SEASON
Consistent annual water temperatures between 80
and 83 degrees insure that inshore fishing along
the coastline and flats boat fishing the estuaries
is good all year. Offshore fishing is available
all year, with the months of December through
May being best.
BOATS
Crocodile Bay Lodge will keep you fishing ‘til
you drop with our selection of boats. We have
17’ flats boats, 21’ center consoles, 27’ offshore
center consoles and our 32’ cruiser.
TACKLE
and bait on all of our fishing adventures is
always included, but feel free to bring your
own gear if you’d like. We use top of the line
Shimano offshore 2spd reels, and Calcutta conventional
& Baitrunner spinning outfits for our inshore
fishing. We have our own line of offshore and
inshore fishing lures which are made on the
premises. Combined with other popular brands
we have the best equipped fishing available.
FISHING
out of Crocodile Bay Lodge is truly unique.
Click on the type of fishing that interests
you.
Offshore
Fishing
Hop aboard our new 32 foot Strike or one of
our new 27 foot Rambo inboard center consoles
for a scenic 30 minute run to the blue water
(half of the time necessary from other local
lodges), for Sailfish, Blue, Black & Striped
Marlin, Wahoo, Dorado (Dolphinfish, Mahi Mahi)
and Tuna. It is common to raise 10 to 15 Sailfish
a day with over 50 on a spectacular day.
Inshore Fishing
Within a short run from the lodge, cast and
troll lures and live bait along the volcanic
shoreline of the bay and coastline for exciting
Roosterfish, Jack Crevalle, Bluefin Trevally,
Sierra Mackerel, Barracuda and monster Cubera
Snapper, among other fish.
Estuarine Fishing
In one of our flats boats, a first for Costa
Rica, you’ll have the opportunity to silently
maneuver through the many rivers and mangrove
estuaries that feed the Golfo Dulce (the sweet
gulf). Fly cast, spin cast or troll through
the nooks and crannies of this beautiful tropical
back country paradise. Experience the heart-stopping
thrill as a big snook explodes on your lure
or bait. Snapper, Barracuda, Corvina and other
species will test your light tackle fishing
skills.
Fly Fishing
Our offshore fishery is probably one of
the finest blue water fly fishing spots in the
world. During the high season anglers can expect
multiple shots at Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado and
Tuna. Our captains have been trained in all
IGFA fly fishing rules, and we foresee many
new world records coming from our offshore program.
As for equipment for the task, anglers should
consider 14 & 12 weight rods for the billfish
and 10 or 11 weights for the Dorado. Preferable
lines are 300 to 500 grain shooting heads, as
well as a good forward weight floating line.
To date one of our most successful offshore
fly patterns has been the Cam Sigler style offshore
fly in pink and white. If you only bring one
offshore pattern, make it pink and white with
a popper head. For the Dorado, super clousers
in all colors seem to work very well, as do
deceivers and any of your larger offshore patterns.
Most anglers prefer to bring their own rods,
but for those who wish to travel with nothing
more than their clothes, Crocodile Bay has a
full complement of Orvis rods with Vortex reels,
as well as G.Loomis equipment. Crocodile Bay
also keeps on hand all of the necessary fly
patterns and tying equipment.
Our next area of fishing is called the inshore
program. The areas within the Golfo Dulce are
some of the prettiest places an angler can fish
in the world. Jack Crevalle, African Pompano,
Bluefin Trevally, 3 varieties of Snapper, Bonita
and Barracuda can be consistently taken by our
fly anglers. Our inshore fish need to be fished
with very fast retrieves. Anglers should be
able to double hall their casts and plan on
two-handed retrieves. Most baitfish patterns
and poppers work well inside the gulf, and patterns
should range in size from 1/0 to 4/0 for the
the inshore game. Our enormous Roosterfish population
is used to eating large blue runners (our local
baitfish). The trick here again lies with the
fly angler fishing large patterns very fast.
Surf casting has also been one way to attack
the Roosterfish. 10 weight rods are probably
the best overall choice within the gulf. Our
gulf is full of bait fish, and anglers must
be prepared to fish the gulf in a number of
various styles. Depth charge lines, intermediate
sinking lines, and fast shooting taper floating
fly lines are all used.
Our third fishing area consists of the many
rivers and mangrove regions of the gulf. On
the high tide anglers can run many miles up
several different rivers in our flats boats.
Leisurely floating down the river back to the
gulf, anglers are catching Snapper and the occasional
Snook, of which we have three varieties. Again,
poppers and baitfish patterns are the ticket
for this area, with eight and nine weight rods
being the preferable choice.
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 Marlin: Marlin have been taken every
month of the year. Large numbers start to show
up in July and roam the waters through December.
July and August record the largest Black Marlin,
and Blues are taken often during the prime Sailfish
months.
Sailfish: Sails are most abundant December
through March with good catches starting in October.
Like Marlin, Sailfish are taken year round with
5 to 6 fish a day in the off-season common.
Tuna: The bigger Tuna are taken during
the most productive runs of the Sailfish and Marlin,
but smaller Tuna (footballs) are to be had all
year long.
Dorado: Also known as Dolphinfish or Mahi
Mahi, Dorado are more abundant from May through
October when the rivers send floating logs and
other debris to the ocean. These fish are attracted
to drifting debris. Dorado can be caught throughout
the year.
Wahoo: The area is not known to hold great
numbers of these fast and explosive fish, but
you never know. They are found year round in limited
numbers.
Roosterfish: Without a doubt, the Roosterfish
is the most exciting inshore and surf fish available
and are the main attraction to inshore fishermen.
The 30 mile long Golfo Dulce and the volcanic
shoreline structure hold fish all year long. 20
to 40 pounders are common.
Cubera Snapper: This is the most popular
of all the local Snappers, due to its size and
sheer strength. Fish over 50lbs have been caught
in the area, year round.
Snook: The all tackle world record Snook
came from these waters in 1991. The amount of
freshwater flowing in to the ocean provides awesome
surf and estuary fishing for these 4 species of
feisty fish. Although available year round, May
through October is usually better, during the
rainy season.
Other: Big Eye Trevally, Bluefin Trevally,
Jack Crevalle, Tripletail, Barracuda, Sierra Mackerel,
African Pompano, Corvina and Grouper are available
throught the year.
You’re invited to come on down and break one
of the local records:
Marlin (856lbs)
Sailfish (151lbs)
Roosterfish (81lbs)
Dorado (Dolphinfish, Mahi Mahi) (79lbs)
Tuna (298lbs)
Wahoo ( 84lbs)
Snook (49lbs)
Cubera Snapper (Pargo) (57lbs)
Broomtail Grouper (76lbs)
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