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 impact even overshadowed commercial fishing. It was estimated 22 percent of those tourists visited the country for the exclusive purpose of fishing.
Recreational fishing surpasses commercial fishing revenue; more CR jobs.
From that $599 million the study also showed sportfishing generated almost $78 million in tax revenues for Costa Rica and 63,000 jobs. In comparison, the effect of commercial fishing for the same species sought by anglers generated approximately $528 million to Costa Rica’s gross domestic product. Commercial fishing contributed $68.6 million in tax revenue and created 57,000 jobs.
“We have already had the opportunity to present the results of this study to the incoming vice president and minister of tourism,” said Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation. “And we will be making a formal presentation to a wider cross sector of government and business leaders this summer. The leadership in Costa Rica had no idea that their country receives more benefits from a sustainable recreational harvest than from the subsidized excessive effort in the commercial fishery.” Read more... (964 words, 3 images, estimated 3:51 mins reading time)
Mike Jones displays this 100lb plus trophy Rooster Fish, but not after a 45 minute battle, out of Playa del Coco
Fishing often seems to take its cue from the Longfellow poem/nursery rhyme that most Americans and Canadians growing up in the 1950s and 1960s (and before) know: ‘… when she was good, she was very, very good, but when she was bad she was horrid’.
The final spring months off most of Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, especially the Central Pacific (Quepos/Manuel Antonio, Los Sueños/Jacó) and North Pacific (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Papagayo) was exactly like that, either really up or really down. During one of the up phases, for example, Jamie Casey, owner of the 38ft Macushla out of Los Sueños with Captain Johnny Cerpas, called me to enthusiastically report that her clients raised an incredible 47 sails on a full day charter, releasing an arm-wrenching 25.
Playas del Coco
Mike Jones fishing with Captain Jimbo Lopez from Albacora Sportfishing Tours caught this huge Rooster fish weighing over 100lbs. He was using a PowerRod by Shakespear, Daiwa Spinning Reel (model 4500BL Regal Z), with 20 pound test line and it took him 45 minutes to bring it in. Read more... (738 words, 2 images, estimated 2:57 mins reading time)
Nice sailfish caught by Rich Scussell out of Costa Rica's Los Suenos Marina
Even though I’m not the youngest guy on the block, I can still come up with some nifty high-tech ideas to promote the captains we work with, fishing in Costa Rica in general — and naturally, my Fish Costa Rica and Americana Sportfishing companies. It’s happening on Twitter where we now upload Costa Rica Fishing Reports by the hour and day.
Up to the hour/day Twitter fishing reports from our Captains
Repeat client Rick Scussell was here in-mid July to fish a half day inshore with Captain Oli Siquiera on the 27-foot Magalita and then a full day offshore with Captain Jerry on the 26-foot Predator, both boats out of Los Sueños Marina
He wrote me just before sending these photos: “Best yet, caught and released a big sail. Jerry is great, wants to book for March.” Rick has pushed his Costa Rica fishing trip a bit forward since he wrote that: he’ll be fishing two days on the Predator in February when the world-class sail bite off the Central Pacific coast (Quepos and Jaco/Los Sueños) should be at its peak. Read more... (309 words, 3 images, estimated 1:14 mins reading time)
Americana SportFishing's Richard Krug (top middle) and his buddies fished in Golfito with Bobby McGuinness in late June, 2009.
My freezer is full after a great Golfito fishing trip!
At least once or twice a year I extract my butt from my comfortable chair in my Americana Sportfishing office in San José and go fishing.
I hadn’t been in Golfito for a dog’s age, so I rounded up buddies Dan Corcoran, a retired Dade County firefighter on one of his four/five trips down here each year, primarily to golf; George Wright, a Phoenix trust lawyer who divides his time between there and San José trying to do as little as possible in both places; and Josh Moore, the baby of the foursome, who is now building what he hopes will become the premier gringo watering hole in Santa Ana where I live, just outside San José, once it’s completed by football season.
This will fill Richard's freezer with meat, and keep him happy for the next few months. Read more... (528 words, 2 images, estimated 2:07 mins reading time)
Tarpon are hitting hard on Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast
They’re all planning to be back in October to fish for tarpon on the Caribbean side with Costa Rica’s ‘tarpon king’, Captain Eddie Brown. Marcel LeHouillier from London, Ontario and his buddy Don Roussy spent three days in Tortuguero fishing with Eddie a couple of weeks ago and had a ball.
They caught lots of tarpon on the 22-foot Bull Shark, and Marcel even gave me sh*t in jest for making a phone call to him (via Eddie’s cell phone) on the afternoon of their last day, momentarily interrupting his concentration. Seems he and Don had a bet on as to who would catch the most fish, and they were tied at the time I called. Marcel said that if he lost a fish because of that call, I’d have to pay off the bet for him.
Up in Costa Rica’s North Pacific it’s been great as well. Jeff Bridge and his son fished a full day offshore with Captain José Asdrubal López on the 27-foot Outcast out of Tamarindo, and tallied a large sail, a dorado and a tuna. Two days later they were out with Captain Gerald Ruíz on the 22-foot Rainbow Runner for a half day inshore, and caught roosters, grouper and mackerel. Read more... (524 words, 1 image, estimated 2:06 mins reading time)
