TARPON
FISHING
IN RIO SAN JUAN
Alone in
Tarpon Paradise The civil
war is over in Nicaragua. The tarpon, unfished for 30 years, are hungry.
And no one knows. by Bill Heavey
FIELD&STREAM Article
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Tarpon
Fishing in Costa rica and Nicaragua,
Rio San Juan: What
to expect ....
Fish
are present all year round, In front or close to Lodging.
Quiet Fresh Water, No Hard
Bara to pass
Sun and Rain, Rain and
sun..
Professional Guides... Most
of them with more of a Thousand tarpon reported
Conventional and fly Fishing.
Professional Tackles 50 sets,
1000 lures to choose from
We like to fish light... Max
30lb , Usual 20lb/25lb, for expert as low as 12lb... This whatever size of
fish we have optimum conditions here we can do that.
No or
Very very few Mosquitoes..
We go for tarpon 90lb to
170lb this is the average range, then we have the Big ones 160lb /200lb
and the Giants of more than 200lb... Our biggest weighed is 253lb, I
report two fish much bigger released to the boat we figure around
300lb..
In
latest Tarpon International Tournament 2006 Winer has been 193lb, then
182lb, 160lb, 143, 121lb...
Tarpon are present all year round moving up
and down stream, Some migrate some stay there. These are the Big ones different
color almost black on the back, gold/green on the side...
During a fishing trip on San Juan river we
will go where Tarpon are active... We have our spots close from
Lodge and if we encounter any problems we will chase for them going as far
as 45 Miles down River.. |
Tarpon fishing..
A LOT OF FUN
What I
REALLY ENJOY THE MOST is than every time it is different: fish
can jump immediately.. or run 100 yards and jump , or run 200yards and
stay there no jump or run again..... or no
jump for one hour and then jump 8 times in a row ( Mr Guiton) or run to
the boat, or stick to the bottom .. Bottom hook up..? a log.?. You go back
...slack line boat turn..3 mn past... Now the lure is under the boat.. You
are certain this is Bottom.. You pull hard and then fish
jump in your face.. ( Hello Jeff Klassen )
Sometime
I get mad on reading articles or book written by some Famous Tarpon
Masters. Really they describe Tarpon behavior as somewhere standard.. Run
and Jump.. That is why people ( Their readers lose so many Tarpon...) also
i do not like it because the most interesting with tarpon is than there is no
standard behavior.. in my opinion the most attractive part is than we have no
idea of what can happen.. this is probably the reason why after so many tarpon
caught we still loves to go for them...
NOTE
In this paragraph I talk of fishing with lures , not with Circle Hooks " it is difficult to set the hook as tarpon mouth is Paved like a
stone... " correct but there are some wick points Sometime
I wonder what exactly means set a hook specifically on a
Tarpon.. Most of the time Anglers are
using Nylon Mono Filament a lot of stretch whatever the brand ... Just make an experience tied to
any fix point a 20lb Igfa Mono filament line... then walk 20 yards from
this point line in hand .. block the drag then stretch the line walking
back and
count how many feet you can stretch the line..( Do that with Bimini
knots till the line break ) Well some some people tell you set a hook by
Lifting a rod 6 feet long ?... Correct eventual way to try to
set a hook on a tarpon using a Nylon line is when fish is running so line in
tension then strike shortly 2 or 3 times rod down on the side
other way will be rod in hand
using braided like when you feel the first attacks..
I insist with mono filament let it run...the point is in no way
strike like crazy but feel the fish be in contact get progressive
pressure before any action.. Then you can strike Rod down and
on the side in reality you
use the speed of the fish.. Easy to say. .but... Well practice always practice..
All
this is effective in 90% of our fishing days on San Juan River and
then you have these days when tarpon do not want to take nothing you can
troll, Cast, Fly fish, Bottom, with live bait, change lures color etc nothing happen they will only eventually play with your lure..
Translation: You are let say trolling and Tarpon are all around and
nothing happen, eventually from time to time line go whistle 2 second.. 10 mn one more time nothing
more and they are here
all around.. ... 1/2 h again... then whistle and immediate
jump.. at least you saw this one...These tarpon do not grab the lure they
only hit the line or push the lure a bit as a dog would do when he want to warm.., warming this lures ( May be
seen as eventual competitor
on feeding territory ) Tarpon does not want him around...This is known
from Tarpon Aficionados... Our SOLUTION... braided line , long medium
heavy action rod .. good angler able to feel the attacks it will
only be two or three little touch.. then immediate strike along the boat
rod down parallel
to Water level.. Rod down!!!
100/160lb tarpon on light tackle, This
is the fishing we enjoy so much with our Guests.. Picture
on the right Angler is Mr. Frank Yerich from texas. http://www.yerich.com/nicaragua.htm
THE
FIGHT Always
a SHOW ... may last 10mn or three hours depending of strengh of
fish and skil of angler...My recomandation fish " Finesse.." Nobody
can stop a runing tarpon, after the jumps is the moment to start to try to
enter the
line because iy is a lot of efort for them to jump up to 10 feet !!!! but pleased rod down, and do not put a lot of pressure...the more you put
the more the tarpon will give you back...After a while tarpon from time to time
will surface...You willl see the eye...he does not come to see you.. He does
that to gulp some air...Only few angler know than tarpon have a doble system to
breath, the Geals as all other fishes and also a kind of Lumb... If tarpon can
surface and fill this "lumb" you will be on for another 15mn... To
avoid that when you feel tarpon try to come up to breathe Try to keep it
down, rod at the water or flip it...
Releasing
Tarpon
Our
goal is to release the fish alive and in good condition, the shorter the fight
the better The pictures below show Augusto and El Chele in action. Acording to
I.G.F.A Rules once the knot "line to double"
touch the tippet of the rod, they can grab the 100lb leader and bring the
fish to the boat to quit the lure... Some tarpon are still green it may be to
early... You will decide together... Very important once they quit the lures and
you shot some pictures it will be necessary to also proceed to a reanimation of
fish...
We provide all necessary
professional equipments...For Trolling, Casting ( Spinning, and Bait Casting
) 40 rods and 500 lures to choose from. Line from 12lb to 40lb f
If you come fishing with us we
may ask you to bring us some specific lures hard to find
here . This is in order to replace the one we eventually lost ,
or the ones destroy by big tarpon during your fishing days ( My
proposal is: I
will buy from you the remaining at end of trip)
Obviously you are welcome to bring
some of your favorite tackles, Rods, reels and Lures... ....we will be glad
to try them here... and also.. I know: " it's not the same to fish with
Personal equipment and Guide's ones ..."
Big
fish down Rio san juan at Sabalo and Castillo...
These pictures has been shot from deck of
Fishing lodge close to Rodal del Toro on San Juan River ... Boat is a 28 footer.... Guests
Mr. Jim Dillion from Usa ( Photo # 3 and 4), and Mr. Thierry
Artz from France ( Photo # 1 and 2).
Tarpon
Fishing favorite
lures, most
of them
For
Tarpon or Snook fishing in the water of San Juan River in Nicaragua and
Costa Rica I have a preference for Rapala Lures specifically for
the Super Shad rap and the Floating magnum in size 11 and 14 . Almost any
rapala colors may be good according to condition of the day
Rapala Floating Magnum
Rapala shad rap
Rio San Juan Special thanks Janos.
Some other lures
are efficient Mirow lures.. Bombers , Rebels etc etc...
Some useful info on
Tarpon fishing in Central America, and concerning some other efficient
lures for tarpon fishing can be found on site of Mr Isaiac hernandez (
site in Spanish ) at: http://www.elanzuelo.com/la_pesca/la_pesca_del_sabalo.htm
Notes
& Reflexions upon Tarpon Fishing
1)
IGFA world record
I
have a lot of respect for IGFA who is making a fantastic
job since so many years for all of us Sport fishing men... I am pleased to
be a member of this institution...
There is no
doubt than being the tenant of an IGFA world record is very
important for any angler.. even more for Fishing operation specifically when we are talking of
Tarpon...
But
Problem is than to have a world record
registered according to present IGFA rules it is necessary to kill the
fish...
Since
5 years than we are fishing Rio San Juan No Doubt we " beat
" several world record for tarpon.. we caught a lot of fish of
more than 150lb... many over 200lb and had fun and been scared with fish
over 250lb...these one do not jump...1/3 of a body out and just
shake... We enjoyed with Guests these catch on line from
12lb to
30lb.test....
These
are estimated weight of fish.. We do not go wrong may be a few pounds..
matter of experience.. We also can calculate the weight with
the length and taking the diameter around the geals..( This can be done
quickly after quitting the lures , on the side of the boat ...before the
final released...)
Also
we had some accident with fish who were bleeding at the end or during the fight so
they would have anyway died .. I report several weighed fish of more
than around 200lb and the biggest weighed in June 2003 253lb (
Augusto as a Guide ) , I have been told this is the Biggest tarpon ever caught in Central
America..
Can any body tell me what is the USA record for Tarpon?
I guess in
Florida may be in Texas.. but how much? What are the State Record?
Try
to keep then alive complain
To
be absolutely clear: At
san Carlos Sport Fishing we really do not like the idea to Kill Tarpon. So
how can we claim a Record? with the
actual Igfa requirement it is impossible we would do all the processand then release
them? also it would anyway be very very
dangerous Imagine take the pictures on each side,
hang the fish , weighed it with a certified scale , take the
measurement , aboard a 24 feet long boat...and then Release the
fish... so sory I have no Tarpon World record registered...
The only exception would be if for any reason the fish died or is badly hurt during
the fight then we may decide as fish would anyway died to summit the
record... but we will never intentionally kill a fish to make a record..
I will never intentionally kill fish even
for my sons
Alexandre and Alain beat many time the kid ( under 10 )
IGFA tarpon world record..both of them had their first tarpon when
they were 8 years old. Nowaday Alex is at 180lb, Alain 127.. They caught
these fish in absolute
respect of IGFA regulations INCREDIBLE but 100% true
Our actual ( 2005) Company records for TARPON
are:
(Fish released these numbers are only Estimations..)
Children Boy record beaten many time
Children Girl record beaten ONE time
12lb Men IGFA record beaten many time
12lb women IGFA record beaten many time
All Tackle.. We report two fish released to the
boat we estimate over 300lb
2)
ULTRA LIGHT FISHING
Since
the middle of 2003 we like more and more to fish for tarpon on light
line 20lb test and also on ultra light 12lb with much lighter
Spinning and Bait
casting reels and one piece IM7 graphite rods action Medium heavy and
heavy This is extreme and Challenging fishing... We do not lost more fish on using these techniques
3)
BRAIDED LINE
No
doubt super fun with our Tarpon as you can feel the
fish much better... with a bit of practice and for the experts you
will be able to predict what fish will do in next
seconds.. This is really for me the TOP in tarpon fishing as we do that
using 12lb to 20 lb braided line...
4)Tarpon fishing..
A LOT OF FUN
What I
REALLY ENJOY THE MOST is than every time it is different: fish
can jump immediately.. or run 100 yards and jump , or run 200yards.. or no
jump for hours.. then jump 8 times in a row ( Mr Guiton) or run to
the boat, or stick to the bottom .. Bottom hook up.. a log.. You go back
slack line boat turn.. you go upon the lure.. pull hard and then fish
jump in your face.. ( Hello Jeff Klassen )
Sometime
I get mad on reading articles or book written by some Famous Tarpon
Masters. Really they describe Tarpon behavior as somewhere standard.. Run
and Jump.. That is why people ( Their readers lose so many Tarpon...)
1)
" it is difficult to set the hook as tarpon mouth is Paved like a
stone... " correct but there are some wick point What I wonder
is what means exactly set a hook specifically if you are
using Conventional Mono Filament ... Just make an experience tied to
any fix point a 20lb Igfa Mono filament line... then walk 20 yards from
this point line in hand .. block the drag then walk back and
count how many feet you can stretch the line..( Do that with Bimini
knots till the line break ) Well some some people tell you set a hook by
Lifting on pulling the rod 6 feet long ... The only way you
eventually set a hook on a tarpon is when fish is running so line in
tension then strike shortly 2 or 3 times rod down on the side also fishing rod in hand
using braided like when you feel the first attacks..
I insist with mono filament let it run...the point is in no way
strike like crasy but feel the fish be in touch get progressive
pressure before any action.. Then you can strike Rod down and
on the side in reality you
use the speed of the fish.. Easy to say.. Well practice always practice..
All
this is efective in 90% of our fishing days on San Juan River and
then you have these days when tarpon do not want to take nothing you can
change lures color etc nothing happen they will only eventually play with your lure..
Translation: You are let say trolling and line go whistle 2 second.. 10 mn one more time and they are here
all around.. ... 1/2 h again... then whistle and immediate
jump.. at least you saw this one...These tarpon do not inhale the lure they
only push the lure a bit as a dog do when he want to warm.., warming this lures ( May be
seen as eventual competitor
on feeding territory ) Tarpon does not want him around...This is known
from Tarpon Aficionados... Our SOLUTION... braided line , long medium
heavy action rod .. good angler able to feel the attacks it may be
only two or three little touch.. then immediate strike along the boat parallel
to Water level.. down
strike...
Special:
"Paul at Night with a Tarpon.."
Thanks
to Mr Paul Mahoney and Photographer Yves Van Derbecke
