Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Welcome! => Mexico, Central and South America => Topic started by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 01:52:28 PM

Title: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 01:52:28 PM
I'm headed to Costa Rica tomorrow for a week for some R&R. First vacation we've taken in several years. Not this best timing with all that's going on or it could be really good timing since the airport/flights crowds will be light. Time will tell.
Plan is to fish the local beaches from shore. No telling what's swimming around down there but I'll find out. Checked online a bunch of charter boats but mucho $ for not a lot of time on the water. If something local looks good I'll give it a shot. My last time down there I got taken for a "Missouri boat ride", don't wanna do that again
Anyway I have all day to obsess on my gear, here's some of what I'm bringing
Put fresh guides on a harnell surf rod and fresh drag washers in a ss550 for it
Couple small spinners for a lami and a G Loomis
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 01:57:32 PM
Spent some time polishing up a dozen krocks. Everything likes krocks!
Bringing some gulp
Some luckycrafts and sp minnows
Some spools of floro
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 02:04:26 PM
A couple bait casters for heavier line
A bunch of small sinkers and what have you for Carolina rigs
Some bobbers. Fill them half way with water and add a leader for the gulp for fishing rocky areas. Adjust the leader length to keep outa the rocks
A variety of different hooks
What am I missing?
I figure I can fit all this in my checked bag no worries!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 02:07:32 PM
Air bus leaves for lax in 23 hours and 55 minutes haha. Plenty of time to obsess some more!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Vintage Offshore Tackle on March 15, 2020, 03:40:47 PM
Hope that you guys have a fantastic trip.  If anyone can catch 'em, you can Sheridan, and you certainly won't be lacking ammunition!  I will bet you dollars to donuts that you will check that big roosterfish off of your bucket list.  They hang out real tight to the beach down there.

Randy
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Vintage Offshore Tackle on March 15, 2020, 03:42:52 PM
I forgot to say that they love big poppers, i.e. Yo-zuri Bull GT.
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: ReelFishingProblems on March 15, 2020, 04:13:20 PM
Have a fantastic trip! I hope you send a full report when you get back.
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: RowdyW on March 15, 2020, 04:47:44 PM
While you are down in Costa Rica look around for an american fisherman from this forum named Sean (Fat Tuna). He's been down there for about 2 weeks already. He says the shores are real rocky & to many surfers.       Rudy
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Maxed Out on March 15, 2020, 05:07:35 PM

I'm sure you'll have a blast and take lots of pictures to share with those of us on lockdown. Hope you enjoy your well deserved R&R

-Ted
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: El Pescador on March 15, 2020, 05:27:14 PM
Swami,

What side of Costa Rica are you fishing????

Pacific side...

or

Caribbean Sea side????

Man, you will have a great time there.  I love watching fishing shows from that part of the world.

PHOTOS!!!!!   We all need PHOTOS!!!!!!!


Wayne
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 15, 2020, 06:40:27 PM
Thanks guys. I'll be on the north end of the pacific side. We have a house that's a short walk to the beach so I plan to beat it to death in the early mornings and drive around a little later in the day.  There's a couple river mouths that could be good not far from us too
I've been trying to catch a rooster fish for a few decades but I'm pretty sure I'm a roosterfish jona. When I show up they vanish from the ocean. At this point I'm hoping to just see one
I'll try and get a bunch of pictures
Thanks again
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Benni3 on March 15, 2020, 06:54:07 PM
 The rooster fish like the lures going past them fast,,,,, ;) and the best part of the trip for me and my girlfriend was the inshore fishing,,,,, :o that's when we realized just how beautiful costa rica is,,,,,,,, ;D
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 15, 2020, 07:15:08 PM
Sounds like a blast Sheridan!
Looks like you're pretty well armed already, can't wait for the report!
Try to catch some cool reptiles while you're there too!!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Alto Mare on March 15, 2020, 09:22:13 PM
Have a great trip Sheridan! Take lots of pics.

Sal
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Gfish on March 16, 2020, 12:50:11 AM
Hope you made it Sheridan. I heard on the npr news this AM(about 6 here, 9 there) that Costa Rica and other Cen. American countries aren't gonna take travelers from the USA. for the time being. I so hope I heard wrong...
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 16, 2020, 02:20:23 AM
I haven't heard that G, I heard Ecuador had a quarantine thing for the US. Heard from a buddy in Costa Rica a few minutes ago that all's good but who knows.  I guess I will pretty soon.
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: festus on March 16, 2020, 03:58:50 AM
Good luck, Sheridan, looks like you have all bases covered.
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: sciaenops on March 16, 2020, 04:05:01 AM
Looks like you're well equipped. Krocs & swimming plugs r the best inshore. I'm jealous. Safe travels...
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 16, 2020, 11:54:35 AM
Couple more hours to go and no word about any problems going.  Flight leaves about noon , we might just make it.  Be really happy to get away from the lunacy that's setting it. I went to the grocery store last night and it looked like it had been looted! Even out of onions!  I hear a jet in the sky so someone is flying somewhere!
Fingers crossed!!!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Tiddlerbasher on March 16, 2020, 04:27:45 PM
Good luck Sheridan enjoy the escape - we have just canceled our holiday >:( No problem getting out of the UK it's whether we will be allowed back in or the air line decides to shut down >:( Too many unknowns.
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 16, 2020, 05:12:54 PM
Looks like we're good to go. All checked in at the gate.  If we get stuck there I guess We'll just be on vacation longer. Haha
Thanks for the well wishes
Fishing tomorrow!!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 16, 2020, 05:32:08 PM
Quote from: Swami805 on March 16, 2020, 05:12:54 PM
Looks like we're good to go. All checked in at the gate.  If we get stuck there I guess We'll just be on vacation longer. Haha
Thanks for the well wishes
Fishing tomorrow!!

Be safe and have fun Sheridan!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: wailua boy on March 16, 2020, 06:53:36 PM
Have a great trip, be safe and hope you catch some nice ones. Aloha
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 17, 2020, 04:36:02 AM
Made it!!  It was s bit of an ordeal getting here driving at night on 10 miles of rutted dirt roads. Forget how easy we have it
Hey Chad, geckos in the house. Should be lots of stuff out here in the boonies!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: twotone on March 17, 2020, 05:00:39 AM
Be careful . I left in Feb. Ive been on Whats App today with friends in Tamarindo. Things are starting to heat up.  Same as here.





Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 17, 2020, 05:04:42 AM
Here's one
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 17, 2020, 05:44:17 AM
Cool gecko!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 17, 2020, 12:43:24 PM
Day one, sun is shining but the wind is howling! Birds flying sideways windy!  Looks like a good day for recon to get my bearings    At least the wind keeps the skeaters down
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Gfish on March 17, 2020, 10:02:18 PM
You made it! Coooooooool!
So good to be wrong sometimes...
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: ReelFishingProblems on March 17, 2020, 10:12:22 PM
Sheridan,

I need to see a catch a little more impressive than that gecko! Show us the fish!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 18, 2020, 04:33:14 PM
Drove into town yesterday to load up on food at the super market, it's an hour each way with 10 miles of washboard dirt road, that was fun but that poor rental car haha. Got back at dusk and the wind had died!  Got up a 0 dark thirty but the wind was howling again!  Gave it hell anyway but not even a sniff but casting was almost impossible anyway.  Hoping it backs off again this afternoon and back at it
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 18, 2020, 04:34:43 PM
Be safe Sheridan, and have fun!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 20, 2020, 01:00:04 PM
Life is slow and easy.  Took the morning off from fishing today, super windy and I'm a little beat up from wading in the surf and rocks. Wind backed off Wednesday evening and yesterday so I pounded it pretty good. So far one needle fish and a couple decent hits is all I have for my efforts. Never seen a needle fish and they jump around pretty good.
Anyway it sure is nice here, there's a troupe of monkeys in the back yard now, don't see that every day.   Lots of new things to see in walking distance, we're micro touring our area instead of trying to see the whole country in a week.
Unless something changes we're staying until Monday, checked with the airline and they said they'll be flying. Feels really safe here and we're about as socially isolated as you can get, just hunkered down at the house
Here's a pic of a needle fish
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 20, 2020, 02:37:05 PM
Sounds fun Sheridan!  Enjoy your stay!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: alantani on March 20, 2020, 04:13:14 PM
looks like lots of fun, but get home safe as soon as you can!!!!!
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: steelfish on March 20, 2020, 04:35:24 PM
I've been busy and havent seen this post from you compadre Sheridan, happy for your to be able to scape from the madness for few days, nothing wrong with getting some time for you and enjoy a different beach even on windy days.
good luck on that rooster on the weekend and safe travel home.

this part of Baja is just started to get "mucho loco" on the shoppings, schools closed so, its like a summer vacation camp in my house, 3 kids at home whole 24hrs plus my wife thats is teacher also at home,  I really need to scape for few days to a beach with my fishing rod for 3 days !! with that said, I envy you.. a lot !

big hug amigo !
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: Swami805 on March 23, 2020, 01:25:20 AM
"Turn out the lights, the party's over". Well not much to report, couple more needle fish that jumped a few times before winning their freedom.  As Benni would say "but that's ok". Got to fish and relax a bit, saw things I've never seen before.  We fly out tomorrow early morning, wish we could stay but not in the cards   I think this is the first time I've not looked forward to going home.
Not sure if I have a job still, hope we still have some TP at home
Thanks for reading and the well wishes
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: alantani on March 23, 2020, 01:36:29 AM
safe travels, my friend!   
Title: Re: Costa Rica
Post by: xjchad on March 23, 2020, 01:43:27 AM
Get home safe Sheridan!

Let me know if you need anything!