Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica

Southern Costa Rica to reel in harmful fishing practices

2009-06-02T03:06:00.000-07:00

Southern Costa Rica to reel
in harmful fishing practices

By Mike McDonald
Tico Times Staff

PUERTO JIMENEZ, Puntarenas – The rods are being set to pull fishing nets out of the Golfo Dulce forever.

Officials from local and national fishing organizations and conservation groups met in the town hall here on Saturday to discuss a plan that would declare the gulf – home to one of the world's five tropical fjords – a “marine area of responsible fishing” (AMPR). The two-and-a-half-year plan would involve eliminating shrimp trawlers from the area, conducting biological studies and teaching gillnet fishermen how to use sustainable fishing practices.

Officials of the Costa Rican Federation for Fishing Tourism (FECOPT) presented the plan to directors of the National Fisheries Institute (INCOPESCA) and members of the National Artisanal Fishing Federation. Members from all parties were on board with removing fishing nets from the gulf.

“It's the only way to restore this gulf,” said Donald McGuinness, president of FECOPT. “It's already overfished.”

The nets have long been the center of attacks from national conservation groups that worry about the bycatch captured by trawls and gillnets. Dolphins, turtles and sharks are often trapped and killed in the nets used for catching other marine creatures such as shrimp.

Randall Arauz, president of the Marine Turtle and Restoration Program (PRETOMA), said if the fishing institutes are serious about declaring the Golfo Dulce a responsible fishing area, they must first eliminate the shrimp trawlers, which he said have been notorious for pulling unnecessary bycatch out of the gulf. The United States has embargoed Costa Rica's shrimp industry four times since 1999 because of a lack of use and enforcement of sustainable fishing practices.

“We've been telling them for years to get shrimp boats out of here,” Arauz said.

INCOPESCA President Jorge Barrantes said the shrimp boats are among the first of their concerns.

“We are working with the shrimpers now,” he said. “We hope to have them out within a month.”

INCOPESCA officials will meet with shrimping organizations in the Pacific port city of Puntarenas this Friday to discuss the plan.

For more about Costa Rica Fishing, Visit

www.crocodilebay.com

Crocodile Bay Resort, Costa Rica

2009-05-26T08:13:00.000-07:00

Read more about Costa Rica Fishing at www.crocodilebay.com

Just as the words “We jammin’” blared over the speakers the first time aboard the Croc of Gibraltar, a rigger clip snapped. My brain instantly tuned out the Marley CD as heads swung to the rod now throbbing to life in a starboard holder. “Vela! Vela!” declared the captain atop the bridge as he excitedly repeated the Spanish word for sailfish. Sanford Hochman, a Cape Cod native normally of quiet disposition, rose like a Centurion about to do battle. The mate lobbed a live goggle-eye jack behind the now idling boat, and the rest of the scene went according to Hoyle: fish rises in the trolled lure spread, bait tossed out, fish transfers to the bait, line tightens, circle hook does its thing, and the man-fish encounter commences. Hochman, a custom rod builder, can pump and wind with the best of them. As the Pacific sailfish twisted, twirled and put on a show thatthe Flying Wallendas would envy, Hochman artfully maneuvered the rod to meet the 100-pound-plus fish’s every antic. In about eight minutes, the sail succumbs with the leader and then its bill secured. A few quick pictures, and let the animal recover a bit before releasing. So beautiful.

Such drama becomes common off western Costa Rica, aptly so named by Columbus for its rich coast. Costa Rica Fishing out of Crocodile Bay Resort and the Golfo Dolce, the blue waters 10 to 30 miles offshore yield abundant sailfish, marlin,dolphin, wahoo and tuna. But that’s not the only fishing karma you get hereabouts – shallower green and coastal waters provide great action with roosterfish, cubera snapper, African pompano, black snook and trevally. Our first day aboard the Croc of Gibraltar found the seas a bit saucy, causing even the 35-foot Strike boat with twin 370 diesels to rock and roll a bit. Nonetheless, under overcast skies and a drizzle now and then, we registered another sailfish release by angler Terry Durbaugh, a veterinarian and also a New Englander, plus a beefy skipjack tuna. We saw other sails cut across the spread occasionally, but they wouldn’t stay to dine. We switched lures from chuggers to bullets, changed colors, varied the trolling speed and directions, but not much happened after the initial strikes. That night at dinner, I needled Todd Staley, a long-time friend and Costa Rica Fishing Director of Crocodile Bay Resort (CBR), that I didn’t come all this way for just a handful of sailfish. Noting my sarcasm, he responded with a smile that was only bending the lips, slyly adding that the weather will improve and to “pretend” like I have a little patience. Indeed, Staley made me eat crow.

The following day found us under blue skies, abundant sunshine and calm seas, and our lure spread became much easier to spot from the depths. Action heated up faster than the water, and German (pronounced Herman), our captain aboard the Croc of Gibraltar, and mate Erick spent most of the time running and gunning after free-jumping sails or birds following fish rather than the prior day spent mostly blind trolling. We trolled four lines on 30- to 50-pound conventional gear, with two in the outriggers, one flat line and a shotgun from the bridge. At the ready stood 20-pound spin rods for smaller fish and an 80W in case a big blue decided to pay a visit. Preferred gear at CBR consists of 6- to 7-foot Okuma rods, Shimano TLD and Tiagra reels, and Triple Fish line and fluorocarbon leaders.

The two short lines with bigger lures sported wooden green birds in front of them to increase attention. Erick says that favorite lure colors include green, orange, black-and-red, purple-and-black, and blue-and-white. A cedar plug often gets attention as well from just about all species. Once a fish comes up in the spread, Erick springs to the deck from the bridge. If the fish doesn’t take one of the lures, Erick casts a prerigged live goggle-eye, bonito or blue runner while anglers reel in trolled lines to deter tangling.

Day 2 saw lots of that. Not only did we get multiples on sailfish, we scored several big dolphin. Sanford Hochman caught the first green marauder, fighting it on 20-pound spin after German went ballistic upon spying a big school nearby. We admired their cobalt-blue pectoral fins as they blitzed here and there beneath the boat in the clear blue water, gobbling up the chunks of cut bait that Erick stashed in the cooler just for this purpose. Hochman and his fishing partner this day, Steve Cahill, took turns on the rod. After we couldn’t stand it any longer just snapping pictures, my traveling companions Michael Kelly, Kelly Braden and I also strapped on stand-up belts, with Michael tallying the biggest dolphin of the outing, a chunky 35-pound cow. By day’s end, every rod in the holders had been bent more than a few times. We also spotted a sea turtle and enjoyed the playful antics of porpoises around the boat. Others in the CBR fleet also reported good action on sailfish and dolphin, with a few bringing in wahoo and a couple of anglers losing hooked blue marlin at the transom.

Three years ago when Kelly Braden and I visited CBR, we’d never caught a roosterfish. Leaving the dock, our skiff ran just north of the point separating the Golfo Dulce from the Pacific Ocean and shut down near a series of large rocks that jut out near the shoreline. We slow-trolled sardines on two rods, and minutes after setting them out one of the rod tips twanged as if snagging on the bottom. Another twitch, a little line taken, and then the reel sounded like an industrial electric drill as line burned off the spool like no tomorrow. Barely getting the rod out of the holder, I pressured that fish within an ounce of the 20-pound line test and could still barely hold on. With sweat beginning to cause my clothes to cling and a heartbeat at least double time, I couldn’t believe it when the roosterfish finally rose from the surf to the edge of the boat. I’d have bet my hat that that 30-pound fish was twice its actual size.

Kelly caught her first roosterfish as well, and we each released three more before turning the bow for home on this half-day excursion. Todd Staley oversees 80 employees associated with the Costa Rica fishing operation. Boats run from 17-foot skiffs to offshore 35-footers, with boats leaving the dock at 7 a.m. sharp and returning mid-afternoon. The night before, you indicate your preferred drinks and choice of sandwich, and they’re in the ice chest when you climb aboard the next morning. It usually takes about an hour to run offshore for trolling, and figure about half that time or less to bottom fish or to check out coastal rocky areas for roosters. Prime time for sailfish would be January through May, with June and July is usually tops for marlin – blue, black and striped. Black snook peak in December and May, while you’ll get dependable, year-round shots at roosterfish, cubera snapper, trevally and African pompano. If you consider the exotic beauty of this special country, the unmatched comforts and conveniences of Crocodile Bay Resort and the simply outstanding Costa Rica fishing opportunities, it’s easy to see that this is a destination that’s pretty hard to top. And that’s exactly why I will keep coming back.
Where to toss the Bags - international flights to san jose, the country’s capital, can be arranged with a number of major airlines. if you arrive early, catch the 3 p.m. one-hour nature air charter flight over the mountains southwest to Puerto jimenez; if you arrive later, spend the night in san jose at hotels that will be recommended when booking the trip with crocodile Bay resort and fly out the next morning at 7 a.m. you’ll be met when arriving in sanjose by a CBR representative and taken to the charter airport. when landing in Puerto jimenez, you’ll be whisked to the resort only minutes away.

The first thing I noted upon arriving at the Resort: its four-star rating is well deserved. the guard-protected entrance to the 44-acre property offers 34 air conditioned rooms that include handcarved furniture, modern (comfortable)beds and many sport private jacuzzi baths. other amenities: a pool with swim-up bar, hot tub, a 5,000-square-foot luxury Spa, a conference center, pool and snooker table, gift shop and bar. They even provide a free 10-minute massage from a professional masseuse at the end of the day in a tented patio next to the pool. The all-inclusive packages provide accommodations, meals and beverages – including well-brand cocktails. internet is offered but often out of service, so we usually went to an internet cafe in Puerto jimenez. I can’t say enough about the fantastic food, offering a full breakfast buffet each morning (including omelet and pancake chefs) and a stupendous dinner buffet nightly with steaks, a variety of fish, soups, sushi, side dishes galore and desserts prepared at the Resort. the night prior to each day’s Costa Rica fishing or tour, the staff notes what kind of sandwich and drinks you’d like, and by morning they’re already in the cooler. I’ve never encountered a more accommodating staff, including Alberto who arranges the tours, front desk personnel such as Markos, and Karol in the dining room. CBR’s 750-foot private pier plays host to a fleet of 39 inshore and offshore boats from 17-foot skiffs to 35-foot tower boats.

Todd Staley does a remarkable job organizing a staff of 80 guides, mates and support personnel, always doing so in a personable and friendly style. The cost of Costa Rica fishing or tour packages vary based on the season, length of stay and what type of Costa Rica fishing – inshore or offshore – you’d like to do. Visit http://www.crocodilebay.com/ for full details on the rates, tours, fishing and other info about the costa rica fishing resort.

Bring Your camera - Aside from great Costa Rica fishing, crocodile Bay resort (CBR) offers a wide array of opportunities to venture out and explore the magnificent Osa Peninsula. Much of the Peninsula consists of the 104,898-acre Corcovado National Park, which National Geographic dubbed as the most biologically intense place on Earth. Wonderful opportunities abound to see wildlife, but there are also crocodiles, venomous snakes, packs of peccaries and even a healthy population of jaguars are present in the area.

Check out the full list of Costa Rica Tours Here Osa Rainforest – This is the most popular and highly recommended of the tours offered. A 30-minute ride from the resort upon a rustic dirt road took us to our first stop at the tip of the osa Peninsula. Along the way we saw parakeets, several herons, a three-toed sloth and a vine snake. Our guide Danilo led us along several wide paths, with one that led to a couple of scarlet macaws loudly quibbling between themselves high in a tree branch. Farther inland, Danilo spotted a troop of about 20 white-faced capuchin monkeys. This particular pack was not fond of our presence and began to bare their teeth to scare us off. On other occasions, these monkeys came right up to us looking for food, but feeding them is definitely not recommended. After leaving the irritated monkeys in peace, we saw bats inside a dark hole in a tree. Danilo also pointed out two toucans near the treetops. We next visited the primary rainforest with less wildlife but dense vegetation, during which we waded a small river to a steep hill. Danilo showed us various plants that locals utilize to make paint, provide aloe and other needs. On the way back to the resort, we viewed a sloth, a pack of spider monkeys and rare squirrel monkeys.

Gold Panning – Our guide Alberto took us for a hike about half a mile up the nearby El Tigre river. Not speaking a word of English, local resident Luis Rojas, a gold panner for 42 years, nodded at the pan in his weathered hands to non-verbally prompt me to also engage in panning for gold. I noted the way he panned the sediment shoveled from just above the river bedrock, and tried to replicate what he did. I took the pan, which weighed about 15 pounds with all the rocks and sand, and started to knock off the larger rocks at the top. Placing it into the water, I swirled the water around and around. Luis gently intervened and showed me how to do it more effectively to force the heavier gold metal to the pan’s bottom. I quickly got the hang of it, and soon Luis sifted through the black sand residue in my pan with his finger. Several small gold flakes flashed before our eyes. A day’s toil typically garners one to two grams of gold, with five grams being excellent. One gram will fetch $60. Luis remarked that he used to pan 20 to 30 grams a day before commercial interests invaded the area during the gold boom over 20 years ago. Rojas noted that the best time of the year to gold pan is during the rainy season, since the gold washes down the river faster due to stronger currents.

Osa Wildlife Sanctuary – With a baby spider monkey clinging to the back of his neck and a parakeet on his left shoulder, Earl Crews gave us a tour of the osa wildlife sanctuary just a short boat ride across golfo Dulce from CBR. Earl is co-owner with his wife Carol of this non-profit animal rescue center. Scarlet Macaws, which aren’t native to this side of golfo dulce, squawked overhead. Several curious spider monkeys approached and one kept trying to grab a can of tanning lotion from the outer web of my backpack. White-faced capuchin monkeys ran about and played with the other spider monkeys and howler monkeys. Earl explained that since most of these monkeys were brought to the sanctuary as babies, they mingle with one another – something they never do in the wild. We observed a toucan and a kinkajou in their respective cages. While the nocturnal kinkajou slept, the toucan hopped from one end of the cage to the other, and eyed our every movement. The highlight occurred when Earl held a two-toed sloth in his arms as if it were a baby. At first glance, it appears like a hairylooking seal. Earl told us that this slow-moving mammal is docile, nocturnal, lives its entire life upside-down in trees and takes a week to digest food.

Jungle Night Walk – Ambling along the outskirts of the crocodile Bay property at 8:30 p.m. one evening, Danilo suddenly stops our small group and points to the left of the path. “look, look, right there,” he says. I focus my flashlight where he’s pointing andI get a chill down my spine: It’s a coiled fer-de-lance. This is the most dangerous snake in the western hemisphere, as it causes more deaths than any other american reptile. Danilo instructs each of us to keep our distance, but it gave up any hope of remaining undetected and instead slithered away. We moved on to the caiman lagoon. “look for any glowing eyes when pointing your flashlights,” danilo instructed. After he made some chirping sounds, several caimans swam over as well as a large crocodile. He later pointed out several birds sleeping in trees as well as frogs and jesus christ lizards (so called because they can run across the top of water). While we didn’t see any red-eyed green tree frogs or poison dart frogs, they are also out and about at night. We certainly gained a different perspective of wildlife that’s more prevalent at night.

Other Notes of Interest about Costa Rica:

• Official Name: Republic of Costa Rica• Area: 51,100 sq. km. (19.725 sq. mi.)• Capital: San Jose• Location: Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east.• Population: 4,327,000Religions: Mostly Roman Catholic• Language: Spanish• Government: Democratic Republic• Currency: Colones (518.74 = $1US)Doug Kelly, Editor-in-Chief of Destination Fish, gets out from behind the PC now and then to knock the moss off his heels and visit alluring fishing retreats. •

The most OUTSTANDING fishing I've ever had

2009-02-13T18:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Fishing Director Todd Staley, Capt. Anthony & First Mate Eider -

Just want to thank you once more for the most

OUTSTANDING fishing I've ever had.

I landed my first marlin, pompano, roosterfish, broomtail grouper,

jack crevalle, blue jack, some nice dorado,

and my largest sailfish ever this year (and 23 more to boot!).

After over 30 years of trying, Audie not only landed his first sail

but caught SEVEN more.... he was in the clouds.

You guys really know what you're doing & run a world class operation.

I know you can't enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed the trip,

but here they are. Thanks again ...I'll be back!

- Mark Doolittle

Amberfish

Kay Doolittle Adds the Following:

We still love the whole Crocodile Bay experience.

It far exceeds anything else we've done in travel:

~ Fishing was above & beyond anything we've seen prior. All boat were clean & well maintained with excellent crews. Anthony & Eider were a dynamic duo. Anthony's chatty (in English) & Eider moves like the Green Hornet. Suspect Anthony gets his gab from Mom, Olimpia, who's now managing the front desk area. Todd & Ricardo really took care of Mark when he booked an extra day of fishing (we went out with Edwin that day - another excellent captain.)

~ CB's Spa continues to amaze! It's so modern, elegant & professional! The power went out a couple times during my facial (I was able to exchange the coupon since I don't "do massages"). The technician, Delmise just kept on going by candlelight & she didn't skip a beat. Mark said he felt wonderful after his very first Swedish Massage & will be going back to the spa again next trip. Mark would definately like to come back next year for the same length of time.

~ The almond trees in arboretum area lining the road to the pier seem to be attracting lots of scarlet macaws & lesser parrots. Also saw white faced monkeys eating water apples within close sight of that road in the mornings while walking. Enjoyed toucans & iguanas & even a Basilisk/"Jesus Christ" lizard or two right on the grounds without even having to hunt them out.

~ The switch from buffet to menu was an excellent idea. Not nearly as wasteful for the lodge; served INdoors (which I prefer) where it's clean & cool, and the offerings are varied and nicely prepared. I ate both raw & grilled fish all but one night, but no matter what one ordered, you were sure to be served cheerfully & professionally with a plate that looked AND tasted delicious. All three of us agreed the menu format is a lot easier on the waistline too!

~ Other folks partaking in eco tours were elated with their experiences. You were right about our rooms - they were THE BEST! Housekeeping staff is fastidious and acommodating. As always, we thank you VERY much, Art, for taking such good care of us.

Pura Vida,

Kay Doolittle

To say the trip met all our expectations would be an understatement

2009-02-12T11:43:00.000-08:00

I travelled to Crocodile Bay in February of last year ('08) and had an excellent time - and told everyone about the trip. Several months after my return, my friend’s wife asked me more about the trip and I referred her to your web site.

Her husband and I are regular fishing buddies here in New York and she wanted to give him a special gift for his 50th birthday - a trip to Costa Rica. Despite my protests, she insisted that I accompany him on the trip because she felt her lack of enthusiasm for fishing might detract from his adventure.
Since it is "fishing" and not "catching" I was worried whether the trip would live up to her expectations (and his). Needless to say, I said my prayers because I was the one who had recommended CBL.

From our arrival at the airport, to the staff at the lodge and ultimately to the outstanding week of fishing with Capt. Edwin and his mate Adrian, we could not have asked for a better time.

In fact, if we were actually able to wish for fishing results, we never could have reasonably wished for how well we actually did. Over the five fishing days, we raised 51 sailfish, releasing 18 -

raised 2 dorado, ate 1 -

raised 2 blue marlin, released 1 at 250lbs. and raised and released 1 black marlin at approx 500lbs.

56 fish raised/21 caught(released) - in much less than 50 total hours of fishing - unbelievable!

To say the trip met all our expectations would be an understatement. You also fulfilled my friend's birthday wish

- to have an off-shore fishing expedition to always remember.
You should be proud of the staff you have compiled, from the drivers in San Jose to everyone at the lodge, they were all friendly, helpful and most of all accommodating.

Some particular standouts were Flory and Maria in the dining room,

Olympia and Markus at the front desk and most of all Edwin and Adrian who knew the trip was a birthday present and worked their asses off to ensure a successful week.

And to Todd, who predicted that we would land a marlin for my friend's birthday on the day we actually landed the first and largest one - unbelievable.

I have enclosed a DVD of raw photos and video footage from the trip. Feel free to use them for your site, etc. Thanks again and I hope to return to the CBL for yet another excellent stay!!!

Very truly yours,

Gerry Chiariello

Crocodile Bay Awarded Sporting Classics Award of Excellence

2009-02-04T15:05:00.000-08:00

For Immediate Release

Contact: Matt Coffey
matt@sportingclassics.net
(800) 849-1004 ext. 219

Crocodile Bay Resort has been named

Sporting Classics’ Fishing Lodge of the Year

as part of their ninth annual Awards of Excellence.

With the largest private fleet of inshore and offshore fishing boats in Central America, an 800-foot pier, top-notch accommodations, and a 5,000-square-foot luxury spa, it’s easy to see why Crocodile Bay Resort is the recipient of this year’s fishing lodge award.

The resort is situated on 44 acres of lush tropical gardens in Puerto Jimenez on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast. The exquisite resort has 40 air-conditioned rooms, and offers a top-of-the-line gourmet menu, swimming pool, hot tub and a conference center for its all-inclusive packages. Offshore fishing starts only 30 minutes from the dock for deep-water access. The rooms feature hand-carved furniture and some have private Jacuzzi baths.

The resort also offers 29 ecotours including rainforest canopy tours, visits to animal sanctuaries, orchid gardens, surfing lessons, kayaking, bird-watching, dolphin and whale-watching and visits to some of Costa Rica’s most beautiful secluded beaches.

For those desiring relaxation and rejuvenation can find it in the

over 30 special spa treatments in the Crocodile Bay Spa.

For more information about the resort or to book your fishing vacation, visit www.crocodilebay.com

For more information about Sporting Classics,

visit http://www.sportingclassics.net/ or call (800) 849-1004.

"Awesome Trip" writes A. Simmons

2008-12-31T10:28:00.000-08:00

Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:59 AM

To: blog@crocodilebay.com

Subject: Awesome Trip

Hey Art,

We had such an amazing time! Everyone was exceptionally nice and the surprise birthday cake was great. We made great friends and of course caught some amazing fish.

We will certainly be back! I’ve attached some of our pictures for you.

Thanks again!!!
Merry Christmas!

A. Simmons

DOUBLE KAYAK ON THE GOLFO DULCE

FIRST SAILFISH

ROOSTERFISH - PEZ GALLO!

OSA RAINFOREST CANOPY ZIPLINE 135 FEET UP!

Culinary Choices at Crocodile Bay Resort

2008-12-12T09:29:00.000-08:00

Chef Minor will be serving the Fish Filet of the Day perfectly grilled with your choice of his own sauces. The Teriyaki sauce or the Butter and Garlic may be better suited to the denser Mahi-Mahi (Dorado), or try my favorite, the spicy Mango Hot Sauce, a perfect counterpoint to the light, delicate African Pompano filet.

Crocodile Bay typically offers two or three choices in fresh caught fish and the dinner entrée list includes eleven menu choices in chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian areas. There are four salad choices, three soup choices and two appetizers before you get to the entrée. We maintain such a large menu to offer our guests variety and quality.

When we have a large number of guests we will serve buffet style which lends itself to the informal dining atmosphere where guests mingle and converse about the day from table to table and sometimes make plans for the next. Quite often, families will decide to do a next-day Ecotour together, for example, or ladies may share their experience about a Spa treatment they enjoyed that day. Tables are easily conjoined when parties find the conversation continuing. After dinner, drinks in the Lounge, or Game Room or Mini-Casino give an opportunity to chat with others while playing a game of pool or foosball, or relaxing on comfortable sofas.

They say Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and ours offers so many choices you could be at Crocodile Bay for two weeks and not try everything. You will find a variety of egg omelets, pancakes, oatmeal and much more, all with a Costa Rican accent. For example, I like a bowl of oatmeal that I can stand my spoon up in, and in Costa Rica, custom is to serve it with milk. It is excellent, but not the way I want it, and the wait staff was quite willing to ask the chef to learn to do it my way. You will find in many cases the waitresses and chefs will be gracefully accommodating of your preference, if it is at all possible. We can accomodate special menus for vegetarians and others with advance notice.

Lunch may make you ask, where is everybody? Most guests are out fishing or on a full-day ecotour, but those taking it easy, with scheduled Spa Packages or only a half-day ecotour will find a completely different menu for lunch, in a casual, relaxed atmosphere. There is no less choice, as salads, soups, appetizers, sandwiches and entrees are available.

The fresh fish on the menu is always excellent, but for those wanting something different, there is no lack of choice. There are so many choices, you may decide to extend your stay to try them all!

Email blog@crocodilebay.com if you would like a .pdf of our complete menu.

First Fishing Report of the Season - December 12

2008-12-12T09:24:00.001-08:00

I spoke with Todd Staley yesterday and got the season’s first mini-fishing report. We’re raising 4-5 Sails per boat and top boat raised 10. Marlin have been sighted but have proved elusive so far. Inshore, Roosters, Dorado, and African Pompano are the top fish challenging our anglers.

We're expecting a full house this week so we'll have a better idea of the fishing next week.

The Crocodile Bay Resort Spa is Relaxing & Rejuvenating!

2008-12-09T17:50:00.000-08:00

When my family visits Crocodile Bay, we all enjoy the Spa. My wife and daughter enjoy the Spa Packages, which are longer combinations of treatments, but I really look forward to a great massage. I have tried nearly all we offer during my yearly visits. I have had the Swedish Massage, which is a thorough working over if you haven’t had a massage in a long time, and the Bamboo Massage, with different thicknesses of bamboo applied which feels somewhat like a baking roller on a pie dough, with somewhat of the same goal, to flatten you out! I have had the Sports Massage which pays special attention to those muscles you’ve just used most in your most recent athletic endeavor and the Therapeutic Massage, a gentle, relaxing massage paying equal attention to nourishing and hydrating your skin.

This year, Justa Solano, Crocodile Bay Resort’s Spa Director has fine tuned our Spa Menu and added eight new Special Treatmens for 32 Spa Treatments total. I am just going to tell you the new ones and let you read about them in the online Spa Menu – http://www.crocodilebay.com/spa.htm#menu

Tired Legs Massage
Cleopatra’s Massage
Pearl – a Luxury Body and Facial Treatment
Gold – A Luxury Body Treatment
Special Facial for Men
Back & Shoulders Stones Massage
Reflexology with Stones Massage
Awaken your Senses – Head, Neck, Shoulders, and Face Massage

Ms. Solano tells me that each year she freshens the décor with new and different natural flowers, candles, rocks and linens for each massage room subtlely to create a natural and exotic environment, transporting you to tranquility. As you enter the Spa on the path from your room, past the beautiful flowering plants outside the spa, you will be greeted by one of our professional masseuses who will show you to your locker room for showering and will be given a robe to wear in the spa. I recommend you come early to shower and relax in the main room with your choice of a glass of red or white wine, or natural drinks like ice tea, fruit juice or other beverage. The spa is relaxing and it is quite nice to enjoy the quiet after a busy day of having fun.

The Crocodile Bay Spa uses organic and premium products native to Costa Rica.
You can see the Bio Bella brand here http://www.biobellaorganics.com/ . We sell what we use, so if you enjoy a treatment it is possible to take it home with you. Another major brand Ms. Solano uses and recommends is the world renown Germaine de Capuccini. It is available at the Resort, and you can avail yourself of a consultation with Ms. Solano to choose the best product for you before your treatment.

There are also a number of other original and different scrubs available –
The Sea Salt Polish, using not only mineral rich sea salt, but also essential oils, seaweed and green tea for an invigorating cleanse. The Coffee Polish, using fine coffee, oils and herbs to exfoliate and refesh you. The Chocolate Body Scrub, with honey, which while cocoa is also a bean like coffee, offers a finer exfoliation for those with more sensitive skin, the Coconut Body Exfoliation, somewhere in-between the Chocolate and Coffee experiences. Also in this category, we offer a Volcanic Clay Body Wrap with Banana Leaves. Costa Rica is renowned for its volcanoes, and the organic clay offers minerals from deep inside the earth. An Aloe Vera mini-facial is applied while you rest wrapped in a banana leaves cocoon.

Visit the Spa and have a tour, if you would like. We keep a guestbook at the entrance to the Spa, so if you have any doubts, you can look through it at any time during your stay at the resort. The most common comment is that our guests loved the Spa, and I am sure you will, too.

Todd Staley, Fishing Director

2008-12-05T14:45:00.000-08:00

Pictured Above - Todd Staley with Colts Field Goal Kicker Adam Vinatieri

There is one person at Crocodile Bay Resort who is like no other. A legend in his own time, he has more people who call him friend than anyone I know. I have had anglers tell me that they want his job, until I tell them that he works 24/7 during the high season, from predawn until all boats in. Todd Staley is the Fishing Director at Crocodile Bay and on an average day in season, he manages a fleet of over 30 to 40 boats out, inshore and offshore. While those boats are out, he is tending to the preparations for the next day’s fishing. He is the type that does not say much but every word means something and you lean in to hear it. He can bark out an order to a Captain and in the next moment patiently explain something to a rookie angler. He has weathered tough times and persevered like a ship coming into port after riding out a storm. He has had full careers on many coasts, owned many a boat and his own fishing charter service. In the off-season, it is a full-time job servicing and maintaining the fleet to be in tiptop shape for the next opening, testing out new boats just bought re-hiring and selecting new hires and training the next year’s captains.

With all the work, there is still no one who wants Todd’s job more than Todd. If you know the man, you know he lives and breathes fishing and has more fishing lore stored in him than he could ever tell or teach anyone. His fishing reports and articles are always well written and damn interesting besides educational. He writes as he talks, when he has something to say. In everything he does, he lives his simple philosophy, “Underpromise and overdeliver”.

You can read Todd Staley’s articles under the “Fishing Info” tab on our website- http://www.crocodilebay.com/index.html

Crocodile Bay Resort opens for the new season this Friday, December 5, 2008.

2008-12-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

We closed at the end of August due to the Puerto Jimenez Airport undergoing modernization and resurfacing. That is the rainy season in the Osa Peninsula, anyway, so not too many visitors come at that time. Puerto Jimenez is a small town of under 2000 and the upgrade of the airport is both for safety and recognition that the Osa Peninsula is a increasingly popular place to visit. We are very excited about reopening Crocodile Bay Resort, and looking forward to greeting friends, old and new.

We have retiled and painted the pool and made upgrades to the Swim-Up Bar. The water is always warm and relaxing, as you would expect in the tropics. Water temperature in the Golfo Dulce is in the low 80’s, too. If you listen you might hear birds, or frogs or crickets. The pool has steps across the shallow end for easy entry and slopes to over your head depth at the other end. On one side are stools in the water at the sunken bar, so you don’t have to stand with your drink. Around the pool are chairs, recliners and umbrellas for shade. Nearby are shaded hammocks if you just want to sink into a short nap.

Our pool has a quietly babbling waterfall and if you spend a little while there you might see a Basilisk Iguana run across the pool on his hind legs. Above the waterfall is our hottub, big enough for a small party, on the “second story” so you can enjoy the view of your garden surroundings while you soak. The best views are the parrots, parakeets, and macaws that flock and chatter above near sunset before they retire for the night.

We have three new exciting Ecotours to bring the total to 29 adventures! All of them start at our front door with our own personnel, in our own vehicles. Any outdoor activity you can do in Costa Rica you can do at Crocodile Bay. Well, the only thing we don’t have is a volcano and that’s ok with us.

The first new ecotour is The Monkey Tour. The Osa Peninsula is the only place in Costa Rica with all 4 native monkey species, the Howler, the Capuchin, the Spider and the Squirrel Monkeys. This tour is especially for those who are coming to see these and other magnificent mammals. We go to the areas of the edge of the rainforest where they go to find food.

For those coming to see The Corcovado Rainforest, that is now a separate tour from the Monkey Tour. Actually, we have a number of rainforest tours – because our Staff will customize a rainforest tour to your physical abilities and what you are most interested in seeing. There are dozens of breathtakingly unique areas of the rainforest that we can take you to, so why not take you to exactly what your vision is of the rainforest? If you want the most physically demanding tour, or if you want to see the rainforest but need help getting around, either way, we will make a tour for you. Our Guides are professionals who have lived in the rainforest a good part of their lives if not all, and worked for the best lodges in the area where they got their training before coming to Crocodile Bay. Our Ecotour Director, Alberto Herrera, has extensive training in conservation, agrology, forestry, environmentalism and sustainable development. You can read about our efforts in ecology at our new Eco-oriented website, http://www.costaricaecotour.com/

Alberto tells me that if guests want to see the real rainforest, they will go to the primary rainforest on real trails. The focus will be to learn about the ecosystem, not only monkeys. Yes, you will probably see animals, birds and insects, all sorts or plants and trees. There are so many different things to see; you never know what will appear, such as sloths, agoutis or coatis and other common mammals that might be in the area. The rainforest is dark and mysterious, quiet, regal and the cathedral of nature. There is no one else walking around, except for the insects, plants, birds, mammals, fungus all synergistically interacting with each other and there to be seen and enjoyed by humans.

The second new ecotour is the Osa Palmas Canopy Tour, which we now will use as an alternate to the Miramar Canopy Tour. I think it is great to have a second Canopy Tour because swinging through the rainforest on a cable is a rush of adrenaline and fun like Evel Knievel must have felt flying over those buses on his motorcycle. It is almost like flying but without having to risk a Darwin Award, if you know what I mean. We use one or the other depending on how the roads and weather are looking that day because while the Miramar has a few more stations, the road to the Osa Palmas is definitely an easier and more reliable one to travel. Nevertheless, the great thing is that there are two, because if you love Canopy rides, you will have a change of scenery and variety on the second tour.. Both can be enjoyed by all ages, are half-day ecotours and we’ll take you to them early in the a.m, in the afternoon, or at night - imagine flying from tree to tree at night like Batman going from building top to building top in the black of night!

The last new ecotour is the Marine Turtles Tour. We have been involved for years supporting turtle research and ecology efforts. There are three species in the Golfo Dulce and Pacific Ocean around us that have breeding grounds; the Hawkbill, the Olive Ridley and the Leatherback Ocean Turtles. It is a common sight when fishing inshore to see a sea turtle come up for air and go back down into the ocean. It takes a sea cruise to get to the breeding grounds and the boat leaves at 6pm from our dock and returns about midnight.
This tour is only offered in December and January, the breeding season.

That’s the new news, and we’ll have more when we have it. In the meantime, send me any questions you might have about Crocodile Bay and Costa Rica and I will be glad to answer them promptly.

ASK ART - For your Crocodile Bay Questions

2008-11-25T12:12:00.000-08:00

I am trying to decide between the standard boat package and the tower boat package. What is the main difference between the standard boat and the tower boat package?

For the Standard Boat Package, our most common boat is the Boston Whaler Outrage, a twin outboard engine 24fter, capable of inshore or offshore fishing, having a very stable ride and it is a quick boat. They go offshore or inshore easily. Offshore, mate is available if you request one. We also have other smaller inshore standard boats, depending on what you want to fish for, and for getting closer to shore and fly-fishing. We recommend one, two or three anglers on these boats. Our larger inshore fish like deep water. Either class of boats can fish inshore deep water or offshore. The Standard boat is better for targeting smaller fish and close to shore fishing.
For the Tower Boat Package, we have both the 33 ft Strikes and the 32 ft Boston Whaler. Our fishing director in all cases chooses the boat depending on your fishing goals and availability. We have ten of these big boats and during our busier weeks, all will be in use. These bigger boats give a smoother ride and my clients tell me they catch more sailfish and marlin than on the standard boats. These boats will take any number from two to four anglers. The Strikes are workhorses, with plenty of room and two configurations: one with a hatch and forward cabin for a lie-down if needed and the other with a large awning covered seating area in the center of the boat. The newer Boston Whaler 32 has the smoothest ride for a boat that size due to an advanced hull design and custom designed topside comfort features, including padded seats and bolsters. All offshore boats have wide outriggers for setting 4 lines out most of the time, with both teasers and live bait as the captains see fit.

In the standard boat package, the brochure describes the fishing as offshore, inshore, and estuary fishing your choice. Does that mean each day you choose and do a different fishing each day? Can you if you choose do all one type say, all three days of offshore with the standard package?

You have your own boat and captain so you decide what you want to do. You determine what fish you want to target, and that determines where you fish. It's the same charge for the boat to go inshore or offshore, and you can fish each day in one place, or switch each day as you like. We will even let you fish offshore in the AM and fish inshore on your way back in. We ask you to determine what you want to do before you arrive, so our Fishing Director can reserve boats and their captains, and plan how to use his resources.

However, we realize that people can change their mind, as long as we have 24 hours notice so we can get the boat ready properly. That means giving notice the morning before the day you would be fishing. The more advance notice you give us the happier we all are and you will get our best.

If we select the tower boat package and weather becomes an issue and the boats cannot go out is there an alternative?

At Crocodile Bay, we are in a tropic climate with a temperature range between 70 and 90 degrees all the time. It is T-shirts, shorts or swim trunks and sandals all the time. The rain we get comes from tall tower clouds with rain that comes straight down and then ends in an hour or so. These clouds build up over the day and dump in the afternoon or evening, almost all the time. The temperature of the rain is warm and you never get a chill. You get wet, you get dry, and it does not stop you from doing anything. It is a rainforest, after all. You will find sunny skies every morning, and when you go fishing, your captain will most likely be able to circle around the rain in the wide ocean offshore or even inshore, on the 30 mile by 15 mile Golfo Dulce. You may have a better chance of getting rain on land than on the water. The fish don’t know it’s raining!

New Turtle Watching and Monkey Tours at Crocodile Bay, Costa Rica

2008-11-25T10:26:00.000-08:00

Costa Rica Eco Report,November 2008
by Alberto Herrera, Eco Director

For more information on these tours or this post contact blog@crocodilebay.com

Every year at Crocodile Bay Resort, we insure that when our yearly clients return, that they will find many pleasant new surprises, that were not available on their past trips. The following are some of our new tours we have created specifically for this reason;

The New Monkey Tour
The New World Monkeys are split into three families. The largest and most diverse family, with more than 30 species, is the Cebidae, which includes the four monkeys found in Costa Rica. Crocodile Bay Resort is located on the Osa Peninsula, in the southern zone of Costa Rica. This is the only place in the country than you can find all the four Costa Ricans monkeys species together such as the Mantled Howler Monkey, White-Throated Capuchin Monkey, Spider Monkey and Central America Squirrel Monkey.

At present, more than a third of the world’s primate species are listed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and about one in seven are in imminent danger of disappearing. This tour was created specifically for those who want to focus on these amazing species of monkeys in their natural habitat, but perhaps choose not to take the entire Rainforest Hike due to physical restrictions or time restraints.

Tour Details: Leaves at 8:00 am and returns by 11:30 am

Osa Palmas Canopy Tour
Costa Rican law protects 25% of its territory through the different Categories of Conservation. But there are many Privates Reserves that use their lands in Eco Friendly Activities. One of our most popular tours in the past year was our first Canopy Tour, due to its high popularity, we started providing it at night, for a new twist... and oh is it ever twisted in the dark! But because some of our clients were becoming addicted to the adrenaline of the activity, but at the same time, wanted a change of scenery, we added a new one!
Osa Palmas Canopy tour is a good example of Conservation in a tour of adventure and adrenaline. Our clients get to experience more speed every time in each of their five zip-lines, at the same time we are passing through and in between renewable plantations of trees, primary forest, secondary forest and wide open areas. Besides that, we have a total of eight platforms with heights from ground level to 36 meters over the ground, at the height of the canopy of the forest. The great views, the speed and adrenaline, as well as the presence of the flora and fauna of the area make it a great combination of experiences.

Marine Turtles Tour
For the last 50 years, more and more herpetologist and scientists have been concerned with the conservation of land, freshwater, and sea turtles. Finally, centers of protection and study have been created throughout the world, and controlled breeding has made reintroduction possible. Working to “secure a future where humans and sea turtles can live together in balance,” the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle Conservation Network (WIDECAST) is an innovative, proactive and inclusive mechanism for sustainable development on a regional scale. Since 1981, the WIDECAST network, with Country Coordinators in more than 40 nations and territories, has linked scientists, conservationists, resource managers, resource users, policy-makers, industry groups, educators and other stakeholders together in a collective effort to develop a unified management framework.

WIDECAST has one of the projects in southern Costa Rica, and we are proud to support them, as well as show you how we are doing it. The Osa Peninsula is one of the most important place for nesting of marine turtles in Costa Rica, specifically at Carate Beach. Crocodile Bay Resort is supporting WIDECAST selling their products in our gift shop and developing this tour where you can be a part of the baby marine turtles migration while running to the ocean after hatching.
In the hatchery the marine turtle eggs are safe because the wildlife enemies can’t attack them.
Every morning hundreds of turtles hatch at the beach and the people in charge of this project release the baby turtles at the top of the beach. It’s very important turtles run from the top of the beach to the water by themselves, because on this way they will collect the information about different parameters of the beach, because with this information they will return in fifty years for nesting. Want a hands on experience with mother nature, while at the same time getting to play mother to baby sea turtles? That option is now on the tour list if you do.

Leaves at 6pm and returns at 12 mn (available December to January)

For more information on on Ecotours, visit our in-depth ecotour site at http://www.costaricaecotour.com/

For Crocodile Bay Sport Fishing visit http://www.crocodilebay.com/

For Reservations and other inquiries email blog@crocodilebay.com