That’s Fishin’ – November 2017
By Benn Gilmour
November is one of the favourite months for fisherman here in Quepos. A month or two in the boat yard getting our boats ready to go again for high season is long enough for any Captain and we cannot wait to go fishing again come November 1st!
The rains disperse as the month progresses to make way for the clear blue skies and flat calm seas that the Central Pacific coast is famous for. November is a transitional month, where water temperatures start to rise, baitfish numbers increase and lots of predatory fish hot on their heels.
EXCELLENT VARIETY IN NOVEMBER
We typically don’t see the crazy Sailfish bite that we do during January-April but there should be good numbers of Sailfish around and couple this with the excellent variety of species we have in November, Anglers should be in for some awesome fishing. Right now is the peak time to catch Blue Marlin on day charters from Quepos and there were some epic Marlin days recorded this time last year. You can expect some big Yellow Fin Tuna schools 30+ miles Offshore as well as pretty much the TOP month of the year for Dorado! We have had some great Dorado fishing during September & October along the current lines off Quepos and this action should peak this month when good sized fish should be here in numbers. Often some of the best Dorado action can be found less than 10 miles from the Marina Pez Vela, an added bonus—less running time & more fishing!
Inshore Fishing trips are a great option for families or those worried about spending a full day Offshore. Half day Inshore trips will give you 5 hours on the water, take you along the stunning coastline where you can target Roosterfish, Snook, Snapper, Mackerel, Jacks & more. With the bulk of the rains out of the way, water clarity will improve as the month progresses, large shoals of sardines will gather inshore with the big guys not be far behind!
ROOSTERFISH ELECTRONIC TAGGING PROJECT
Amazing things happened here in Quepos earlier this fall when a team from the Marina Pez Vela worked alongside scientists from Gray Fishtag Research to successfully deploy an electronic tag into a 50lb Roosterfish.
This fantastic project was kindly supported by FECOP, Marina Pez Vela, Costa Sunglasses, Seaguar Flurocarbon, plus many others & involved two boats from Quepos, The Hooker & GOOD DAY. A total of four Roosterfish were electronically tagged in Costa Rica this year as part of this project. Now what we need to happen is for the Fish to be recaptured (the tags have a 6 year battery life!) and this is where you come in! Why not book an Inshore Fishing trip with one of the great Quepos Captains and go on a Roosterfish mission of your own. If the bragging rights for recapturing a tagged fish are not enough, Costa Sunglasses are awarding the lucky Anglers two pairs of Costa Sunglasses worth $500 for each recaptured fish! The tags will hold valuable data to help the Sport Fishing & Scientific community understand more about the movements of these wonderful fish.
THE BEST BLUE MARLIN FISHING ON THE PLANET!
The Blue Marlin bite at the Offshore FADS/Seamounts has been on fire recently! During a recent trip to the FADs, the 46’ Caribsea released 7 of 10 Blue Marlin bites, 1 Sailfish & caught a nice Dorado for dinner in just 3.5 hours Fishing, WOW! Almost nowhere else on the planet can those release numbers be matched for Blue Marlin. If you would like to experience a 1, 2 or 3 day Marlin FADS trip for yourself, drop me a line or contact the guys at Caribsea directly on [email protected] or caribseasportfishing.com.
COOK YOUR CATCH AT MONO AZUL!
This month we feature the MONO AZUL (BLUE MONKEY) Restaurant who have been doing some awesome things recently & have become a popular hangout among Manuel Antonio’s foodies. We went along recently to see what all the fuss was about & Chef Kevin wowed us with several mouth-watering fish dishes. A must try is their Traditional Fish & Chips using fresh Red Snapper (or your catch of the day!) with an amazing British style batter. Seriously the best Fish & Chips we have had in Costa Rica! Cook your catch of Dorado, Tuna, Snapper, Grouper, Snook & more—you will not be disappointed! Try their awesome pizzas & burgers too!
Want an intimate dining experience during your vacation or perhaps planning a special occasion? Ask the guys at Mono’s about their intimate dining option where they will host your group only in a great setting alongside their swimming pool, surrounded by the canopy of the Rainforest, it’s pretty special! Chef Kevin, originally from Connecticut, is using his experience of working in Michelin starred restaurants to bring a fresh new addition to the culinary scene here in Manual Antonio.
2018 TOURNAMENT DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES!
January 11-13 Pelagic Rockstar Tournament
March 14-17 Quepos Billfish Cup
April 12-14 Marina Pez Vela Open
April 15-20 Offshore World Championships
The long awaited 2018 Marina Pez Vela Tournament season gets underway in January with the awesome Pelagic Rockstar Tournament. If you fancy a go at Fishing a tournament Rockstar style (Blow up guitar & fake wig compulsory!) we would love to hear from you, simply contact myself or the guys at iFish Quepos directly on [email protected] Wishing you a great time on the water.
Tight Lines!
Benn Gilmour, Jackpot Sport Fishing
Marina Pez Vela, Quepos
Cell: 8458 4997
[email protected]
jackpotsportfishing.com