Costa Rica
We had a trip planned for Costa Rica this January and I put two Roosterfish charters on the books to try again for one of my bucket list species. I decided on two because last time one day wasn't enough and I wanted the extra in case the first day didn't work out.
I won't go into great detail here about the remainder of the trip, but Costa Rice wildlife and jungles are amazing.
Our yard was filled with Agoutis.
Three different species of monkeys regularly came by the house as well.
Some cool crabs from Manuel Antonio.
Almost as if it was destined to happen, the first day charter I took out for Roosterfish was a total bust. Not a single fish was caught the entire day. I honestly think this is the first charter I have ever been on where nothing at all was captured. Usually, I will get something or help with catching bait. I was now down to my last charter and last chance again to get the Roosterfish. This would be my 3rd charter specifically booked for this species.
Unlike the day before, we started off catching bait and I hooked several Pacific Thread Herring (Opisthonema libertate) and added them to the live well. If nothing else, at least I had caught one new species.
Species #316 - Pacific Thread Herring (Opisthonema libertate)
After trolling the beach for a few hours we finally got a hit and I pulled in species #317 - the Pacific Tripletail (Lobotes pacifica).
Not long afterwards I got a good solid hit and, after a couple jumps and a very nice fight, I finally pulled in species #318 and bucket list species #2 off my list - the Roosterfish (Nematistius pectoralis)!
It felt great to finally knock this one off the list and I told the captain mission accomplished and anything could happen now.
Over the course of the next few hours I landed the following species:
#319 - Longjaw Leatherjack (Oligoplites altus)
Pacific Crevalle Jack (Caranx caninus)
#320 - Pacific Sierra (Scomberomorus sierra)
Pacific Sierra was one of the species I lost at the boat in Acapulco back in 2017, so it was nice to finally get another chance at one.
To end the day we went trolling back at the spot with the sardine bait ball and just as the day was ending I hooked into a heavy bite and reeled in what on any other day would have been the catch of the day.
Species #321 - the Whitefin Weakfish or Whitefin Corvina (Cynoscion albus).
I caught 7 species on the day and 6 of them were new. I also got my target of Roosterfish and a bunch of awesome species. It was a great day out and a great trip. 2024 is off to a good start.











