Our focus tends to center on the Pacific side, since most anglers come to Costa Rica for billfish, tuna, dorado, roosters, etc., and it's the Pacific coast where these fish abound. For instance, there is a world-class sail bite off the Central Pacific coast between January and April, one reason (aside from the really excellent weather) why this period is the busiest Costa Rican fishing season, and also the site of several major IGFA-sponsored international billfish tournaments.

Many of the boats that FishCostaRica and Americana Sportfishing charter compete in these prestigious tournaments which usually are held out of Los Sueños Marina in January, February and March. Captains such as Johnny Cerpas (38ft Macushla), Daniel Espinoza (42ft Spanish Fly) and James Smith (42ft Dragin Fly) are just three of the many world-class captains we charter who have distinguished themselves at these IGFA events.

Costa Rica's Caribbean coast, however, has its own lure: tarpon are among the world's top game fish; these prehistoric fish give anglers, pound-for pound, the best action one can hope for. Landing a 95lb tarpon is the equivalent of pulling a 1949 Buick from the bottom of the sea.

The tarpon season is now underway, and usually lasts through mid-January, with an added bonus of a big snook bite from November-January. Carl Krepper and Peter Makaus fished last month on the 22ft Bull Shark with Captain Eddie Brown. Eddie (seen left in the small photo below) is considered to be Costa Rica's top tarpon fisherman/guide, and he didn't disappoint.

"Carl and I returned last night from Costa Rica", Peter wrote. "What a wonderful trip. Both of us want to thank you so much for all of your trouble arranging everything... I cannot praise Captain Eddie enough. A true delight to fish with, he never stopped trying and did he find the fish (five tarpon and five jack on one of the days)! Just a fun and enjoyable trip. Hope we can do it again sometime in the future".

You too can fish with Eddie if you have both the inclination and a few days to spare between now and mid January. Call us toll-free now — 1-800-407-9438, 1-800-399-8532, 1-866-978-5198 — or e-mail us and we'll send you up to Tortuguero on the Caribbean side near the Nicaraguan border for some awesome tarpon fishing, both jigging 300-500 yards offshore, and trolling the incredibly beautiful canals and lagoons.

Meanwhile, at the very opposite end of the spectrum, the South Pacific near the Panamanian border, Captain Bobby McGuinness, chosen world's top captain of 2006 by the IGFA, continues to show why he holds more IGFA world records than any other captain now fishing in Costa Rica. A couple of weeks ago he took Ed Rymut and his wife Pat for a day inshore on the 37ft Cazador, and by the time they came back that afternoon their one-day haul looked like this: 12 roosters (one big one seen above left, and another at at left), seven jack, one pompano and one albacore.

Ed also wrote: "Had a huge red snapper to the boat that broke off. Pat and I could barely lift our arms... we will definitely be fishing with you guys again".

Bobby is so well-respected internationally that one of the Gucci family invited him to the Dominican Republic for the last week of August until the end of September to try to set some world records on their boat. I'm sure Bobby will have many tales to once he's back. I promise you some of the best ones. BREAKING NEWS: Bobby's daughter had emergency surgery, so he has put off the Dominican trip to a later date.

The billfish season starts in earnest in the South Pacific at the begining of November, so if you want to go out with Bobby for some of the best Costa Rica fishing you can hope for, call toll-free now — 1-800-407-9438, 1-800-399-8532, 1-866-978-5198 — or e-mail us. Bobby McGuinness is just one of the many international tournament-class captains in the country; Americana Sportfishing and FishCostaRica will hook you up with the top captains fishing in Costa Rica, no matter where: the North Pacific (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Papagayo); the Central Pacific (Los Sueños/Jacó, Quepos/Manuel Antonio); the South Pacific (Golfito, Puerto Jiménez) or the Caribbean. Don't wait! I look forward to hearing from you shortly.

P.S.: Last-minute news: David Via and his friends, fishing with Captain James Smith on the Dragin Fly over the weekend, had a fabulous trip. Raised 14 sails, brought six to the boat, and then at the very end of the day found a school of hungry mid-size tuna and landed 17. Great fun!

UP-TO-THE-MINUTE FISHING REPORTS (LATEST 20 REPORTS) EVERY DAY FROM OUR CAPTAINS VIA TWITTER FEEDS. FOR ALL UPDATES GO TO COSTA RICA FISH REPORTS:

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Where to fish in Costa Rica