Captain Allan with Dorado
Captain Allan with Dorado

Nice Tuna
Nice Tuna

Jigging and popping at Crocodile Bay Resort
by Captain Allan Smith

If you love the sensation having a jigging rod almost ripped from your hands as a big fish inhales your butterfly jig, or the thrill of watching a tuna crush your popper, leaving a hole in the water where your lure used to be, then Crocodile Bay is the place for you.

The Gulfo Dulce, and it's surrounding waters offer some great opportunities to catch fish both jigging and on poppers. If jigging is your passion, we have some deep structure that holds Amberjack, Cubera Snapper, African Pompano, yellowfin Tuna, Roosterfish, Grouper, Trevally, Jacks and a host of other tropical fighters.

It's not just the thrill of the strike, the challenge of keeping the fish out of the Rocks, or feeling every head shake through the braided line.

It's the simple fact that there are such a variety of fish down there, that you often don't know what you have on the line, until you see it. It's not uncommon to catch six or eight different species in a single spot.

For the popping enthusiast, you have many fishing options both inshore or offshore. Working the beach and shallow reefs can produce a mixed bag, including Roosters, Jacks, Snappers, Mackerel, Barracuda, Dorado, and Trevally. Over some of the the deeper structure, you can find "floating Snappers", or snappers that have come off the bottom and are holding close to the surface, as well as Jacks, Roosters, Barracuda and Dorado. Big Cubera Snappers will come up from one hundred feet or more to hit a popper. When they do, it is an awesome explosion of an angry, red fish and white water.

Offshore fishing also, holds some great opportunities for the popper fanatic. Trolling offshore, we often find floating debris, such as logs, branches, pallets, or just about anything else that floats. These floating objects, attract baitfish. Offering a place to hide, in otherwise deep and structureless water. This bait, then attracts gamefish such as Dorado, Tuna, Sailfish, and Marlin. Usually, one pass with the trolling lures, will tell you what fish are holing on the structure. Find one that is loaded with Dorado, and you can stop and have a field day with a popper. It is not uncommon to have two or three fish hooked at once, with a dozen or more swimming around the boat.

If a big fight is what you are looking for, then Tuna is your game. We catch some very big Yellowfin Tuna here, and they will readily take a popper. It is a little bit different fishing, then what some anglers are accustomed to. We rarely see Tuna breaking on their own here. The big Tuna we catch, are always in with schools of Dolfin. Tuna run with Dolphin, such as spotted or spinner Dolphin that use echo location to find bait. Once the Dolphin locate the bait, the Tuna move in and feed with the Dolphin.

When we find a school of Dolphin, we position the boat in front of the them, and let the school come to us. When you see breaking Tuna, cast to them. It is possible to cast to hundred plus pound fish breaking right in front of you. But be careful, you never know when that two hundred pounder, is going to come out of the fray and take your popper.

Jigging and popping have become very popular in recent years. With the advent or braided lines, stronger reels, lighter, more powerful rods and better hooks, the sport has grown. Anglers now push the bounds of what is possible with spinning and light conventional tackle. For the experienced pro, we offer a variety of species to add to one's life list, as well as a shot at a trophy. For the beginner, we're more than happy to introduce you to the sport, and offer an excellent environment to begin honing ones skills.

Tight lines,
Captain Allan Smith
www.crocodilebay.com

Book Your Costa Rica Fly Fishing Trip Today!

About The Author: Captain Todd Staley

Company: Crocodile Bay Resort

Area Reporting: Todd Staley

Bio: Todd Staley – Director of Fishing Todd carved his niche in the fishing community as a lure manufacturer and outdoor journalist specializing in light tackle in Florida and Costa Rica. He has been published in many magazines and newspapers in both countries and invented a lure that was banned from tarpon tournaments in Boca Grande, Florida as an unfair advantage over live bait. The late Archie Fields brought Todd to Costa Rica nearly a decade ago to manage his famous tarpon resort on the Caribbean coast. Since Archie's death he has managed Golfito Sailfish Ranch and worked with America Sportfishing in the Hotel del Rey. He is a world record holder and has guided several others to world records.

18007331115
Click Here For Past Fishing Reports by Captain Todd Staley