Monster Roosterfish @ Los Suenos

[Tacklenow.com]

Hey guys boy did I time this right, I am looking at the weather and hope everyone in the NE is SAFE, stocked up and ready to weather what looks like a crazy storm. Be safe don't over shovel! Many MI's (Heart Attacks) during this kinda of crap.

I jumped an offer to go Costa Rica and I thought it was a great opportunity to test my new line of Holographic Minnow Jigs, put the new HPA Popperstore and other tackle bags through their paces, get some photos and get to check out C/R and Los Suenos. First of all its a fantastic place, its like fishing disney land.

The new road from San Jose to just outside of Jaco is finally open and it’s a very nice modern hwy with their own ez pass system.

The boats in the marina are probably one of the best sportfishing fleets in the world. Lets put it this way if you have a '50 you get lost in the crowd here, so many mega ships, '71 Vikings, '68's, etc its just mind blowing. One boat is nicer than the next and they are all nice.

Cape May is well represented down here!

As I started to research C/R, which was mainly posting and reading on various boards, the general opinion was "there is no jigging or popping to be had in C/R" I wondered, how could this be, its 150 nm from Panama and we know the Jigging and Popping is insane there, so why not? Still everyone insisted it was sailfishing and the marlin.

Today, Friday we left very late(10:30AM) we had no numbers, we had no lunch - had planned to head out for a few hours and check out two rocks about 10 miles from the marina. As we headed out there was a stiff breeze so we headed directly across the bay from Suenos and low and behold - rocks ! Structure, dramatic depth changes. Was I in Costa or Panama - you would not know other than the rocks looked "more mature" with more trees and greenery.

So we started the routine, run and gun throwing the Poppers and Salas Swimbaits at a 1/4 mile of weed line we found coming out of a river mouth, hoping for a dinner Mahi. Not a one, put we picked off a few Jacks.

We moved to the leedward side of a small island and continued to pick at the jacks and had a Cuba on for a few seconds. Then we came across a cove that was loaded with bait. We decided to break out the Sabiki's and after a lot of effort managed three blue runners.

We darted back out to the line of rocks and started slow trolling two of the live runners while Tom worked the White/Blue Salas.

I was using my J/M Custom (300g from JPR/Blank Kil Son) jigging rod to troll the bait, which was connected to #180 Flour and a 16/0 Circle hook. Since we had only three baits, when mine took off I let him eat it good, then slowly moved the lever to strike and reeled like crazy. Then I connected, this thing was soooooo strong, he took line effortlessly at #20 drag on the J/M PE 4.

I saw him come up behind the boat and it was pretty late in the day and I thought I had a very large Cubera but it didn't fight like one - ran straight away and didn't try to go deep at first. Bob threw the boat in reverse and at about that moment Tom hooked into a monster Horse Eye'd Jack. It was chaos. The Rooster surfaced but it had its
doral tucked down so at first I thought I had a very large Jack like Tom's.

It was a crazy fight the fish went under the boat, around the boat, around the outboards - but Matt did a great great job. The Rooster went left the Jack went right, its was nuts.

As Tom screamed leader - get up here, his Jack took off again - as I yelled for Howard to forgot the Jack and grab the Rooster.
This circus act was repeated a few time and Matt was in his glory - mayhem!!!

The good news, Rooster's don't have teeth - Matt yelled at Howard to grab him in the mouth, which he did but he couldn't lift him over the rail, I put down the rod and together we heaved the kicking beast into the boat! Touchdown.

















Both Matt and Howard are pretty big guys - we never got a tape on him but I'd say an easy 70+ lbs





Tom has never been popping before, I'd say by that smile we have another convert!









This Rooster was a very strong fighter and we kind of rushed the pictures to get him back in the water safely.



Thank you Matt @ Jersey Cape for the great day on the water, love the new boat!

Triple Surgeon's knot for the loop to loop connection held great so easy and fast to tie, under a minute, knot, open package, loop once - done.

Equipment used today:

JM 4 reel with Varivas Tuna Max PE5 line (Spooling by Basil)
J/M 300g 6' custom by Paul at JPR - blank Kil Song
Streamline Casting Leader
CMT #7 Ball Bearing Swivel
#180 Yo-Zuri Flou.
#16/0 Circle Hook

Smith 8'2 from Kil/Ralph
Stella 10,000 (Spooling Basil)
Tuna Max PE5
Streamline Casting Leader
CMT #7 Ball Bearing Swivel
Salas 7X White/Blue

[masonbo]

Very Nice Dan!!

[Tacklenow.com]

Thanks Dave it was really a very exciting fight - pound for pound - the best! Congrats on your trip to Panama i saw the pics - nice!
Dan

[Mr Trigger]

That was a beautiful rooster check out this unofficial world record we got on Mr Trigger in Flamingo Costa Rica
http://flamingo-fishing.com/photo-ga...osta-rica/view