COSTA RICA

OUR TWELVE ANXIOUS ANGLERS HEADED TO COSTA RICA IN SEARCH OF GIANT TARPON. SOME OF US HAD PERSONAL GOALS FOR SIZE, AND FOR SOME IT WOULD BE THEIR FIRST TARPON EVER.

OUR DESTINATION WAS CASA MAR LODGE ON THE RIO COLORADO, THE MAJOR RIVER THAT DIVIDES COSTA RICA AND NICARAGUA. THE LODGE IS UP-RIVER APPROXIMATELY A MILE FROM THE MOUTH ON THE CARIBBEAN. CASA MAR IS A RENOWN TARPON DESTINATION AND SALT FISHING MAGAZINE LISTS IT AS ONE OF THE TOP TEN SALTWATER FLY FISHING DESTINATIONS.

we HAD PLANNED ON FOUR DAYS OF FISHING THAT WAS TO INCLUDE FISHING FOR SOME SPECIES OTHER THEN TARPON. HOWEVER, TWO DAYS OF TORRENTIAL RAINS RAISED THE RIVER BY SIX FEET AND COMPLETELY BLEW OUT THAT POSSIBILITY. RELEGATED TO ONLY FISH THE OCEAN WHEN WE COULD ACCESS IT (THE RIVER BAR CAN BE TREACHEROUS) ALL BUT ONE OF OUR GROUP DID CATCH TARPON, AND AS YOU WILL SEE FROM THE PHOTOS, SOME VERY NICE ONES!

MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO FURNISHED THESE PICTURES, THEY ARE: DON GARNETT, WAYNE HOFER, KIT KOHLER, CRAIG MCMULLEN, DON MITTELSTAEDT AND RAY MUTTER.

FIRST OF THE TRIP

DON GARNETT AND HIS FIRST TARPON

RAY MUTTER HAS ONE

BAD WEATHER

GOOD WEATHER

BLOWN-OUT RIVER

PARTY TRIO

WAITING IN HOUSTON

CROCODILE