ASK THE COSTA RICA FISHING  EXPERT    For many years Tico Travel has been known as the leader in all aspects of Costa Rica fishing. Now we have come up with an even better way for you to get the latest and best advice on fishing in Costa Rica. How? Ask the Costa Fishing Expert! Get the latest and best advice on the Costa Rica fishing scene. Costa Rica Fishing Expert: Rob Hodel Local Knowledge on Costa Rica Fishing is something you cannot order over the web. Along with the best prices on airfare and car rental, Tico Travel offers the best in local knowledge on fishing in Costa Rica. There is actually a Tico Travel employee in Costa Rica traveling to all corners of the country 365 days a year! This person sends us emails on almost a daily basis updating us on fishing conditions, any new fishing boats or outfitters and as well any changes in the ones we are currently working with. He also lets us know where the fish are biting and what people are catching. Tico Travel is proud to be the only company offering this unique Costa Rica fishing service and it shows once again why we are the recognized leaders when it comes to all aspects of Costa Rica Fishing.  Learn more about Costa Rica Tarpon and Snook  Learn more about Costa Rica Marlin and Sailfish QUESTION: Rob, Will be doing shore fishing south of Dominical, mid January, what lures, line weight should I have? Thanks ...Gary ANSWER: Gary, Make sure you fish the rivermouths, color changes working best. We use live sardines for snook but top water yazuris and rapalas also can get some action. Also you want to bring some jigs of varying colors with some rubber tails if it gets slow. I also love to have a spoon in there too. The fish can come in all sizes and there are things in the water that can nick a line so try 16 lb and then adjust up or down. You also want to have some flouro carbon liter material. You want to fish both sides of both tides. Watch the locals for the "honey holes" but you may also want to consider a trip into the Sierpe river or even Drake's Bay. If I can help with anything else let me know. Tight Lines. Rob. QUESTION: Hi Rob, How do moon phases affect the bill fishing? What is the best moon phase to go in? Thanks, Brad ANSWER: Brad, We could talk about this one for ever and there are a lot of opinions on moon phases. I always felt that moon phase was just part of the "cocktail" which includes water temp, currents, and bait concentration. Nonetheless some captains like a few days off the new moon under the theory that its harder for the billfish to find bait in the dark night waters. I have found that if the water temp is higher than 86 degrees or way below 83 degrees things were slower no matter what the moon. Rob. QUESTION: Rob, I would greatly appreciate any help you can give me. I will be in the Puntarenas area late November. We have rented a house on the beach... Can you surf fish in Costa Rica like in the Atlantic coast beaches of the United states. I am used to surf fishing for rockfish and bluefish from the beaches of Maryland and Virginia. What kind of bait would you use??? Thank you for your advice. Chris ANSWER: Chris, You can have great action on the coasts, especially on the Pacific at the river mouths. I have found small snook love small jigs and the larger ones and snapper go for small mullet or sardines, lives ones work best. Fish the color change in the water, Rob. QUESTION: Rob, Can you catch rooster fish from the surf like we do striped bass and blue fish in new jersey? We can use metal lures or top water plugs and sometimes bait. Thanks: Norm Hafler (I will be in the flamingo area feb 08 ) ANSWER: Norm, If you find the right spot... yes you can. Live bait (sardines) work best but you may also pull some snapper out as well as snook (usually further south) at the rivermouths. Tight Lines, Rob. QUESTION: Dear Rob, I am planning a trip to the Playa Hermosa area off Coco Beach around May or June of next year, 2008 to stay in my bosses house there. I was wondering if this is a peak season for sailfish. I love to marlin fish and so does my wife, but we fish the Alabama Gulf Coast. Thanks for the help. Jackson. Any tips on GREAT boats in this area? ANSWER: Jackson, You are in luck. That is a great time to be in that area for billfish. We have some dependable boats we work with that come up from Tamarindo and Flamingo. If you want to be sure have at least a day or two booked in advance call Laura at Tico Travel. Rob. QUESTION: What is the best month for bill fishing? ANSWER: Todd, I could write a long treatise on this but it looks to me that you want a straight answer. For the best billfishing, accompanied by the best (or most consistently sunny) weather. You want to go in March or February anywhere from Los Sueños to Golfito on the Pacific Coast. Rob QUESTION: Question Regarding the Pacific Coast - Rob, I'm looking well ahead for a late 2008/early 2009 father/son sportfishing trip to Costa Rica\'s Pacific coast. Trying to be as economical as possible, where would you recommend (both accommodations and fishing charter), and exactly when on the calendar? Thanks... James. ANSWER: Hi James, I would shoot for early 2009 for the best Pacific Action. There are laots of small boats working out of Quepos as well as some budget hotels. You may also want to try an "all inclusive" option like Crocodile Bay so you know exactly what your costs will be. Rob QUESTION: Rob, We are planning a trip to Los Suenos sometime in January 2008. In planning this trip are there any tips on how to pick the best time to go? Are moon phases or tidal charts relevant to bill fishing? ANSWER: Kelly, You have opened pandora's box with that question. I am sure that I am going to get a lot of emails on this answer but here it goes... Its been my experience that there is no "one thing" that can predict how the fishing is going to be. Having said that I will tell you that in my experience the phase that is most popular with most capatins is a few days after the new moon. There are a lot of theories but I do not subscribe to most of them. If you can fish three days I can almost gurantee you that you will have at least one (if not all three) be one of your best on the water. Los Suenos is a great facility and there some good boats fishing out of there. Rob More Costa Rica Fishing Questions>> TICO TRAVEL™ 161 East Commercial Blvd, Ft Lauderdale, Florida 33334 Office Hours: * Monday thru Friday 9am to 6pm * Saturday 10am to 2pm E.S.T. 1-800-493-8426 Copyright © 2006 - 2008 Tico Travel™ - All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of Tico Travel™ is prohibited. Prices and information are subject to change without notice.