After a quick twenty minute paddle I looked back to the shore and was amazed how much ground we had covered already. I was too busy taking in the beautiful scenery and enjoying a calm kayak ride that I hadn’t realized we had paddled all the way out to the middle of Flamingo Bay. What I was forgetting was that during that entire twenty minute kayak ride we had been trolling with deep diving lures using our own muscles to generate the speed necessary for trolling. We stopped because we spotted a few birds dive bombing the shallows hunting for fish. We quickly made our way over to them and started casting using a spoon and a surface popper. Within 5 minutes our guide had a fish on and began one of the most interesting angler vs. fish fights I have seen. With both feet hanging in the water on either side of the kayak and a huge smile on his face, Ralph began laughing as whatever he had on the other end of the line began towing him slowly across the bay. As he was being towed away from me I said to myself “This is going to be fun…”
Kayak fishing and surf casting is the newest form of adventure for avid fisherman. This unique and hands on way of fishing is quickly gaining popularity all over the world. Because of Costa Rica’s many rocky, volcanic islands and pristine shorelines this is one of the best locations to do it. Instead of spending an entire day on a fishing boat that you can not control, many fisherman are turning to this alternative way of fishing because you are much more involved. When trolling you choose your own course and generate your own speed, and once you find a hot spot or a school of sardines you can stop trolling and begin casting with surface lures. Whether you pick your spot surf casting or you maneuver your way to a hot spot in your own kayak, you have complete freedom where to fish. Of course if you have your own trusty rod and reel or a favorite lure bring it down with you and see how you do.
Your captain and guide on this adventure is Ralph Solano. A native Costa Rican, Ralph was actually born in Maryland. He moved back to Costa Rica at a young age and grew up in San Jose where if he wasn’t watching war movies
he was fishing. Both of his childhood hobbies influenced his adult life – Ralph actually served in the U.S. Army from 1982-1987 and now he is the founder of the first kayak fishing company in Costa Rica. He says he got the idea for the business because he has been surf casting and fishing from canoes since he was a child and after a friend in California told him about the concept of kayak fishing he has been hooked ever since. Once you meet him you’ll see why he is perfect for this job – he is one of the classic friendly Ticos who always has a smile on his face and he genuinely loves fishing. He recently just won a surf casting tournament in Guancaste by reeling in a 40 lb roosterfish. The fishing trips generally last five hours, but if the fish are biting and it’s a good day don’t be surprised if Ralph is in as little a hurry to get back as you are.
For those of you unfamiliar with kayak fishing, the truth is it is much simpler than you are probably thinking. The kayaks you use are from the well known and trusted Cobra manufacturer and although they are very fast and versatile, they are also very stable. They are 11.5 feet long and with a 31” beam the Cobra Explorers you will be on are perfect for beginners and experts alike. To start you will be in the protected Flamingo Bay where you will begin by trolling. You set the rod in one of the holes in the bottom of the kayak located near your feet so it stands straight up, then as you gently and consistently paddle you create your own speed for the trolling action. When you hook a fish trolling it is quite a rush – the reel screams out and although your first instinct is to grab the rod you first have to turn the kayak around to face the fish before you can fight it. Once you are facing the fish you put the kayak paddle in your lap, grab the rod, and then hang your feet in the water to create more drag and to make the kayak more stable. Once you do that it is man vs. beast as you fight the fish until it is close enough to flop into the bottom of the kayak. Fighting a fish that is slowly towing you around the ocean is an unforgettable experience – making you feel a little like Santiago in ‘The Old Man and the Sea’. While you are trolling you also should be on the look out for circling birds or a school of jumping sardines as that means bigger fish are there hunting as well. Once you get close you switch your trolling lure for a good surface lure (spoons, poppers, and spinners work great) and begin casting. As you are only about 6 inches above the water, when a fish strikes you are almost eye to eye with it. While you are fishing your guide will also be catching sardines to use as live bait – which are the favorite of game fish like roosterfish and dorado.
