It's been a pretty good February. For the first time in a bit, we can't complain. If the U.S. (and elsewhere as well) economy is to be judged by the number of inquiries and bookings that have come into FishCostaRica and Americana Sportfishing so far this month, the overall upturn is not too far around the corner. Let's hope the good February continues throughout the year.

Fishing has been good also; not quite as spectacular as last February, when over a two-week period, boats out of Los Sueños Marina in the Central Pacific were raising and releasing more marlin than sails, but nobody is complaining too much, although it's been spotty inshore on the Central Pacific. There are sails like this 130lb beauty (right) caught 20 miles out, south-east of Los Sueños, marlin and dorado offshore all along the Pacific coast, from Papagayo in the north to Golfito and Puerto Jiménez in the south, while anglers who enjoy inshore fishing are hooking their fair share of roosters, snapper, mackerel and barracuda, although not as many as they would like.

Speaking of barracuda, that's a species most anglers overlook because they are not all that common or super big here in Costa Rica. Having said this, Captain Bobby McGuinness, who fishes out of Golfito in the South Pacific on the 37ft Cazador, recently submitted four world records to the International Game Fish Association for barracuda caught on light tackle.

Bobby is pretty well set for February, but once mid-March rolls around, he has lots of open dates. The marlin season begins down in the South Pacific mid- to end of April, as soon as the light rains move in. So if you're considering a Costa Rican fishing vacation with marlin as your target in April-May-June (one of Bobby's clients released this marlin — left — after a long fight), call us toll-free now — 1-800-407-9438, 1-800-399-8532, 1-866-978-5198 — or e-mail us.

We work with world-class American and local captains in every Costa Rica fishing destination: Rick Morrow in Papagayo on the 35ft Fish Tale II; Sonny Kocis or Rolando in Flamingo and Carillo on the 31ft Wet Ass II; Randy Wilson in Tamarindo on the 38ft Talking Fish; Johnny Cerpas on the 38ft Macushla, Bill Kieldsen on the 35ft Sailfish and Dave Mothershead on the 32ft Miss-Behav'in in Los Sueños; Bill Gannon on the 33ft Unique and Dale Weir on the 36ft Blue Water III in Quepos; Mark Corn on the 31ft Incomunicado in Puerto Jiménez; the above-mentioned Bobby McGuinness; and let's not forget Eddie Brown in Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado on the 22ft Bull Shark over on the Caribbean side.

For every one of these guys I named there are at least five others I didn't include for space reasons but probably should have, fine Costa Rican fishing captains who know both how to catch fish and how to look after our clients. So to make sure you fish with the best, call us toll-free now — 1-800-407-9438, 1-800-399-8532, 1-866-978-5198 — or e-mail us, and we'll hook you up with the top captains now fishing in Costa Rica on one-day charters or on complete Costa Rica fishing vacations featuring land and air transport, 'angler-friendly' hotels and whatever other recreational activities you choose.

Before I sign off, let me remind you that FishCostaRica and Americana Sportfishing founder Richard Krug is now concentrating his attention on developing some pretty impressive properties on the Pacific side, one with spectacular ocean views overlooking Playa Hermosa just below Jacó/Los Sueños in the Central Pacific (photo, above right), and one at Lomas Coronado on the beautiful south Pacific coast south of Dominical (photo, left), which thanks to the new paved stretch of the coastal highway, is just over an hour south of Quepos.

Both these areas are among the brightest spots in the Costa Rica real estate market. If you are at all interested in acquiring a slice of Paradise — that's what we call these properties — give us a call at or e-mail us. I'll put you in contact with Richard and he can tell you all about Hermosa and Lomas Coronado. And when you come down here for your next Costa Rica fishing trip, set aside a day and we'll take you for a visit.

We also have many high-end listings in the San José area, especially the west-end areas of Santa Ana and Escazú which have, over the past dozen years, become the place to live for expats. If you are thinking of buying a Costa Rica luxury home, now is the time, as prices have stabilized over the past year — but once the economy gets moving again, they won't stay that way. In the meantime, tight lines.

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