off the coast of … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Commercial Fishing Fleet Is being Tracked by Satellite

A Costa Rica shrimp industry will be tracked via sat

In Sept, 2009  Costa Rican Fishing Institute (Incopesca) and with the help of organizations like The Billfish Association, established a satellite monitoring system to monitor and control the activity of the fishing vessels engaged in tuna fishing with purse seines in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) of Costa Rica. Generally, a countries EEZ extends to a distance of 200 nautical miles (370 km) … [Read more...]

North American Anglers Contribute $599 Million Annually to Costa Rican Economy

FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Tourism is Costa Rica’s top industry and new research shows North Americans traveling there in 2008 to fish generated $599 million - or about two percent of Costa Rica’s gross domestic product. The study, conducted in 2009 by The Billfish Foundation, Southwick Associates and the University of Costa Rica, revealed 283,790 anglers visited Costa Rica and their economic … [Read more...]

Costa Rica’s Endangered Species – The Shrimp Fishermen

Rufusing to use Turtle Excluder Devices, the next endangered species may be Costa Rica's Shrimp Fishermen

If there was a golden opportunity for Costa Rica to capitalize on a need of Gringo's taste buds,  and to help stimulate their economy it is now. But unfortunately, for a country that has been one of the heavy weights of ecology, they, have turned their backs on a major eco problem that if not corrected, will have sever consequences. Back in May, 2005 the U.S. had banned Costa Rica Shrimp … [Read more...]

Fishing For Costa Rica’s Marlin – Striped, Blues and Blacks

This 400lb marlin was caught and release by World- Record Captain Bobby McGuinness of the Southerh Pacific coast

' Marlin fishing is considered by many game fishermen to be the pinnacle of big game fishing, due to the size and power, relative rareness and difficulty of capture. In Costa Rica,  fishing for the striped, blue and black marlin fishing season is year round and why the country is becoming the hot place to fish for these big gamers. Marlin has been billed as the battler of literature and … [Read more...]

Lionfish Threatens Costa Rica’s Caribbean Coast

This venous fish now threatens the Caribbean coast

Back in June, 2009,  Costa Rica scientists were ranting and raving how they discovered a new species of Lionfish, and almost a year later they now have second thoughts. As protesters, protested at the Corte Suprema de Justicia on Earth Day, of why Corte Suprema gave a green light to reopen a Gold Mine that threatened water contamination and wildlife, eco-scientists on the Caribbean coast are … [Read more...]

Costa Rica Shark Finning – Is It Being Monitored?

This 2lb catch of Shark fins is can be worth over $1000 in the Asia market.

Around early 1980s a friend wanted to open up a fresh fish exporting business in Puntarenas. He found a packing house and cannery, got some investors and was ready to start exporting fresh Dorado and canned tuna. One of the things that were puzzling to him was Costa Rica fishermen were catching sharks in their long lines and gill nets. Shark at the time was a worthless meat so they were either … [Read more...]

Billfish Foundation – Presidential Challenge of Costa Rica

The TBA is going to receive all the

Back in April, 2006 in Playa Carillo, Costa Rica twenty seven anglers kicked off of the Tenth Anniversary Season of the Presidential Challenge of Central America Conservation Series. The Fishing Tournament was design to help conserve and protect Costa Rica's Sportsfishing industry. It has been a long battle to protect Costa Rica's sport fishing of billfish, and no one knows that more than The … [Read more...]

Fishing Dorado Out Of Costa Rica’s Los Suenos – Jaco

Dorado - The male head is square where the females head is round

There are good days fishing and there are awesome days fishing. This Costa Rica fishing trip was awesome. For two days we fished out of one of Costa Ricas best marinas, Los Suenos, about 6 miles north of Jaco and out about 20 miles with the infamous  Richard Krugs, Americana Sportsfishing, who has been putting together fishing charter services for almost 30 years.  We went for the meat, over … [Read more...]

Vessel Monitoring System Mandate in Costa Rican Waters

The Billfish Foundation

TBF succeeds in push of Vessel Monitoring System mandate in Costa Rican waters. The Billfish Foundation continues building strong relations on fisheries conservation SAN JOSE, Costa Rica and FT. LAUDERDALE, Fla., USA (September 7, 2009) -- New regulations enacted by INCOPESCA, the Costa Rican fisheries agency, will require electronic vessel monitoring systems (VMS) on all commercial vessels … [Read more...]

August – Superb Month for Costa Rica Fishing

One of the Fowlers brought in this very tasty wahoo

Better late then never, I always say, especially when 1) it's something good and 2) it has something to do with my clients. So here are three photos of the Fowler group (Scott, Jack and Jason) who fished out of Los Sueños Marina in the Central Pacific on the 32ft Miss-Behav'in with Captain Dave Mothershead and on the 27ft Golden Rod with Captain Guillermo way back in March when the big sail bite … [Read more...]