If you’ve been with us for a few years you’ll remember that 2014, 2015, and 2016 were consecutive years of record breaking billfish numbers here in Costa Rica, reinforcing the nickname “billfish capital of the world.” The 2017 season gave pause as the billfish numbers were the lowest we’d seen in a decade, and without a concrete answer as to ‘why’ that happened some people secretly worried (not me, other people…). Most assumed it was just a fluke year, but the uneasiness wouldn’t be fully erased until we were back thick into the billfish again. In my last newsletter I mentioned the insane dorado catches of November and predicted that the marlin wouldn’t be too far behind – turns out that was pretty accurate! Read on for our Costa Rica Fishing Report – December 2017.

Last month featured one of the best marlin bites I’ve ever seen with blues, blacks, and stripeys all being caught on a daily basis from Los Suenos and Quepos.  We also had the most grand slams (any three billfish released on the same day) I’ve probably ever seen in a single month.  What’s even better is that in addition to all the billfish, the dorado and tuna are still around so most anglers are catching their trophies AND dinner in the same day. The peak marlin months here are traditionally Dec-Jan-Feb, so if this is any indicator of what is to come we are looking forward to another spectacular year in 2018!

 
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Below is our day-by-day Costa Rica Fishing Report – December 2017.

Dec 6 – 36′ Good Day Too – 3 blue marlin, 1 sailfish, 2 dorado, 1 yellow-fin tuna
Dec 9 – Spanish Fly -1 Blue Marlin, 2 Sailfish, 6 yellow fin tuna,10 mahi mahi
Dec 8 – Epic – 2 blue marlin, 1 sailfish and kept 3 dorado and 3 tunas
Dec 10 – Epic – 1 blue marlin, 5 sailfish, several nice dorados and a yellowfin tuna
Dec 12 – Geaux Fly – 1 blue marlin, 1 sailfish, 7 Tunas, 6 mahis
Dec 14 – Hoos Your Daddy – SLAM 1 for 2 blue marlin, 1 for 2 striped marlin, 5 for 10 sailfish, 10 mahi and several YFTs
Dec 14 – Sea Fly – 2 sailfish, 12 Mahi, and 6 yellow-fin
Dec 16 – Straight Up with a Twist – 1/2 Blue Marlin, 2 Sailfish, 10 Yellow-fin Tuna
Dec 20 – Circle Hook – 1 blue marlin, 3 sails, 3 YFT, 2 dorado
Dec 21 – Captain Tom’s – SLAM 2 sails, 1 blue marlin, and 1 black marlin and a Mahi
Dec 22 – Predator – SLAM 2 blue marlin, 1 striped Marlin, 2 sailfish, 2 Dorados.
Dec 23 – Spanish Fly – SLAM 2 Blue Marlin, 1 Striped Marlin, 3 Sailfish and 3 Mahi
Dec 24 – Open Fly – SLAM 1 Blue Marlin, 1 Striped Marlin, 1 Sail, 7 YFT, 2 dorado
Dec 25 – Open Fly – SLAM 2 Black Marlin, 1 Blue Marlin and 1 Sailfish
Dec 25 – Miss B – 3 for 3 on Blue Marlin, 3 for 3 on Sails and 3 for 3 on Mahi
Dec 26 – Tres Amigos – 8 for 9 sails and 1 mahi
Dec 27 – Spanish Fly – 1 Blue Marlin, 5 Sailfish, 2 YFT and 1 dorado
Dec 28 – Miss B – SLAM 1 Blue Marlin, 1 Black Marlin, 4 sailfish
Dec 28 – Captain Tom’s – SLAM 6 sailfish,1 blue marlin, 1 black marlin and a dorado
Dec 29 – Monkey Shine – 1 blue marlin and 4 sailfish
Dec 30 – Captain Tom’s – SLAM 1 black marlin, 1 blue marlin, 3 sails
Dec 31 – Spanish Fly – 2 blue marlin, 1 sailfish and 2 Mahi Mahi
Dec 31 – Good Day Too – 2 sails + 2 blue marlin + 1 yellow fin tuna for dinner