Hot Action in Costa Rica -- Laptew Photo Essay

[Fish_Eye]

Mike Laptew's
Crocodile Bay Chronicles

My recent trip to Crocodile Bay Lodge in Costa Rica was another wild adventure.

The first day I fished inshore I was lucky enough to land 30 and 50 pound rooster fish, play with a fair size jack, and shoot all these images:



The big rooster fell for a live sardine that was worked up current from a rock pile south of Matapalo Rock.




My good friend Captain Carlos broke the ice with this tasty snapper.



The boat approached the edge of the reef and the line started to peel off the Shimano TLD 15/30S reel. The circle hook sporting sardine had been inhaled and the rooster was now running with the current.



I increased the drag and applied pressure with a slow lift of the stick. The 6.6 Calcutta rod bend over abruptly and the first run demonstrated the power, speed and spirit of this magnificent game fish. It was 20 minutes before I could convince it to show itself near the surface…and this was at some great distance from the boat. As the winds started to blow from an approaching storm front, I danced around the deck trying to gain line as it stubbornly circled under the boat. After a host of short, powerful runs, this bulldog of a fish finally came to the boat. I had taken a number of these great fish up to 30 pounds in the past and they had more than earned my respect. When they get this size they can punish you.



The week I was there, Don Laruffa caught and released a 67 and 50 pound rooster. Fish up to an estimated 90 pounds were taken at Crocodile Bay this season.

This area off Matapalo Point is home to huge roosters, trophy cubera snapper, monster amberjacks, and just about anything that swims in the Pacific.



Continued on next post....

[Fish_Eye]

Not far from this beach, a goliath grouper weighing 385 pounds was taken out of surf – with a hand line! It took the local fisherman five and a half hours to haul it in.



We made the 10 mile run back to Point Arenitis where we anticipated a late afternoon bite…we weren’t disappointed.



This jack leaped out of the water and crashed on top of my bait.



It looked more like the hit you would expect on a surface popper than on a live sardine.




Immediately after taking this picture of my daughter Jennifer, on her horseback tour of the beach, I connected with another rooster.







Where else can you watch your family ride off into the sunset and then land a rooster fish – all within sight of the dock!



Location, location, location!

And this was only my first day of fishing – “Pura Vida” as they say in Costa Rica.

I’m returning in May and this time I’m heading up an expedition for those anglers interested in an extreme fishing safari. We will be doing a lot of exploratory fishing and will be able to fish at daybreak and at sunset – something the lodge has never offered before. We are even arranging for ferry service to allow surf fishing and fly fishing from shore. All this at a discounted rate.

Wait till you read about my offshore exploits…to be continued.

If you’re interested in joining me on this first of its kind fishing trip, check out the details at http://www.crocodilebay.com/laptew.html and please note that the dates are May 11 through May 18.

Let’s hook up at Crocodile Bay.

Mike

[Slipknot]

Now THAT is a fishing vacation!
Glad to see you had a great time Mike, I'm envious. You sure know where and when to go fishing
Congats on the killer rooster.

[TheSpecialist]

Excellent, the family is having as much fun as you are.

[Fish_Eye]

Hey Slipknot,

I can't wait to hear about your adventures in the Keys. That's the place that first opened my eyes to how different fishing could be in a tropical environment...and right here in the good old USA. You going to have a blast. Hook up a big tarpon for me! Or should I say jig up a big herring for me.

Specialist,

This was the first time in quite a while where the whole family could vacation together...it was the best.

I'm looking forward to my next trip back in May and hope a couple of Internet buddies can make the trip.

Mike

[JohnR]

Those are some nice pics Mike. Personally, I'll be celebrating May at Buckeye Brook and a few other undisclosed locations...

[Fish_Eye]

John,

I hear you loud and clear.

The more I travel, the more I learn to appreciate what we are blessed with right here in the Ocean State.

Spring is my favorite season in RI and buckies and bass make fishing our local waters a whole lot of fun. You can bet I'll be filming lots of herring getting assailed by hungry linesiders. I'll be video taping giant fluke off the Vineyard and I even look forward to fly fishing for shad.

Fortunately for me, this is my business and May is comprised of 31 days...8 of which I'll be spending chasing marlin, sails, roosters and snappers.

If nothing else I hope to bring home some footage that will make any angler smile...maybe even go WOW!

I can't wait to start seeing the pictures and reading the posts about our own striped-bass.com anglers. I would guess that we might even see a striper pic or two from over this weekend.

Seize the day. Go fishing!



Mike

[Fisherwoman]

Mike, that is awesome to say the least, great Pictures. What a beautiful place to slam some big ones. Baitcaster & I would love to do a trip like that. He has said many times that when we can afford it we are headed to Costa Rica for some Roosters. Can't do it this year, too bad would love to do that group trip, sounds like a blast.

Did you get the opportunity to fish from shore when you were there for the Rooster. Was just wonder if you did what type of gear you used and how productive it was?

[Fish_Eye]

Fisherwoman and Baitcaster,

You would both love Costa Rica -- who wouldn't!?!?

I've been to this lodge 5 times now and the only night we tried surf fishing was Easter night last year. It was a star filled sky and the dark sand beach was being pounded by set after set of big waves that lit up the beach. As each wave crashed into the shoreline it would set off more fire in the water than I've seen anywhere else before. Even the offshore reef would light up like a faint neon sign that was being turned on underwater. Very cool to look at but near impossible to fish.

On the right day, or night, there are enless locations that would be suitable for working any type of NE surf fishing outfits. They routinely catch roosters up to 50 pounds with hand lines from the beach!

The fact is, you NEVER know what's going to be just off the beach. There were up to 8 whale sharks in the back bay, there was a 385 pound grouper taken off the shore, and I filmed killer whales just of the beach.







We would back the boat down, right onto the beach, next to the outflow of a small river and then pitch live baits.



You might be able to work this area even better from shore -- getting there is another story.

[Fisherwoman]

Fish-Eye, that is just so cool, what a sight that must be seeing even whales in that close. Some day we will get there, hopefully sooner than later!!! Thanks for the info and the great shots!!!

[Swimmer]

Mike,

I am curious if one goes wading along the surf and up into the local rivers if one would need to have protection because we are gringos. Of course Costa Rica is supposedly a haven for vietnam era vets who go to live there on their VA pensions because its supposed to be cheap. Looks great.

Hey fish, bite this!

[Fish_Eye]

Swimmer,

The Ticos and Ticas (name for the local Costa Rican people) are great and the many American expatriates are as laid back as anyone living in paradise would be. I'm seldom on a plane where I don't here someone saying, "We're looking at property in CR." Then there's the folks that go there and never leave.

There are some rivers where you might want to only wade at low tide because otherwise the rivers are loaded with hammerhead sharks during high water. But come to think of it, they do a pretty good job of stretching line....hmmmm, shark fishing the rivers...sounds like video material.

I would never advise anyone to visit a foreign country and then simply go out on their own and fish anywhere. Time is too valuable and life is too short. If you fish out of great lodges like Croc Bay, you wind up saving time, minimizing effort and maximizing the fun you're going to have.

Mike

[schoolie monster]

Mike,

I was looking for an old post and found this. I can't believe I missed this post. This is great stuff.

Now that's a jack. And roosters are so darn cool. Excuse me while I go pull my little jack crevalle picture off my post. Am I correct that they have big tarpon and snook down there as well?

What an absolutely beautiful place. I'm sure I could convince the wife to take this trip. Maybe in a couple years...

Can't wait to see more.

[Fish_Eye]

schoolie,

They have BIG roosters there -- in fact, just two weeks ago Babe Winkelman's wife caught a 106 pound monster...6 pounds off the all-tackle record! They have good snook fishing and recently they discovered and caught some of the first tarpon on the Pacific side -- no doubt making the trip by way of the Panama Canal. Babe jumped 150 pound specimen just last week.

I'll be heading up an expedition there in May and hope to report back some interesting photos of leviathan size fish.
Mike