There has been some really great fishing on both coasts of Costa Rica. Even yours truly fished a half day for 'meat' out of Tamarindo on the North Pacific coast with one of the country's best known captains, Randy Wilson. But that's for later.

Repeat client Charlie Anderson and two of his buddies, both first-timers here, fished three days for tarpon and snook out of Tortuguero on the Caribbean side on the Bull Shark with Captain Eddie Brown, the 'tarpon king' of Costa Rica. A couple of days after a really successful trip, Charlie sent me this photo (left) of a huge tarpon plus a short note:

"Our trip to Tortuga Lodge and the fishing with Eddie Brown was, again, a great experience for our group. Rough seas kept us out of the ocean on the third day, but the first two days were almost non stop with sábalo (tarpon) on our lines. The third day was not wasted, although we didn't get the snook we were after, our journey into the jungle was a memorable experience.

"I'm attaching a shot of my traveling buddies with one of the monsters that we got to the boat. It was their first time in Costa Rica and I'm sure you will have many return clients from the three of us over the years." Thanks, Charlie, and we look forward to seeing you here again.

Dan Rutledge had a monster day on the Central Pacific side fishing with Captain Rich Binkus on the R & J out of Los Sueños Marina. Rich called me a couple of days ago saying he had 'screwed up' — Dan and his two friends had initially considered a second day, but declined after bringing 28 dorado to the boat on the first day, saying they were 'too tired' to go out again.

Mike Jackson and his two friends couldn't complain either. Fishing the week before out of Los Sueños on the Tres Amigos with Captain Johnny Cerpas, they not only matched Dan's total of 28 dorado, but added three sails and a black marlin as well!

Now for me. After talking to Randy, who has been fishing here since 1975, the last dozen years or so on the Talking Fish, we decided to target cabrilla (spotted grouper) inshore and dorado further out. I now have my freezer here in San José stuffed with cabrilla fillets (can't remember exactly how many we caught) and the 'meat' from two mid-size dorado, one of which is featured in this great photo — that's me (right)! And as an added, unexpected bonus, we even brought a 300lb blue marlin to the boat.

I can't always promise days like these, but you're not going to get the chance to enjoy one if you don't book. Call me toll free — 1-800-634-0012, 1-800-399-8532, 1-866-978-5198 — or e-mail me here at Americana Sportfishing/FishCostaRica and I'll set you up with the best captains fishing in Costa Rica. And remember, as of January, the big sail bite begins off the Central Pacific coast (Los Sueños and Quepos). The calendars of our world-class captains are filling up quickly, and rooms at the 'fisherman friendly' hotels we book are being snapped up also, so get in touch now.