Greetings from Costa Rica. I have been away from the Osa Peninsula for the last two weeks on vacation, as well as at ICAST in Orlando, Florida for Crocodile Bay Resort. ICAST (International Convention of Allied Sportfishing Trades) is the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, premiering the latest innovations in fishing gear, accessories and apparel. It is an annual one-stop shopping event, perfect for conducting business, seeing old friends and catching up on all the latest innovations in outdoor products.

Although I have been away, my captains have been keeping me posted on all the fishing action. The inshore roosterfish bite continues to be very good. I love these summer months with slightly cooler temperatures, abundant bait, and fewer boats out on the water. With little or no fishing pressure, the bigger roosterfish throw their usual caution to the wind and feed aggressively.

Offshore there have been a few sailfish around, and the boats have been raising between one to four per day, plus a few marlins. The tuna are also here, although they have been feeding on the small sardines and have been very selective, ignoring everything but the three-inch-long sardines.  It is hard to believe that this pelagic predator could be so particular.  But like a trout on a mayfly hatch, tuna sometimes get on the single available abundant bait, and that’s all they want to eat. But once this small bait moves on, the tuna will go back to their healthy gluttonous nature.

I had a great vacation, and it is always fun to get away, but there is something magical about the Osa Peninsula. We had a productive and enjoyable ICAST, and I am looking forward to putting many of the new products, from some great outdoor companies, on our boats for the 2019/20 season.