presented by:
 

Greetings!

    

This is Craig Sutton with the September 2014 Costa Rica fishing report, and it is a monster!

The blue water is only 7 miles from shore and the floating debris washing down from the mountains have created lots of near-shore scoring opportunities. 

The month of August always brings a swarm of Billfish and Tuna to this area and the FishingNosara crews were itching to take a crack at them.
 
Combine these perfect conditions with returning FishingNosara Hall of Famers like Charlie Phillips and Bill Harris and you have a recipe for blue water success!

The Wanderer led the way for the team with multiple Marlin releases backed up by some excellent Cubera Snappers.

Master Captain William and First Mate Alex have completely revolutionized the approach to blue water fishing down here, and they have grown into the most consistent crew in the entire country of Costa Rica.

Not to be outdone, the Extreme Panga Team of the Adventurer and Explorer continued to prove that you don't need a big boat to catch big fish down here.

Check out the wide variety of catch scored this month by Captain Carlos and Captain Fico...truly fantastic performances from our under-30' boats.



Also, in anticipation of our next DVD release, this month's report features new videos that should really get your blood-pumping.

Usually we keep these videos a secret until the DVD release, but we've included a few here as a special treat for our report subscribers.

FishingNosara: Volume II will be available at all FishingNosara events starting in November

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

The holiday season is already booking up fast so don't miss out on your chance to fish the best boats in all of Costa Rica. Call me anytime so we can get you booked.


Tight Lines y Pura Vida!

-Craig Sutton


(904) 591-2161

[email protected]

    

FishingNosara Family Update

Our relationship with Florida Sportsman Magazine stretches all the way back to the beginning of FishingNosara.

The very first dime we spent on advertising was this little image buried in the back of the issue (right).

Over the last few years we have grown up quite a bit, and our relationship with Florida Sportsman has also grown with the Florida Sportsman Dream Boat Build Contest and The Discoverer Project.

This year we have offered Costa Rica vacation prizes at all of the Florida Sportsman Expo events throughout the state, and we have twice been featured in the Tropical Sportsman round-up:


Therefore it was a great pleasure to welcome FS Publisher Blair Wickstrom to our little slice of paradise for a great week of fishing adventures. Check out this excellent video Blair put together:



We look forward to more great fun with our friends at Florida Sportman in the coming season.

Our growth is underway back in Nosara as well, as General Manager Javier Hernandez is working at full steam to renovate and rebuild the FishingNosara North Loop office in Guiones Beach.





We are on schedule for the Grand Opening of the new office on November 1. Great work Javier!
 
Catch of the Month - August 5 + 6 + 7 + 8, 2014
 

 

The formidable fishing family of Captain Zack Gerzeny tried their hand at Extreme Panga Fishing on August 5 they returned to shore with some excellent variety on the scorecard.

 

 

The highlight was this monster Rooster Fish release, but they backed it up with some tasty Yella Fellas and a mean-mouthed Needlefish.

 

 

Team Gerzeny stayed hot on the bite with the Wanderer on August 6. They stayed inshore and boated another sweet Rooster Fish:

 

 

They also added a nice Snapper off the reef for a little after-school snack.

 

 

On August 7, Team Gerzeny scored this whopper of a Cubera Snapper during a inshore trip on the Wanderer:

 

 

August 8 was a fantastic day on the Wanderer for Team Gerzeny. First up was a crazy Sailfish release for Mike Gerzeny...this video is one wild ride:

 

 

 

Then, the rains came:

 

 

Captain Zack Gerzeny and young Christopher Gerzeny showed no fear in the face of the storm, each registering big Sailfish releases.

 

 

Great work by the Master Captain William and the unstoppable First Mate Alex to brave big billfish and whistling winds to bring home the big ones for their clients.

 

 

  



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.  

  

Captain Fico has propelled the 23-foot Adventurer to new heights since taking over command back in May, and his recent performances have everyone excited about his future with FishingNosara.

 

Captain Fico has been on fire this month and he is building a reputation as a consistent fish-catcher while his clients are reaping the rewards.

 

 

 

This nice family scored an Amberjack and a small Snapper, and the next day Yellowfin Tuna was on the menu:

 

 

Later in the week this trio knocked out a pair of Yellowfin Tunas and a nice Amberjack.

 


 
In late August there was an awesome whale shark sighting by Alejo while doing some 'company research' on the Adventurer.

 

 

If your computer or device is capable of 4K Hi-Def, make sure to select it (bottom right corner, gears emblem) if you really want your mind blown!  

 

AJ had this to say, "This sort of things are incredibly beautiful, and we have to continue protecting the environment..."

  

Captain Fico has his game dialed-in on the Adventurer and finished the season on a high note. Check out this wide array of inshore species pried up by the 23-foot pocket knife during the last week of August:

Rock Snapper and Yellowtail Snapper

 

Dorados

 

Amberjack and Snappers

 

Big Amberjack

 

Yellowfin Tuna

 

White Tuna

 

Cierro Mackeral and Ponpano

 

That's a heck of a lot of variety for just one week of fishing. Masterful work by Captain Fico and the Adventurer!

Captain Carlos has propelled the 26-foot Explorer to new height since taking over command in May.

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!

On August 4 Andrew Queral and Doug Dickman took to the Super Panga Explorer for a great day of inshore action with Captain Carlos.

 

They kept the rods bent with Yellowfin Tuna and plus added this scary Pinfish.

 

Andrew Queral and Doug Dickman took a break from big-time billfishing (see Wanderer report section, below) in order to return to the Explorer for a full-on inshore assault.

 

 

A beefy pair of Yellowfin Tunas got first the half-day trip off to a good start, then this MASSIVE Amberjack punctuated the day:

 

 

Great work by the legendary Explorer and fill-in Mate Juan Carlos...when Captain Fico has a trip on the Adventurer (see background, photos below) we know we can count on this long-tenured Garza boatman to maintain the high standards of FishingNosara. 

 

 

Unlike the AJ's back home, these lunkers yield delicious filets...check out the great color on these filets:

 


August 17 brought a wonderful Double Sailfish release on the Explorer!  

 

 

This pair of monsters attacked the super panga's spread but Captain Carlos and Mate Juan Carlos were ready for them.  

 

 

The good fishing karma always finds our groups of CCA North Carolina anglers, and these Tar Heels  performed brilliantly.

 

 

All fish were safely released, putting the perfect bow on this fishing gift.


Man we love California anglers! A good friend of Shea McIntee (of Stoked on Fishing fame) named Ed Smith has brought his boys down to Nosara for a fun week of surfing and fishing.  

 

 

On August 17 young Sean scored this excellent Sailfish release on the Explorer.

 

 

Ed writes: "Sean joined the billfish club today with his first sailfish on light gear."

 

 

"I on the other hand came closer to my cubera snapper goal, losing a monster on a big popper in a few feet of water."  

 

"Nothing like seeing a 12-inch wide tail/back come crashing down on the jig! Off to buy more poppers tomorrow!"

 

Still, Ed scored some excellent eating fish with a Yellowfin Tuna, Ponpano, and Snapper all on ice.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Explorer scored again with a fine Rooster Fish release on a father-son fishing trip.  

 

 

This excellent pez gallo was released after the picture, but this tasty Ponpano had no such luck...ceviche, anyone?

 


The Explorer continues to shine as an inshore warrior, and on a recent trip she ran the gauntlet with a nice Rooster Fish release backed-up by some football-sized Yellowfin Tunas.  

 

 

They also hooked up Jaws' little brother, and Captain Carlos smartly cut the line to save his fingers.  

 

 


Here's an axiom for you: Small angler, small boat, big fish.

 

That's how we roll on the Explorer!


Captain Carlos finished the season on a strong note, with multiple excellent Sailfish releases on the scorecard for late-August.  

 

 

The 26-foot Super Panga is a known expectation-shatterer, and her performance this season should silence anyone who says you need a big boat to catch big fish.  

 

 

Anglers young and old alike found billfish success on the barroom brawler, plus Captain Carlos added some nice Yella Fellas for the filet bag.

 

 

Another year, another great performance from Captain Carlos and the unstoppable Explorer.

 

 

 

However, the Explorer is our only boat that fishes through the September to October rainy season, so the clock was ticking for Captain Carlos and Matty to repair some soft spots in the floor and apply a fresh coat of gelcoat. 

  

  

We turned this whole process in three days, just in time for the Super Panga's first 'off-season' client on September 10. Keep an eye on the FishingNosara Blog for catch updates as they happen.   

 



Great year by Captain David! Between his time on the Explorer and Discoverer he released 250 Sailfish and 38 Marlin this year.

We may have created a monster by equipping a fisherman of David's caliber with a full arsenal of fish fighting gear, big Yamaha motors, and a 20-foot tower.

Trust me that Captain David is excited for November 1 when the scoreboard reads zeroes all around; the new battleship has a puncher's chance of catching the Wanderer for the title of Best Boat in the Bay.

Since she is a newly rebuilt boat, we put the Discoverer on the hill a little early this season to check out all of our work from the last 22 months.

It's amazing what a few months of seawater will reveal about the strength of your fiberglass and gelcoat work.

Craig and Matty went down to Nosara to personally fix up a few rough spots on the hull and oversee a fresh coat of good Tico bottom paint.




 
Plus is was a good chance for young Mate Kevin to get into the dirty side of the charter fishing game, complete with Craig hounding his every move...welcome to the FishingNosara Build Team, Kevin!



The Discoverer is on the rise and we can't wait to see what she does next season!


 


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.
 
One thing that regular readers of this report know is that the Wanderer always has another trick up her sleeve...a 2.5 hour sunset trip is not enough time to go scare up a billfish, right?

 

Wrong! She scored this awesome Sailfish release and was still back in Garza in time for dinner. Great work by the flagship!


On August 2 St. Augustine legend Dave Liebowitz joined Craig on board the mighty Wanderer and these two good ole' North Florida boys snagged a familiar exotic:

 

 

Dave has whacked many a Red Snapper in Florida, so it's fitting their distant cousin was his first catch in Costa.  

 

This monster Cubera Snapper weighs a good 40lbs. and that means big smiles all around.


Andrew Queral and Doug Dickman got off their week of Costa Rica fishing off to a blazing start! They notched the Wanderer's scorecard with a big Dorado, several Sails, and a MASSIVE Marlin on August 3.

  

 

 

 

A nice pair of Sailfish were the highlight of the morning, and a mid-day Bonita catch led to First Mate Alex reaching deep into his bag of tricks:

 

 

The crew moved quickly to rig a hook to this Bonita and keep him alive in the Tuna Tubes...this bait was pitched into the spread when a big Black Marlin came calling.

 

 

 

In the afternoon they accidentally hooked-up a small Shark and released it after the photo:

 

 

It wasn't all releases, though; this floor-sweeping Dorado certainly melted a bit of ice and served as the cherry on top of a perfect day of fishing.  

 


The next day Andrew Queral and Doug Dickman returned to the Wanderer for an excellent day of action. The fish were fired up for these Maryland-based anglers.

 

First order of business was knocked the Rooster fish off of the bucket list, and the mighty blue beauty obliged with this excellent Pez Gallo release.

 

 

Captain William pointed the flagship offshore and First Mate Alex deployed the spread for billfish.

Andrew and Doug kept the good times rolling with another nice Sailfish release.

 

 

In no time flat a pair of hungry Sailfish showed up and threw down the gauntlet.  

 

 

Both fish safe released after the photos.  

 

 

The highlight of the trip came in the afternoon in the form of this gnarley Striped Marlin:

 

 

The releases are the achievement of a lifetime for any angler, however pictures on a memory card don't fill the belly...After a great day of trophy fish releases, you know that these guys weren't going home empty handed.  

 

 

This beefy Yellowfin Tuna was the finishing touch on a perfect day of fishing in Costa Rica!


Doug and Andrew and scored a nice Snapper for the icebox on August 7.

 

 

They also fought a medium-sized Rooster Fish all the way to the boat, but First Mate Alex felt it was too weakened to be brought into the boat, so they released him alongside.  

 

 

Another marked-up scorecard by Doug Dickman and Andrew Queral.


On August 4 Craig Sutton was joined by our old friend Captain Andrew Foster for a long day of trolling on the Wanderer. Bites were scarce offshore, so this Atlantic Beach fishing duo headed inshore and found some excellent action just a few miles from shore.  

 

 

Andrew's hot-dogging on the rod was premature, and this big Rooster fish put up a great fight!   

 

 

After the safe release of the Rooster, Craig scored a nice 25lbs. Cubera Snapper for the dinner table.  

 

Great trip-saving action on the flagship!


A whirlwind week of fishing followed for the Wanderer with Team Gerzeny (see Catch of the Month, above), but the crew of the Wanderer barely had time to catch their breath before the arrival of returning FishingNosara Hall of Famer Charlie Phillips.

They wasted little time in breaking the billfish ice.  

 

 

Captain William found a massive school of spinning porpoises and we know what that means: big billfish are near!

 

 

Great start to the week by the mighty flagship! 


On August 11 Charlie and the boys kept the pedal to the metal aboard the Wanderer with a fantastic outing that included SIX Sailfish releases and a beefy Dorado for the refrigerator.  

 

 

Captain William found the Sailfish were thick as cordwood just a few miles out, and First Mate Alex put out an irresistible spread for the monsters.  

 

 

Great safe releases on all six fish, but this big Dorado ain't going anywhere except on ice!

 

 

Exceptional fishing from the Kings of Garza Bay.

    

The Wanderer closed in on the final bell of the season like a thoroughbred and her clients are feeling pumped to be along for the ride.  

 

 

 

On August 13 she scored two more wonderful Sailfish release for this Florida-based fishing posse.  

 

 

For Kim Ponzio, this was her first ever billfish release and she fought it well all the way to the boat.

 

 

Great releases by First Mate Alex underscored Captain William's keen hunting instincts as once again the flagship delivers the goods! 


Charlie Phillips stayed inshore today and knocked a big Rooster Fish off of his bucket list.  

 

 

This catch as been a long time coming for this Everglades angler, and we are stoked to see this accomplishment.

 

The group also added tasty filets for the dinner table in the form of three nice Snappers and a pile of Yellowfin Tuna.

 

 

Looking good in the ice box and on the dinner plate!


Charlie Phillips' posse saved the best for last, as on their final day of fishing on the Wanderer they scored a DOUBLE MASSIVE Marlin release.  

 

We have some great video of these beasts so look out for the full account on the next FishingNosara DVD due out this month.  

 

 

The crew also added to their pile of filets...after a great day inshore on the 14th, they caught a whole bunch of filets to take home on the 15th.

 


On August 22 the Wanderer has continued her hot streak with yet another great Sailfish release.  

 

 

Check on the girth on this monster:  

 

 

All in a day's work for the baddest boat in Garza!


Want to talk about a perfect day of trophy fishing? Howabout a pair of BIG Rooster Fish releases in the morning, then a GIANT Black Marlin in the afternoon?  

 

 

The mighty Wanderer accomplished this ludicrous feat in late August, leaving the clients equally ecstatic and exhausted.  

 

 

This beefy pair of Rooster fish would satisfy the most demanding anglers, but these boys headed offshore after the releases and found a true monster lurking offshore.  

 

 

Great fishing handling and boat handling by the blue beauty's magnificent crew led to another textbook Black Marlin release.

 


Returning Hall of Famers Bill Harris, Brady Harris and Elie Bedran are back and they brought fellow anglers Scott Cox, Mark Scott and his dad Lee Scott along for this Costa Rica Fishing adventurer.

 

 

The mighty Wanderer was the chosen vessel as Captain William set out for Sailfish City.  

 

 

First Mate Alex put out an irresistible spread that courted five Sailfish releases.  

 

 

I meant 'irresistible' to Sailfish, buddy.

 

 

"Craig, wow what a fantastic day. 5 sails, 2 mahi." Mark writes. "Great day, action was great plus 5 strikes and 2 billfish up on the teasers.


Dude what a day, I got to see my dad at 70 get to reel in his first billfish..priceless. Thanks for giving us this opportunity."

 

 

This group of Tampa Bay anglers also scored a couple of nice Dorados, highlighted by this deck sweeper:

 

 

These guys have two more full days of action planned and we are all stoked to see what they haul in next.

 

 

 

 

Team Harris had another outstanding day on the flagship Wanderer with a chocked-full scorecard of Sailfish. They got a pre-dawn start as Captain William put them out in front of a swarm of beautiful Sails:

 

 

These fish were fired up but this group of Tampa, FL anglers put the heat on them with stiff drag and fast reeling.

 

 

Great releases all around as the Wanderer continues to set the bar for great Costa Rican sportfishing.


August 30 was getaway day for Bill Harris and the posse, and they rounded out their trip with another excellent outing to Sailfish City.

 

After an early pair of Sailfish releases, Captain William discovered a big school of porpoises on the feed...guess what they were feasting on?

 

 

That's right: Beefy Yellowfin Tunas taste good to all mammals, both primates and cetaceans.

 

 

All these feeder fish attracted a few more Sailfish, which Team Harris released with glee.  

 

 

Great work by this class of Hall of Famers on an excellent week of fishing.

 


 

Our great friend Brooke Shields was in town on September 2 and brought her son Oliver and sister-in-law Maria Yetty for an inshore fishing adventure on the Wanderer, and they scored an excellent Cubera Snapper:

 

 

Great work by young Oliver who has been fishing with us for several years...he has grown into a top-notch fisherman and we always look forward to his visits.


The Wanderer's final trip of the season was a special treat...Chief of Security Eduardo Hernandez invited some of his friends and family from San Jose for an inshore trip and their long hours of driving paid off big time on the flagship. Check out this monster Snapper they pulled off the reef:

 

 

Great way to end a banner campaign for the mighty Wanderer!

 

 

 

Now is time for some light maintenance and serious down-time for the hardest working and best fishing crew in Garza: Get some rest Captain William and First Mate Alex...November is right around the corner! 


Great season by the King of Garza Bay, the mighty Wanderer!


Nosara River Update
 
Javier has been busy with the new office renovations, but he and son Dario have found time to keep the pressure on the fat fish living in the river.

 

 

There were other great scores from the river mouth this month:

 

 

Carlos Yaniz 

 

 

Juan Luis Ramirez (Current IGFA World Record Holder - Snook, all tackle) 

 

 

 

Manuel De Campos  

   

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:

 

 


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.
  • $2050 Total
  • $685 per person for 3 people
  • 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 for 4 people
  • 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 for 6 people
  • 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, $35 for each rider over 7)
Transportation one way to/from San Jose Airport: $250 (up to 7 people, $35 for each rider over 7)
Water and Snacks included. Beer and wine available for an additional fee