Zancudo Beach Resort, Zancudo Sport Fishing

I got back last Friday from the Zancudo lodge in Costa Rica. This was my third trip down to Zancudo Lodge in the last 18 months; the first was a inshore bonanza, the second was a sailfish slam and this was a Dorado catching clinic. I went down with three of my friends and we had an absolutely great time (two of the guys had never caught Dorado before).

As usual we made all connections and arrived on time to the lodge to greet a hot breakfast with my favorite food… bacon. I don’t know what it is about their pork product but it is the best I’ve ever had (we had chops as well a couple of nights for dinner). We ate Dorado and Tuna just about every night as well. Greg and the staff really took care of us as usual and the other guests at the lodge were great to be around as well.

I could keep talking about the food, service and poolside cocktails and the 88 degrees but the fishing was the real story… it was spectacular. I fished five days; four offshore and one inshore. I lost count of the Dorado we caught every day as we released most but we kept a few to eat. We raised and hooked several Sailfish but I couldn’t keep them on the line. My friends had the same success and raised several Marlin as well but couldn’t get them to buckle up. We did have some good success with the Tuna. One of my friends caught one about 80 lbs and the other close to 100 lbs. My buddy and I got into them pretty good hooking three to four at a pop as we chased around the dophins. Most were football size and like albacore it was a bloody frenzy. It was an absolute blast. I also learned a good lesson as on the first day I didn’t wear a belt/rod holder when fighting fish and had about 19 circular purple bruises on my waste and legs (maybe that is how I could have counted my catch). That fighting belt sure felt good the next morning with my first hook up.

I spent my last day inshore fishing hooking many species; snapper, roosterfish, mackeral, Jack’s (too many species to name) and my rooster was around 30 lbs. I ended up heading in a bit early after some quality catching to get some pool time and cocktails in (I didn’t fall out of the hammock this trip which was a major victory for me).

I had a late flight out of San Jose the next day and I managed to get a surf session in the morning of my departure, which was a bonus for me sitting in water that was 87 degrees.

I celebrated my 46th birthday while I was there and was surprised with a big chocolate cake and candle by Greg. I would have likely never found the Zancudo Lodge if it were not for the Coastside crew… thank you for the introduction. Quality people here and there!

I count my blessings that I have a job, supporting wife and great friends that allow me to make these trips.

Tight lines to all of you,

Wes

Ken & I flew down to Zancudo Lodge, with our prize voucher from the Yellowtail Shootout 2009 victory! What an awesome place to spend the Christmas/New Years week. Lets get down to business-

Day 1- Went with Javier at 6am. Left the Lodge after breakfast for a quick bait making session, then off to a reef about 2 miles from the lodge. Within a hour, I had a 60+lb Roosterfish on the deck of Javiers sweet CC. After a few more roosters & cubera snappers in the 15 to 20lb class, we told Javier that we have always wanted to catch some Amberjack. He says “I know just the spot we should go try.” We shoot down to the border of Panama, 22 miles at about 30 knots. I’m tellin ya its a sweet Center console. 1st bait down yields a 30+lb Amberjack. All I can think is “Wow, this Javier guy delivers”.

Spent the rest of the day reef hopping, pulling on inshore snapper, roosterfish, amberjack & jack crevalle all the way back to the lodge.

Day 2- Went offshore trying for marlin, sailfish, dorado & tuna. Didn’t see any size able tuna so we focused on the others. Landed 1 sailfish (Raised 2 or 3), hooked a marlin that ripped line off for a couple of min before coming unbuttoned & gaffed 4 dorado in the 15 to 25lb class. Ken & I got the urge for some more roosters & made the call to head back inshore. Finished the day pulling on more of the same inshore roosters, amberjack, etc.

Day 3- Took our ladies with us on one of Zancudos 36′ Twin Vee cruisers. Headed offshore at 6am, caught & gaffed 4 nice dorado offshore. Raised 2 sailfish, no solid hook-ups on the bills. At 10 am, Ken looked at me and we both said “Lets go after the inshore species for our last round!” Off we went to the rock off the southern point of the Oso Penninsula. That’s when it happened for my buddy Ken. 9th inning, 2 outs, & homey hits it out of the park (as he always does). He lands a 80+lb roosterfish. The fish of a life time with pictures to prove it! (Ken is a big dude at 6′-8″, so keep that in mind)

I wanna send a huge shout-out to Ali, Jason, The BD Team for putting on the Yellowtail Shootout & a HUGE thanks to Gregg, Javier & The Zancudo Lodge Staff for making this a trip we will never forget.

Check out “The Zancudo Lodge” on the web. Gregg makes sure that the transfers are seamless from air to ground travel. Excellent accommodations & plenty of stuff to keep the wives happy while you go have fun! This place is a world class fishery, you gotta check it out.

-Chud

-Team Hula Girl