Zancudo Lodge - Fishing Report 2

Fishing Report 12 JULY 07

Among our guests these past two weeks, 2 first timers to The Zancudo Lodge, – Floridians Dave & Debra STOWELL, and two ‘returnees’ from Texas: Paul and Deborah WALLACE.

The STOWELLS started off their fishing adventure at a fairly leisurely first day; we suspect the spectacular scenery around here kept their focus anywhere but the water, and they came in with but one 25 pound snapper for the dinner table.
Not so on Day Two: their tally included 5 grouper, all in the 15 to 25 pound range, a couple of Jack Crevelly, a hammerhead shark, two black tip sharks, and a lone Rooster.
Day Three saw them reel in ten Groupers, another hammerhead shark, a nice mackerel, and about a half dozen Dorado.
And from Day Four on – well – seems, they let nothing get away: anything with fins was fair game, and their take for the rest of their visit included a dozen more Groupers, 1 yellow tail snapper, a moray eel, 29 Dorado, some topping the scales in the low thirties, 8 yellow Fin Tuna, 3 Rooster Fish, and 3 Wahoo. Not one of the better weeks for billfish, they did score a Marlin, their first, but they let a couple of sailfish get away before you could be claimed as ‘official releases’.
The STOWELLS were fishing ‘conventional gear’, but rumor has it that Dave tried his hand at ‘fly fishing’…..and scored a Pelican! Sounds like he took the ‘fly’ implication a little too literally……

Paul and Deborah WALLACE had their sights set on our splendid inshore fishery, - unfortunately, they headed ‘inshore’ a bit sooner than they might have: you see, getting off the local airplane over at “Golfito International” the WALLACEs got ‘hooked’ by an eager beaver taxi driver who ‘hi-jacked’ them before our regular driver had a chance. Although they did enjoy the hour’s care ride through our lush jungles, they were relieved to ‘come out of the woods’ and back to where they could actually see water.
Neither of the ‘TAXI-WALLACEs’ as we call them now, had ever caught a Rooster Fish. Captain JAVIER did a great job making up for last time: – took them straight to his special “Rooster Rock”, and they came away with bragging rights for a couple of very nice fish in the forty pound category on their very first day out!

And it didn’t end there! All in all, during three action packed days there was nary a species they did not catch: Snappers, Spanish Mackerel, African Pompano, more Roosters, a half dozen Groupers, some Amberjack well up in the forties, and even a dozen or so Yellow Fin Tuna to keep us in fresh Sashimi throughout their visit.

Did I say….there was nary a species they did not catch???
See foryourself…….[scroll down]

Fishing Report 12 JUN 07

Although we had but a relatively modest number of anglers out fishing, we had quite a week!

BRANDON ESENTHER and his buddy CHRIS took some time out to celebrate their recent graduation from Medical School to try their hands at deep sea fishing, and they did ‘graduate’ in those efforts, too:
Between the two of them they released a sail fish, a couple of Rooster Fish, and they did bring home dinner in the form of a Dorado well up in the thirty pound category.

WOODY DIERLAM, brought his wife and family, EMILY, CHRIS and NICHOLAS to spend a few days with us for some R&R, Surfing, and of course, some fishing. They did well in the first two departments, but we’re sorry to say, the fishing was a bit on the slow side.
Actually, they did hook a 450-pounder right at our docks! Thank God they had the good sense to let him go – ‘he’ was a 14 foot crocodile!
All in all, they had a great time and they’ll be back next January!

No doubt, the top awards for last week go to Ms. THEDA LITTLE ! Not only did she keep us well fed with daily contributions to the dinner table ranging from mid sized Snappers, Jacks and Pompano, to Dorados of nearly 40 pounds……NOPE…..our star angler this week recorded no fewer than THREE NEW WORLD RECORDS!
One on Fly, with a Mullet Snapper; the other two on conventional gear with two Flat-Headed Catfish of 2.2 and 3.4 pounds. With THEDA those things are not ‘an accident’; you see, she’s been in the IGFA’s top ten listings for some time, currently being rated THIRD in both the conventional and fly divisions!
Rumor has it that Ms. LITTLE is already scheming to return for more, and we understand on her next trip she’s going to bring her own cheering section: her husband, who is an avid fisherman in his own right.

Fishing Report - March, 19 2007

Its been a rough year for tuna due to the warm water. Finally a cow was brought to our docks. 310lb Big Eye caught by Ray Kasel of Denver. Captain John Olsen said " we hooked the fish at 11am it was a 4 hour fight when it was over the boat was over 2 miles from when we first hooked up. Then the fish expired and took another 25 minute to get it to the boat." We are very excited at the lodge. Our first 300+ tuna since last year. We have 4 boats out today hoping for the same luck.

This past week has been another good week for us here at The Zancudo Lodge with some great fishing and company. Although we’ve had fewer boats we are still pulling in some nice fish.
This week’s catch has included:
3 Marlin (200lb, 250lb and 300lb)
30 Sailfish
3 Wahoo
6 Dorado

Here is a picture of Jack with his, tagged and ready to go, Marlin.

Fishing Report - March,12 2007

We’ve had a great week here at the Lodge with many of our guests catching Sailfish and Marlin, some for the first time, plenty of Dorado some Grouper and a 280lb Thresher Shark.
Over the week we’ve caught 93 Sailfish, 2 Marlin, 20 Dorado, a Thresher Shark, 12 Grouper and two small Yellowfin Tuna.

Fishing Report - February, 12 2007

This whole thing started a few month's back for me, even before the fundraiser dinner. Chris kept trying to talk me into going to Costa Rica to Gregg and Joe's new place. Having nothing to compare this trip to I didn't know what to expect. Gregg met us at the airport in Golfito and we were wisked away by boat to the lodge where a great breakfast was waiting. A short nap and my wife and I took a river tour with some of the other guests, mostly Coastsiders.

After trading shots with Chris for a good part of the night 5 am came way too early. I could still taste the tequila from the night before and had to skip breakfast. Off at 6 to make bait and out for the search. Our guide Poti was very quiet and soft spoken with what sounded like a Jamacian accent. After raising a few fish and screwing up with the live bait I managed to get 2 fish, one on the troll gear and one on bait handed off by Poti Day 2 was the same routine but I felt way better. Never the less Poti wouldn't let me touch a bait rod We managed 2 fish apiece. Day 3 was inshore where Ed Olson (my boat partner) caught a nice rooster and a couple of snapper. I caught a needle fish. I finally asked Poti if he was shy and he said "no why do you ask"? I said you're sooo quiet and don't appear to be having a good time. He replied that if we don't catch fish he is not happy. I told him we go out for tuna 50 mi. in crap conditions and don't catch any and are still happy That broke the ice. We chilled for awhile and ate lunch before heading in. The next day was our last and we were back offshore for more sails.

I got the first hookup on bait and redeemed myself.
The fish was hanging off the boat about 15 ft. after a short fight and Poti looked at me and said "are you going to reel that fish in or what" with an ear to ear grin There were many highlights to the trip, the food, especially yhe sandwiches on the boat, the staff, the flat water, the fish, but I think the best part for me was getting to hang out with Ed who I have looked up to for many years. Many thanks to Chris for putting this trip together. Thanks to Gregg and Joe for their gracious hospitality (and the 23 year old rum) I'll remember it for the rest of my life, or at least until next year when we go back.

Our guide Poti

Fishing Report - January 12 2007

This past week has been very good for us here at The Lodge both for fishing and company. The Music Maker Foundation arrived with their annual tournament, musicians and music festival. They all put on a fantastic show both on and off the water.

On the water, to date including the first day of John Sisak’s group, we’ve managed to touch the leader to:
196 Sailfish
3 Blue Marlin
56 Dorado
20 Rooster up to 40lb
3 Yellowfin Tuna up to 40lb

Off the water, the musicians put on a fantastic show and attracted an estimated 700 people to the festival. All profits go to the Music Maker Foundation which helps struggling musicians gain a foothold. Our local community also benefits with the extra people that the festival brings and the impromptu shows put on around the village by the musicians. This year’s headliners were Taj Mahal, Adolphus Bell, Freddie King and Mudcat. We all had a fantastic time and are looking forward to their visit next year for an even bigger show.

Tight Lines.

Fishing Report - January, 2 2007

Camara Group and his group of 32 anglers have just left the lodge. They fished four days. The first day was a little slow but things seem to pick up as the week progressed which lead to another group of happy fisherman. We saw rooster fish as big as 65lb and some very large sailfish topping 135lb. They already have there days picked out for next year. The weather has been great sunny 85 degrees.

Totals    Sailfish   126
              Dorado   54
              Jacks    15
            Tuna        8
            Rooster    54
              Needle   6
              Snapper 12
              Marlin      2 both 250lb range