Costa Rica truly a fishing -- and eco-tourism -- paradise

Posted May 05, 2009 11:00 pm

Mike Jackson

RIO PARISMINA, Costa Rica - Fishing and eco-tourism are as big in this country as its fruit exports and machine parts. And the people in charge of bringing the rest of the world here to see the wonders of this magnificent country are some of the sharpest promoters I have ever encountered in all of my travels.

I came back here for the spectacular in-shore tarpon fishing. To put it bluntly, it's some of the best in the world.

Elk Grove anglers Dave Nyc and son Jon were in the group, along with Palatine pharmacist Ken Kortas, Downers Grove residents Don Novak, and Ben and Debbie Napolski (and their two sons).

Once again our headquarters was the famous Rio Parismina Lodge, which sits in the middle of a lush conservatory of flora and wildlife carved out of a not-so-forgiving sprawling jungle.

Lodge operator Judy Heidt and manager Fernando Gomez established an environment that can truly be called a Central American paradise, complete with the availability of huge fish a few hundred yards away.

Though it rained four days, our group finally encountered excellent tarpon angling under a bright Caribbean sun.

"I should have listened to Mike Jackson some years back when he invited me to partake in the world-class tarpon fishing here," Ken Kortas said. "So after some years of prodding, I finally acquiesced and came along. I truly regret not making the journey when he first mentioned it."

Mike Seeling and I were again assigned Potee, one of the great guides the lodge furnishes. The usual morning routine goes like this: We make a short run down the river to the Caribbean Sea and start looking for schools of sardine, which we catch and use for bait. Then it's action time.

Our gear is lightweight, in that I mean we're using Shimano saltwater reels spooled with 20-pound mono coupled to 100-pound shock leaders. The sardines go on a 9/0 circle hook. We drift the baits slightly off the bottom until a tarpon decides it's snack time. And when a big tarpon inhales one of these sardines, those of us on the business end of the rod and reel almost feel as if we're in the ring with one of those WWE wrestlers on TV.

This time out I handled the picture-taking because Mike Seeling was busy shouldering the job of trying to outlast a mammoth silver king (tarpon). On previous excursions here, Seeling learned the battle is won by the fisherman if he or she can outlast the fish in the energy department. Seeling usually wins hands down.

There are other species here when one can rest the muscles.

When the weather created massive breaking waves at the junction of the river and ocean and made it far too dicey to reach the big water, we navigated our way around the river labyrinth into lagoons and parts of the Parismina River for snook, and mojara (it looks like a bluegill on steroids). Other river species include guapote (wapotee), a distant cousin to the famous peacock bass, and the machaka, a species resembling a lake trout with big teeth. On other trips here we caught goliath grouper, big wahoo, tuna, red snapper, king mackerel, and jack crevalle.

And at the end of a day's battles, sumptuous meals are inhaled, and lots of fish stories emanate from the lips of happy anglers who know the next morning will bring more "beasts of the sea."

Everyone knows there will be enough dream material to last until next year's adventure. You're welcome to join us next time around.

Higher water levels pose some angling challenges

Mother Nature has a way about her, in that she giveth and taketh. And her actions pertain to the local and area weather scene.

It has become a natural phenomena around this time every year for heavy rainfall to inundate the rivers and lakes. The high water levels have prompted officials to continue the ban on boating for both the upper and lower reaches of the Fox River. Add to that the no-wake conditions on the entire Fox Chain O' Lakes.

Here is this week's report:.

Fox Chain: There are walleyes to be had, according to several readers who managed to navigate their way around the waterway. Slot limit fish have been taken in necked-down areas where the current flow is heavy. Largemouth bass action has picked up, especially in shallow water on Channel Lake. Good bluegill activity on Pistakee Lake right on various shorelines.

Fox River: High water presents a few obstacles to shore anglers, but some smallmouth and catfish have been taken in the Elgin area on live bait.

Lake Michigan: When, and if, the rain goes away, look for improved perch action on the big water near Lake Forest in about 65 feet of water. Coho salmon action has improved out of Waukegan while brown trout activity has taken a shot upward straight out from Diversey Harbor in Chicago.

Cooling lakes: LaSalle Lake is still a prime spot for big stripers and smallmouth. Check the second pool.

• Mike Jackson can be reached via e-mail at angler@mikejacksonoutdoors.com, and you catch his radio program 6-7 a.m. Sundays on WSBC 1240-AM.

If you go Where: Rio Parismina Lodge on Costa Rica's east coast Best time to visit: Spring through fall Cost: Four days for $2,400 includes everything except air transportation from the states. Contact: 800-338-5688 For more info: visit <a href="http://www.riop.com" target="new">riop.com</a>

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