On a recent trip to Costa Rica I had the opportunity to catch my first Pacific Sailfish on Fly. Pacific Sailfish are not only much larger than their Atlantic cousins but to my amazement are extremely aggressive and challenging, especially on fly. In March of 2008, I was treated to an exciting fishing adventure, courtesy of Abraham and Betsy Bullard, owners of Golfito Sailfish Rancho which is located on a remote stretch of Pacific shoreline. I departed from Ft. Lauderdale at 11:30 in the morning and arrived at the lodge just after 5:00 pm. The 2 hour and 40 minute flight went directly into San Jose, the capitol city. I then transferred to a 40 minute domestic flight that landed on a jungle airstrip in the picturesque village of Golfito. A 15 minute boat ride completed the trip to the lodge which is situated in a tropical rainforest at the base of a steep mountain.
Golfito Sailfish Rancho is considered a second home to many notable sportsman, and it was there that I had the pleasure of meeting accomplished angler Flip Pallot for the first time. Had I been there one week earlier I would have had the chance to fish alongside of the legendary Stu Apte. The jungle above is dense and waterfalls cascade down steep cliffs less than 20-feet from the base of the lodge. Howler monkeys roam the forest and share the canopy with toucans and macaws. The accommodations are comfortable and roomy, and each overlook the ocean. Beyond the porch, hummingbirds hover among tropical flowers. Although the lodge is closed briefly for the rainy season, many different species of fish are available to anglers year round, including blue and black marlin, roosterfish, snook, dorado, wahoo, and tuna. Live bait is abundant. I could hardly wait until morning.
The captain and mate were well versed in the art of flyfishing and the bite had been good in recent days. Betsy had prepared a 14 weight outfit, tipped with a custom fly tied by her husband and flyfishing guru Abraham. After a 25-minute run offshore we deployed three teasers–designed to raise sailfish (and marlin) to the surface and draw them in close enough for presentation of the fly. It took less than 20 minutes for the first "lit-up" sail to enter the spread. The captain and mate orchestrated a perfect tease, gradually pulling the hookless lures closer to the boat and bringing the excited sailfish to within casting range. Just as my fly hit the water the last teaser was jerked away, leaving only my fly inches behind the sail’s bill. Noticeably unsettled by the situation the sail turned and took the fly frantically. I struck sharply and could feel that the hook had hit something solid. It was at that moment that I realized that one of my biggest dreams was in the process of coming true–my first sail on fly. The sailfish burned out spectacularly on the surface, was brought alongside, revived and released in good condition.
In 2-1/2 days we raised at least 15 sails, missing most of a hot afternoon bite due to a 2-1/2 hour battle with a monster–but that was only part of the story. From time to time we observed more than 40 sails cruising just below the surface, their large dorsal fins fully extended and visible often from a hundred yards away. With the water being so calm, the ocean seemed to resemble a gigantic fish tank. We occasionally took advantage of the opportunity to pitch live baits from the bow using 12-pound spinning gear. We had a ball!
Betsy and Abraham and their staff are not only enthusiastic, kind and sincere, but are extremely knowledgeable and conservation minded and do everything possible to release every fish unharmed. Each fish is billed and the hook is removed prior to release. No hooks are ever intentionally left in the fish. Circle hooks, which lodge in the corner of the mouth to minimize injury, are mandatory. Costa Rican fishing laws and regulations maintain a healthy fishery for the benefit of everyone who enjoys the sport.
Having secretly learned of two recent pending world records on snook, my next trip will definitely be longer so that I can have more time to fish in each of several rivers that empty in to the Golfo Dulce.
This was a trip of a lifetime and one I will never forget.
Raymond Douglas
