presented by:
 

Greetings!

    

This is Craig Sutton with the Costa Rica fishing report for July. We knew that this month's clients were heavy hitters and they did not disappoint!

Our new friend Captain Sergio Atanes rallied up 16 anglers from the Tampa, FL area for a whirlwind week of fishing and they absolutely rocked the inshore reefs.

Also the Good Doctors scored lots of billfish releases highlighted by a Double Marlin Release on the Wanderer.

This group features returning FishingNosara Hall of Famers Rick Blackburn and Chuck Harris, and every year the group gets bigger...these guys are dedicated to blue water bill hunting and their catches prove it!



The entire FishingNosara team is performing beyond expectations. Master Captain William and Super Mate Alex on the flagship Wanderer continue to set new records.

The battleship Discoverer has performed brilliantly with the young guns Captain David and Mate Kevin showing what they can do with all the weapons.

Captain Carlos on the Super Panga Explorer continues to coach up the next wave of FishingNosara boatman as we welcome new Mates into the craft of Extreme Panga Fishing.

The Explorer and Adventurer prove that you don't need a big boat to score big fish in Costa Rica!

There are a couple of dates open at the end of July and also August is almost booked. I'll be down there later this month to get in on the legendary August bite.

We set the world standard for summer fishing. Want proof? Check out the August 2013 reports and Late August 2013 reports and tell me that this isn't one of the world's best fisheries. 

Remember you can always check the FishingNosara Blog for daily catch updates.

If you are ready for the best action of the year, call me anytime so we can get you booked.


Tight Lines y Pura Vida!

-Craig Sutton


(904) 591-2161

[email protected]

    

FishingNosara Family Update

    

The new boat shop is built and ready for the Mega Panga Project!




The last boat shop was a valiant effort and endured the 2+ years of The Discoverer Project, but fate and time combines to destroy the tent about 10 days after the boat shipped to Costa Rica.





With the new shop in place, we are gearing up to build the biggest Panga possible in order to take Extreme Panga Fishing to a whole new level!




For those of you who enjoyed The Discoverer Project, get ready for a crazy boat build!



However we aren't just sitting around waiting...check out these fully restored 6-passenger carts set for delivery to Guiones this month.






Brian and Jamaal have performed frame-off rebuilds of four vehicles and have a few more to finish up before the new hull arrives.



Last but certainly not least, Matt had finished the final cut of The Discoverer Project Movie.

This feature-length film
is a first-of-its-kind look behind the scenes of the FishingNosara build team. Join them on the two year process of refurbishing a busted old hull into the next great Costa Rica fishing weapon. - See more at: http://fishingnosara.contentshelf.com/shop#sthash.mevqwySA.dpuf
is a first-of-its-kind look behind the scenes of the FishingNosara build team. Join us on the two year process of refurbishing a busted old hull into the next great Costa Rica fishing weapon.

We will have copies available at all our boat show appearances this season, and is also available exclusively through our online store

The store features secure encrypted credit processing and of course all the little bells and whistles you've come to expect from online shopping.

Best of all is that every piece of inventory in the online store is the EXACT same gear worn by our crews...just like our tackle, these threads have been battled-tested against extreme conditions.

Click the image above or visit the store here: FishingNosara Online Store
Catch of the Month - June 18, 2014

 

Earth-Shattering moment on the Wanderer as the Good Doctors pulled off a simultaneous Double Marlin Release!  

    

 

We have pulled off several Double Sailfish releases in the past and a few memorable Marlin/Sailfish doubles, but this marked the first true Double Marlin release of the season so far.

 

 

 

To describe the moment of the strike as 'chaotic' is an understatement; the skill of Captain William to keep these high-flying monsters from getting tangled is only rivaled by First Mate Alex' fish-handling skills to coordinate both releases.  

 

 

 

Wrangling 1000+lbs. of angry billfish at once is no small feat, but we have always said that the Wanderer is known for defying expectations.

 

 

 

 

Amazing work by the flagship and the Good Doctors!



The Adventurer is a no-holds-barred fishing machine; this 23-foot panga hull is armed with enough horsepower, sunshade, and rod holders to take big fish to the mat every time she hits the water.  

 

With all the crews on the water with Captain Sergio's group, the helm of the Adventurer was manned by our new Mate Juan Carlos; this young man has been the Mate on other boats in the area, but this was his first foray into running a boat single-handedly.   

The Adventurer didn't skipped a beat with Juan Carlos at the helm, as proved by these beefy Amberjacks pried up by the pocket knife: 

 

 

The Adventurer also delivered the goods in the form of this 30+lbs. Cubera Snapper:

 

 

Juan Carlos is running a mile a minute these days between his duties on the Adventurer and in the cockpits of the big boats...he is forming a habit of stacking up the fishbox and satisfying clients! 



Captain Carlos has accepted the promotion to be the man at the helm of his old stomping grounds on the 26-foot Explorer.

His performance on the smaller Adventurer over the last year opened our eyes Captain Carlos' skill on the water, and he is the natural choice to continue the tradition of Extreme Panga Fishing.

Captain Fico (right) still plies his craft as one of the best Mates in Garza Bay, and combined with Captain Carlos' legendary skills, the Explorer can not be stopped!

Tracy Anderson kicked off the month with this nice Cubera Snapper:
 

 

Plus a Yellowfin Tuna and a Yellowtail Snapper...that's a grand a haul!

 

 

On June 9, Sue Garcia and Beverly Lanier each scored nice Yellowfin Tuna on the Explorer. Both these fish should yield some excellent filets!

 


Steve Mullen is a tough-as-nails angler from Atlantic Beach, FL and a lifelong friend of Craig, even once serving as First Mate on the legendary Fishtastic.  

 

 

During one epic 2.5 month stretch, Craig and Steve fished 14 SKA tournaments and two major billfish tournaments, so it's no surprise that Steve signed up for 5 straight days of fishing in Nosara.

 

 

At long last he and his family have made it down to Nosara and they blistered a wide variety of inshore species with Captain Carlos on the barroom brawlin' Explorer.  

 

 

 

Yellowfin Tunas were abundant as well as an array of Rock Snappers, but the highlight was this monster Rainbow Runner:

 

 

The IGFA World Record for this species is 37 lbs. 9 oz., caught back in 1991 by angler Tom Pfleger...all I can say is good for Tom that we don't have and IGFA approved scale down here!

 

Captain Carlos also coaxed in the first Congrio of the season (left):

 

 

This oddball combination of eel and fish yields a Lobster-like filet that is arguably the best tasting thing to come out of the ocean. It also puts up a mean fight as it is the only fish in the ocean that can swim backwards.  

 

This crew had a blast and we can't wait to see them again!

 

 

Ahhh...the easy life of a charter boat Captain. Nothing but fun in the sun with cold beer, big fish, and cute ladies, right?  

 

Sounds good in theory, but in practice these guys have one of the toughest jobs around. It's especially tough when you have to get your hook back from this fish:

 

 

Captain Carlos still has all ten fingers, so we're guessing that this de-hook went without incident and the "little" shark was released.

 

Excellent work from the new crew of the baddest panga you've ever seen: the fearless Explorer!




Captain David is the fastest rising superstar in Garza Bay and has accepted the promotion to FishingNosara's newest piece of artillery, the 31-foot Discoverer.

Captain David tapped Mate Kevin (right) to stick by his side in the cockpit of the new vessel; even though he is our youngest boatman, Kevin has already shown flashes of greatness as he continues to hone his craft.

There hasn't been this much excitement around here since the launch of the venerable flagship Wanderer, and we know that Captain David has his sights set on the title of Best in the Bay. 
  

The Discoverer kicked off a great week of fishing Captain Sergio Atanes' Costa Rica Adventure group. On June 8 they scored a gaggle of excellent reef dwellers off the bottom. 

 

 

A great trio of Cubera Snappers is the perfect filet haul to keep the party going on shore.  

 

 

Bob Oliker scored this floor-sweeping Dorado with Captain David on June 17:

 

 

That's gotta be at least 60lbs. if not more. Great catch by the battleship!


June 18 was a dynamic day for the FishingNosara team. While Chuck and Rick were battling two Marlins over on the Wanderer (see Catch of the Month, above) the rest of the Good Doctors put in big work on the battleship Discoverer.  

 

 

The highlight was this MASSIVE Black Marlin which took both of the Mates to subdue.

 

 

 

Nice work by new Mate Juan Carlos on the billshot. They followed-up with a nice Sailfish release and a couple of tasty Yellowfin Tunas.  

 

 

 

Great work by Captain David on another legend-building performance.


The next day Katrisha Seata blew into town for one night, stayed at Nosara Paradise Rentals and went straight to Garza for a full day of fishing on the battleship Discoverer.  

 

The elected to stay near shore and check the bottom for reef-dwellers, and were rewarded with this mammoth Medregal:

 

 

They also scored on Yellowfin Tuna and small Dorados.

 

 

Nice haul from the fish market by Captain David and the Discoverer.

 

Captain David's rampaging ways continued on June 20. The hits have come in fast-moving waves, like this pair of wonderful Sailfish releases.  

 

 

 

The new battleship also picked up a pair of Rooster fish which were released as usual.   

 

 

A swarm of Rooster fish have hit the area around Garza Bay and Captain David has put the Discoverer neck deep in the middle of them. Check out this nice 25lbs. specimen caught on July 2:

 

 

The next day the battleship welcomed a nice family of anglers and scored a Yellowfin Tuna backed up with a meaty Mangrove Snapper:

 

 


Great month by Captain David in delivering the goods for clients big and small. The Discoverer is on the rise and we can't wait to see what she catches next!


 


The mighty Wanderer is the FishingNosara flagship and has earned the title of the top boat in the bay.

The Master Captain William brings decades of experience on these waters and the Super Mate Alex has pioneered new tactics that have turned the world of fishing in Garza on its head.

Together they have built a spotless rep for quality, safety, and results that can not be topped.

Captain Sergio Atanes is a famous fishing personality from the Tampa Bay, FL region and in addition to being a world-class charter captain, he is also the host of the most popular Spanish language fishing radio show in Florida.

 

He assembled a group of his top anglers for a full week of fishing from June 8 to June 12. The first day got off to a fast start with lots of excellent blue water action: 

 

 

 

This Sailfish release broke the ice and was a great sign of things to come. The crew nabbed this beefy 40+lbs. Yellowfin tuna fresh after the billfish release.  

 

 

 

The real highlight was this 60+lbs. Dorado. Everyone wanted a picture with this monster which took several hands for the lift.  

 

 

Great work by this posse of Captain Sergio's Costa Rica Adventurers!

 

Sergio's group of Tampa anglers have found excellent action on the inshore reefs outside Garza Bay. On June 8 the Wanderer scored this excellent specimen of Rooster Fish:

 

 

 

We released this beauty as usual, but this group didn't leave empty-handed. They got this monster Needlefish, and also released a small Dorado...c'mon back when you're 50lbs. buddy!

 


Sergio's group stayed hot on June 9! The Wanderer and Discoverer seized upon a bait ball frenzy near shore scored a ton of fun-fightin' Rainbow Runnner, some with decent size to them.

 

 

The big one of the group came late in the day as both boats were just about to pull up anchors and head for home...goes to show why you always leave a bait in the water when you're packing up!

 

 


Wayne Hopkins snagged a legendary Blue Marlin release on June 12 with the mighty Wanderer.

 

 

Wayne has fished out of Garza for years, first appearing in our fishing report in 2010 with a nice Sailfish release; on this fish Wayne's son took center stage. 

 

  

 

Great work by Captain William and First Mate Alex on this wonderful release!  

   

Clearly this massive Marlin is a new high-water mark for Mr. Hopkins, however it was not the most exciting thing to happen during his family's trip to Nosara:  

  

  

Congratulations to Wayne Hopkins and his (now larger) family! Pura vida!

Two-time FishingNosara Hall of Famers Rick Blackburn and Chuck Harris have returned to Nosara for a frenzied week of fishing starting on June 16:

 

 

The leaders of the Good Doctors got off to a great start with a fantastic pair of Sailfish releases.  

 

 

Though Rick and Chuck have bested many billfish with us, this is the first release for these new members of their group. Let's hope this is the first of many for these guys.  

 

 

Two great catches by the Good Doctors backed up by two safe releases by the Wanderer's fearless crew!


Two remained the magic number the next day (see Catch of the Month, above), but with all this billfish releasing going on, the Good Doctors almost forgot to get something to eat!

Fortunately they snagged this big Dorado on June 19:

 

This is sure to feed these big eaters for the duration of their trip...excellent hunting by the famous Wanderer.   

  

On June 29 Jacksonville's own Kirk Wurster broke the ice on a full week of fishing with this bucket-list caliber Rooster fish:

 

The mighty Wanderer proves again that she is fit for all forms of fish warfare with this excellent inshore catch. As usual this fish was released after the photograph. Great work Kirk!


The First Family of FishingNosara hit the water on July 1.

 

Daniel Shields and his sister Brooke Shields are the children of FishingNosara's only Lifetime Hall of Famer, the venerable Richmond Phipps, and they were joined by their cousins and Dan's wife Maria Yetty on the flagship Wanderer.

 

 

The highlight of the day's action was this excellent Rooster fish releases, estimated by First Mate Alex to weigh 45lbs.

 

 

Excellent catch by our great friends!

 

Every time we think that the Wanderer has peaked, Captain William and First Mate Alex put up another month of amazing fishing. Great work by the King of Garza Bay, the mighty Wanderer!


 

 

Nosara River Update
 
The Nosara River Mouth yielded an excellent bounty of big Snook this month. Javier led the way with several nice snook, with the big one weighing 33 lbs. :




Javier wasn't the only one finding success at the River Mouth.




Chimpy scored big fish all month as usual...this guy can catch some Snook!

 

Manuel also checked in at the River Mouth this month with some rocking Robalos!


 

An excellent pair of Snook were caught by Victor Matarrita:

 

   

However the best snook of the month was snared by Abraham Pigo Aguero Mora:

 

 

But also let's not forget this nice Snapper caught by Erika Montiel Noguera:

 

   

Javier and the boys from Fuppernos (Friends of the River) are on point keeping the area clean.   

 
 

The seasonal rains rolling through the mountains makes all the refuse roll down to the river... thankfully the Fuppernos are on the job to protect this fragile community resource.

 

Also some big news for all friends of the Nosara River: after much lobbying and patience the government has recognized the Boca del Rio Nosara as a certified 'Blue-Flag Zone'.

 



 

Symbolized by this new flag at the entrance, this means steep fines and possible imprisonment for nare-do-wells who dump toxins or other chemicals into the river.

 

 

This is a big step in the right direction and all the credit is due to Javier and the Fuppernos...these guys and girls understand that a clean river is vital to the future of the community and will now be protected for the next generation of river anglers:

 

 

Costa Rica in the World Cup


Our tiny nation of 4 million exploded in Tri-Color Pride this month as the Costa Rica Select Team ('La Sele' for short) captivated the sporting world with their amazing futbol skills.

Here are our heroes: fit, fast, but tremendously undersized and outmatched by the world's soccer powerhouses.



Though giving up 6in. and 100lbs. per man, they fought with the ferocity of an angry pizote!



La Sele's trademark trapping defense frustrated some of the most high-octane offenses in the world, which led to timely counter-strikes led by captain Bryan Ruiz to punctuate the victories.




 
Excitement grew as Los Ticos progressed through group play to challenge Greece in the knockout round. Stellar goalkeeping by Keylor Navas was the headline of that game which was decided in the end by penalty kicks.



I like how the only colors you see besides Red, White, and Blue is Imperial Yellow!

 
A trend I noticed on Facebook is that as the team progressed, lots of Ticos were announcing engagements to be wed...so not only are did La Sele make the world recognize Costa Rica, but they also are leading to the creation of more Ticos!

  
While the cities of Costa Rica erupted in festivities, the party in Nosara was nothing to sneeze at:





Here's FishingNosara Hall of Famer Jeff Grosshandler coaching up the youth team.



I can't believe these guys stayed open during the game...thanks WatchESPN!




Dan Sheilds and Maria Yetty fresh off their Rooster fish catch.



El Jefe Javier Hernandez leading the parade in Nosara town.

 





Lifetime FishingNosara Hall of Famer Richmond Phipps enjoys the game with her family.



After defeating Greece, the futbol fever reached a heightened pitch as the whole world took notice of the tri-color success.







Who the hell is the Boston Celtics fan above? "Larry Bird and Kevin McHale ain't coming through that door, and if they did they'd be grey and old"




Even newly elected Costa Rica President Luis Guillermo Solis got swept up in Sele Fever:




Victory parties lasted well into the night across Tico Nation.





Sadly, the blunt justice of penalty kicks would work against La Sele in their final appearance against World Cup stalwarts the Netherlands, and the Ticos exited the world stage without a defeat on their scorecard.




However in my opinion the best part of the whole experience was the way the nation conducted itself after the final game...the celebration offered to the returning heroes really exhibits the joyous outlook Ticos have on the world.




La Sele returned home to tens of thousands of people lining the streets, and the royal treatment for the conquering heroes:





From these post-World Cup celebrations you'd think that La Sele won the whole thing!



Congratulations to the whole population of Costa Rica...you truly put your best foot forward during this period of international attention and won fans from all over the world, plus a few fans under the sea:



and one very important fan above the sky:



Pura vida!


Horseback Safari Tour   

 

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This trip features lunch at his family's authentic Costa Rican farmstead and continues to a secluded waterfall. 


Kayak Safari Tour 
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Turtle Safari Tour

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Snorkel Safari Tour

 

 

 

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Click any house for full details 

Casa Capitan
Casa Privada
Casa Neptune
Casa Caribe
Casa Bonita
Casa Jardin
Casa Tranquilo
Casa Surfeando
Apartemento
Las Quartos
Casa Serena
Nature Preserve



   

 

 

Located next to the nature preserve Nosara Paradise Rentals is an ecologist's dream. From the monkeys sunning above the pool to the Pizotes wandering through the gardens, Nosara Paradise Rentals brings the rainforest to your doorstep.

Our units come complete with all the necessary amenities to fully enjoy your stay: modern kitchen appliances, utensils, microwave, blender, towels, linens, et cetera.

Nosara Paradise Rentals features a complete support staff (gardener, concierge, cleaning and laundry services) to ensure that your stay is as trouble free as possible.

 

 
  • Entry level package for up to 3 anglers.
  • 5 nights in Casa Tranquilo, Casa Surfeando or Apartemento (sleeps up to 3 persons)
  • Three Half-days (5 hours) of fishing on 27' Explorer. Each trip includes water, fruit, snacks, and tackle. Choice of morning or afternoon start time.
  • $1950 Total
  • $650 per person
  • Entry level package for 4 anglers.
  • 1 week (7 nights) in Casa Bonita, Casa Caribe or Casa Jardin (sleeps up to 6 persons)
  • Three Half-days (5 hours) of fishing on 31' Wanderer. Each trip includes water, fruit, snacks, and tackle. Choice of morning or afternoon start time.
  • $3150 Total
  • $790 per person
  • Fully-loaded package for 6 anglers.
  • 1 week (7 nights) in Casa Capitan (sleeps up to 9 persons)
  • Three Full days (8 hours) of fishing on 31' Wanderer. Each trip includes water, fruit, snacks, lunch, and tackle.
  • Include Four Passenger Safari Cart for 7 days.
  • $4650 Total
  • $775 per person
  • Fully-loaded package for families up to 9 people.
  • 1 week (7 nights) in Casa Capitan (sleeps up to 9 persons)
  • In-house Breakfast for 5 days includes assorted local breads, fruit, yogurt, coffee, and juice.
  • Full service cleaning including wash/dry/fold laundry.
  • One Half-day (5 hours) of fishing on 31' Wanderer. Each trip includes water, fruit, snacks, and tackle. Choice of morning or afternoon start time.
  • Safari Tour for up to 8 people (Snorkeling, Kayaking, Horseback, Fishing, Surfing, Eco). Trip includes water, fruit, snacks, guide, equipment, and lunch.
  • Include Six Passenger Safari Cart for 7 days.
  • $5000 Total


Ask about special rates on in-house Breakfast and Cleaning







 

Airport Transportation

Nosara Transport features top-of-the-line vehicles that are rigorously inspected to ensure a safe and swift trip. Our friendly drivers provide door-to-door service to the major airports. Avoid the hassles of the Taxi Stand by having your transportation arranged ahead of time.




Transportation one way to/from Liberia Airport: $150 (up to 7 people)
Transportation one way to/from San Jose Airport: $250 (up to 7 people)
Water and Snacks included. Beer and wine available for an additional fee