Costa Rica Tarpon, and a world class eco tour - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Hypoxic1 · 10-06-2011, 04:35 PM

I want to begin by thanking Jim Sammons, and Ex Officio for taking Sandra and I on an epic journey which was truly life changing. After landing in San Jose we were picked up by private charter service and taken to a local hotel for the night.

At 0600 the following morning we had a private van pick us up for a short drive to the local smaller airport, where we were to board a private flight to The Silver King lodge at Barra Del Colorado. This lodge lies 9 miles south of the Nicaraguan border on the river not far from where it meets the Caribbean sea.

There are 12 rooms at the Silver King. All are built on stilts with an elevated wood path connecting them together. These rooms are all set up for double occupancy with most of the amenities you would expect at a fine hotel.

Fishing here isn’t cheap, about $ 3000 American for a 3 day package, which is all they book. I was only there for one day as part of the sweepstakes, to fish on Jims show.

On final to the airfield the strip looked like a postage stamp. I have a few thousand hours of private flying but was still impressed with our pilots professionalism and skill at putting it right on the numbers, not wasting one foot of runway. The field has a few resident dogs that like to lay in the middle until just before the planes is going to squash them.

When a new guest arrives the owners sister who runs the place, comes out by boat to the strip to greet the new arrivals, and send off anyone who may be leaving. The feeling is one of being very welcome immediately. They load up the passengers and the fresh vegetables the plane has flown out and off we go on the pontoon boat to the lodge. The run up river to the lodge is about half a mile and very scenic with the periodic crocodile if you look very close.

When we got to the lodge Jim and Will, the videographer and a few of Jims friends Joe, and Steve from the Pacific side, had already been out fishing for an hour so a skiff was arranged to take me and Sandra out to meet them. When we left the river it was about 5 minutes at 15 knots before we got to the collision line between clean ocean water and the brown river water. It was a perfect line as if drawn by a pen. They were another few miles north fishing a few hundred yards apart, using what the guides referred to as Sardinias, but I knew them as Pilchards when I was on the east coast. Im pretty sure all of the kayaks were Tarpons also…fitting.

About an hour after I arrived Jim hooked up and brought a nice 60 lb fish to the boat , took the video and pix then off it went. Clean release. I did see it jump a few times. Beautiful. When this thing is a few years older it will be a monster.

They fish till 11 or so then its time to go back up river for a dip in the pool, lunch, and siesta. The lodge calls everyone to the dining room by ringing a giant bell. Food is served buffet style and It was delicious.

During lunch I learned that there were guys from Finland, England, Norway, and Japan. Most of these guys were fly fishermen looking for that crown jewel, the 200 lb Tarpon. I saw that one guy actually was on the scoreboard from the past week with a 180 lb’r.

After lunch it is an hour siesta, then back to the boats . Sandra had tired of the yak deal so she stayed on the boat and Steve went back in the water on his yak. After about 3 hours of fishing I had reaffirmed that I did indeed know how to paddle in spite of being a Hobie guy, and it was very enjoyable.

The thing with tarpon is the drift, no trolling a dead bait. I had my rod setting across my lap, between my legs so I could thumb the reel and feel any hits on the line. At about 3 pm my line slowly starts to roll of the reel. Not wanting to be too eager I let it keep slowly casually peeling off and get on the radio to say “chris is bit……Chris is ON!!!” just as I set it. This was to call over the camera boat so they could film the action. I expected a huge run but instead I got a giant truck that didn’t seem to even care that I was hooked up. Its entirely possible that this huge fish didn’t realize it was hooked because It was pulling me around like I was hooked to a seal. After about 30 minutes the fish was about 5 feet from my boat, and about 5 feet down……no jumps……what the hell? Then Will kindly reminds me that this fish is a monster and real green still so I let out a little line so if it did jump it didn’t land on me. Jim rolls in and grabs the back of my yak to give the fish more drag then BOOM!! It launches into one magnificent jump that was nothing short of spectacular. About 5 minutes later I did something stupid and dreaded with the lever drag….bumped it outta gear and got a freespool backlash that wrapped around the lever before I put it back in gear. With all of the adrenaline I wasn’t able to diagnose the problem and the fish sounded and broke off. What the hell it was going back home anyway, no matter what. The guides estimated from the jump view that the fish was something on the order of 130 lbs. For sure the biggest fish I have had on a kayak. Losing it was a little disappointing but I was more concerned with letting the rest of the guys down as we were getting video for one of the shows. After that there were to be no more fish for us that day but Jim and the guys were staying for a few more days to complete the show. It was time for Sandra and I to have dinner with the group go to sleep and move on to other adventures for the week. I will be posting the rest of the trip on my facebook if anyones curious in the next few days.

Once again This was truly a world class experience with a bunch of great guys. Many thanks to Jim, Joe, Steve and the Costa Rica crew for making us a part of their adventure. Also Many HUGE thanks to Ex Officio for making this possible, providing us with some excellent clothing and the adventure of a lifetime!!

PURA VIDA!!

mtnbykr2 · 10-06-2011, 04:44 PM

now that is a wall hanger!!! nice photo...maybe someday....congrats

looks like an epic time

lterrero · 10-06-2011, 05:33 PM

Nice Chris! next time I'll go with you and help you with the Spanish and all those fish...

Darkstar · 10-06-2011, 05:59 PM

Mtnbykr2 got that right... Just epic

StinkyMatt · 10-06-2011, 06:15 PM

Chris, can you adopt me into your family?

I am so jealous!

I can't even begin to imagine hunting for beasts like that!

GregAndrew · 10-06-2011, 07:40 PM

Can you say Coverboy? That shot sure could.

lbsurf2ca · 10-06-2011, 07:47 PM

Really? You didn't want to get tuna instead....Jk man thats bad ass....Can't wait to see some footage of that trip.

wiredantz · 10-06-2011, 07:47 PM

What an Epic Thrill Ride!!!

Man i would of been so stoke going on a sleigh right like that one!!!

Amish Ed · 10-07-2011, 01:28 AM

Great report. Thanks.

blitzburgh · 10-07-2011, 06:50 AM

kurt · 10-07-2011, 08:08 AM

Great report. Awesome pic!

Handymansd · 10-07-2011, 08:50 AM

Chris, it looks like you had a great time, and even got some points in with the wife! Congratulations on an epic Sammons adventure! And Thanks to Jim and Ex Officio for their generosity! I hope they have not ruined lil ol La Jolla for ya!

PS that pic should be on your wall somewhere!

The Kid · 10-07-2011, 11:56 AM

Congrats Chris!! That is one epic photo. Glad to hear to had an incredible trip.

DanaPT · 10-07-2011, 12:06 PM

Pictures of fish on laps is over-rated. You'd be uncomfortably slimy, after all that is a big fish.

Nice work on the catch and release.

INGRIDSDAD · 10-07-2011, 01:04 PM

Looks like an incredible trip. Great picture, I would have that right next to the one of you and your dog. 2 great shots!

Jim Sammons LJKF · 10-07-2011, 01:28 PM

Chris it was great spending time with you and Sandra. After you left the fishing just kept getting better each day. On the final day of our trip I jumped 10 tarpon landing 6 of them with fish up to 140. The kayaks by the way were Tridents not Tarpons, wrong company.
I hope the rest of your trip went great.

10-07-2011, 01:42 PM

Chris,

I remember talking to you about your upcoming
Costa Rica trip. Looks like your expectations were
met and more. Can't wait for more photos.

Mtobolsky · 10-10-2011, 12:53 PM

Great Chris........now that spot is gonna be a parking lot tomorrow!!! LOL good job! SUPER JEALOUS!

PAL · 10-10-2011, 07:57 PM

Awesome! What a prize to win.

jorluivil · 10-11-2011, 04:51 AM

That's an awesome otw shot!!! Almost looks Photoshopped.

10-06-2011, 04:35 PM	#1
Hypoxic1 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Oceanside Posts: 215	Costa Rica Tarpon, and a world class eco tour I want to begin by thanking Jim Sammons, and Ex Officio for taking Sandra and I on an epic journey which was truly life changing. After landing in San Jose we were picked up by private charter service and taken to a local hotel for the night. At 0600 the following morning we had a private van pick us up for a short drive to the local smaller airport, where we were to board a private flight to The Silver King lodge at Barra Del Colorado. This lodge lies 9 miles south of the Nicaraguan border on the river not far from where it meets the Caribbean sea. There are 12 rooms at the Silver King. All are built on stilts with an elevated wood path connecting them together. These rooms are all set up for double occupancy with most of the amenities you would expect at a fine hotel. Fishing here isn’t cheap, about $ 3000 American for a 3 day package, which is all they book. I was only there for one day as part of the sweepstakes, to fish on Jims show. On final to the airfield the strip looked like a postage stamp. I have a few thousand hours of private flying but was still impressed with our pilots professionalism and skill at putting it right on the numbers, not wasting one foot of runway. The field has a few resident dogs that like to lay in the middle until just before the planes is going to squash them. When a new guest arrives the owners sister who runs the place, comes out by boat to the strip to greet the new arrivals, and send off anyone who may be leaving. The feeling is one of being very welcome immediately. They load up the passengers and the fresh vegetables the plane has flown out and off we go on the pontoon boat to the lodge. The run up river to the lodge is about half a mile and very scenic with the periodic crocodile if you look very close. When we got to the lodge Jim and Will, the videographer and a few of Jims friends Joe, and Steve from the Pacific side, had already been out fishing for an hour so a skiff was arranged to take me and Sandra out to meet them. When we left the river it was about 5 minutes at 15 knots before we got to the collision line between clean ocean water and the brown river water. It was a perfect line as if drawn by a pen. They were another few miles north fishing a few hundred yards apart, using what the guides referred to as Sardinias, but I knew them as Pilchards when I was on the east coast. Im pretty sure all of the kayaks were Tarpons also…fitting. About an hour after I arrived Jim hooked up and brought a nice 60 lb fish to the boat , took the video and pix then off it went. Clean release. I did see it jump a few times. Beautiful. When this thing is a few years older it will be a monster. They fish till 11 or so then its time to go back up river for a dip in the pool, lunch, and siesta. The lodge calls everyone to the dining room by ringing a giant bell. Food is served buffet style and It was delicious. During lunch I learned that there were guys from Finland, England, Norway, and Japan. Most of these guys were fly fishermen looking for that crown jewel, the 200 lb Tarpon. I saw that one guy actually was on the scoreboard from the past week with a 180 lb’r. After lunch it is an hour siesta, then back to the boats . Sandra had tired of the yak deal so she stayed on the boat and Steve went back in the water on his yak. After about 3 hours of fishing I had reaffirmed that I did indeed know how to paddle in spite of being a Hobie guy, and it was very enjoyable. The thing with tarpon is the drift, no trolling a dead bait. I had my rod setting across my lap, between my legs so I could thumb the reel and feel any hits on the line. At about 3 pm my line slowly starts to roll of the reel. Not wanting to be too eager I let it keep slowly casually peeling off and get on the radio to say “chris is bit……Chris is ON!!!” just as I set it. This was to call over the camera boat so they could film the action. I expected a huge run but instead I got a giant truck that didn’t seem to even care that I was hooked up. Its entirely possible that this huge fish didn’t realize it was hooked because It was pulling me around like I was hooked to a seal. After about 30 minutes the fish was about 5 feet from my boat, and about 5 feet down……no jumps……what the hell? Then Will kindly reminds me that this fish is a monster and real green still so I let out a little line so if it did jump it didn’t land on me. Jim rolls in and grabs the back of my yak to give the fish more drag then BOOM!! It launches into one magnificent jump that was nothing short of spectacular. About 5 minutes later I did something stupid and dreaded with the lever drag….bumped it outta gear and got a freespool backlash that wrapped around the lever before I put it back in gear. With all of the adrenaline I wasn’t able to diagnose the problem and the fish sounded and broke off. What the hell it was going back home anyway, no matter what. The guides estimated from the jump view that the fish was something on the order of 130 lbs. For sure the biggest fish I have had on a kayak. Losing it was a little disappointing but I was more concerned with letting the rest of the guys down as we were getting video for one of the shows. After that there were to be no more fish for us that day but Jim and the guys were staying for a few more days to complete the show. It was time for Sandra and I to have dinner with the group go to sleep and move on to other adventures for the week. I will be posting the rest of the trip on my facebook if anyones curious in the next few days. Once again This was truly a world class experience with a bunch of great guys. Many thanks to Jim, Joe, Steve and the Costa Rica crew for making us a part of their adventure. Also Many HUGE thanks to Ex Officio for making this possible, providing us with some excellent clothing and the adventure of a lifetime!! PURA VIDA!! Attached Images

10-06-2011, 04:44 PM	#2
mtnbykr2 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: newbury park ca Posts: 2,323	now that is a wall hanger!!! nice photo...maybe someday....congratslooks like an epic time

10-06-2011, 07:47 PM	#8
wiredantz Currently @ MLO Territory Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Under the Shadow Posts: 2,290	What an Epic Thrill Ride!!! Man i would of been so stoke going on a sleigh right like that one!!! __________________ Team: Disbanded You only have one chance in this life...make the right decision(s)...so you don't regret it

10-07-2011, 01:28 AM	#9
Amish Ed Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grants Pass, OR Posts: 1,903	Great report. Thanks. __________________ Amish Ed You can't catch it again if it's dead!

10-07-2011, 06:50 AM	#10
blitzburgh Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Menifee Posts: 2,509	__________________ ”The beauty of the Second Amendment is that it will not be needed until they try to take it.” ~Thomas Jefferson.........maybe

10-06-2011, 05:33 PM	#3
lterrero Leo Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: La Jolla, CA Posts: 482	Nice Chris! next time I'll go with you and help you with the Spanish and all those fish...

10-06-2011, 05:59 PM	#4
Darkstar Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SDSU area Posts: 131	Mtnbykr2 got that right... Just epic

10-06-2011, 06:15 PM	#5
StinkyMatt Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Under a bridge Posts: 2,168	Chris, can you adopt me into your family? I am so jealous! I can't even begin to imagine hunting for beasts like that!

10-06-2011, 07:40 PM	#6
GregAndrew Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2,384	Can you say Coverboy? That shot sure could.

10-06-2011, 07:47 PM	#7
lbsurf2ca Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Encinitas Posts: 395	Really? You didn't want to get tuna instead....Jk man thats bad ass....Can't wait to see some footage of that trip.

10-07-2011, 08:08 AM	#11
kurt Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: 2 inches above sea level Posts: 502	Great report. Awesome pic! __________________ "All I got was a rock"

10-07-2011, 08:50 AM	#12
Handymansd Ancient Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: On The Water Posts: 935	Chris, it looks like you had a great time, and even got some points in with the wife! Congratulations on an epic Sammons adventure! And Thanks to Jim and Ex Officio for their generosity! I hope they have not ruined lil ol La Jolla for ya! PS that pic should be on your wall somewhere! __________________ All men are equal before fish. -Herbert Hoover

10-07-2011, 11:56 AM	#13
The Kid Loves Surface Irons Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego Posts: 455	Congrats Chris!! That is one epic photo. Glad to hear to had an incredible trip.

10-07-2011, 12:06 PM	#14
DanaPT Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: South OC Posts: 1,605	Just change the ending. Pictures of fish on laps is over-rated. You'd be uncomfortably slimy, after all that is a big fish. Nice work on the catch and release.

10-07-2011, 01:04 PM	#15
INGRIDSDAD Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Riverside Posts: 108	Looks like an incredible trip. Great picture, I would have that right next to the one of you and your dog. 2 great shots!

10-07-2011, 01:28 PM	#16
Jim Sammons LJKF Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego CA Posts: 947	Chris it was great spending time with you and Sandra. After you left the fishing just kept getting better each day. On the final day of our trip I jumped 10 tarpon landing 6 of them with fish up to 140. The kayaks by the way were Tridents not Tarpons, wrong company. I hope the rest of your trip went great. __________________ Jim Sammons La Jolla Kayak Fishing The Kayak Fishing Show JimSammons.com

10-07-2011, 01:42 PM	#17
yani Guest Posts: n/a	Chris, I remember talking to you about your upcoming Costa Rica trip. Looks like your expectations were met and more. Can't wait for more photos.

10-10-2011, 12:53 PM	#18
Mtobolsky Loves his member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 122	Great Chris........now that spot is gonna be a parking lot tomorrow!!! LOL good job! SUPER JEALOUS!

10-10-2011, 07:57 PM	#19
PAL Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 754	Awesome! What a prize to win.

10-11-2011, 04:51 AM	#20
jorluivil Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 6,855	That's an awesome otw shot!!! Almost looks Photoshopped. __________________ www.facebook.com/Teamsewer