Tropic Star in March

[steve hi-tech]

Has anybody been to Tropic Star in March or knows of any past reports on what fishing is like there at that time of year?

[Jon Schwartz]

I was there last Feb. The action for blacks was solid, and the inshore bite was excellent. Some guy also landed a triple digit YFT that hit a big bait on Zane Grey Reef. Most of the people that were there at that time of year had black marlin fever, so even though the fishing for big cubera snapper, grouper, and roosters was excellent, everyone insisted in going after the biggies.

I was surprised at how close the fish were- the big ones. While we were still catching livies, there was a 400 pound black hip hopping around another boat within 100 yards. About an hour, later the boat that I was on experienced what we all came to see...

We had three baits out, and one of them began to zig zag across the pattern, in obvious distress. A whole the size of a car appeared and then an angry black shot up out of the water. I managed to snap this picture during the crazed jumps and landed up with a prize of my own- a cover shot!

I wrote an article about my trip there and you can read it here:
http://www.bluewaterjon.com/articles.htm

I will be back there this Dec 19-27, trying to experience more of the same action. I love blues and sails but there's nothing quite as exciting as seeing a big ol' black go nuts within 10 yards of the boat. Great photo ops. Coolest thing is that the fish, for the most part, blow their wad running around on top at TSL because the water is low on oxygen at the bottom and most of the water where we fished was only 300 feet deep.

Good luck in your research!
Jon Schwartz
Fishing Articles, Photography, and Travel
http://www.bluewaterjon.com

[steve hi-tech]

Thanks for all the info that was extemely helpful. We were thinking of going March 9th but I think we might be at the end of the Black Marlin bite and it might be a good idea to go earlier in the year. Do you think we will be OK or should we try to go earlier. Thanks so much

[captgenekelly]

They are probably booked up for 2010, but like last season they may have some cancellations, but those cancellations are unlikely to happen before late December or so, when final payments come due.
I can get you in there in mid January if you are interested.

Thanks for all the info that was extemely helpful. We were thinking of going March 9th but I think we might be at the end of the Black Marlin bite and it might be a good idea to go earlier in the year. Do you think we will be OK or should we try to go earlier. Thanks so much

[bvette]

I have been there in March a couple times. I had an awsome trip and not so hot. What do you want to catch? The Blacks seem to be bigger in the early part of the year. If you want #'s of sailfish it seems more like late spring. I caught a little of everythying in March Blacks, Blues, Srtipes, and sails. Of course you get plenty of tuna and dolphin. If you want to fish along the rocks for snapper or roosters they are thre also. Compared to east coast fishing its good any time.

[tom@marlinstar]

No matter where you fish, even in the peak of the season, you can have on and off days. I would never pass on a trip to the Tropic Star Lodge as it is 5 star in every way possible. I have the fondest memories of fishing there (March) and we had a mixed bag of marlin,sailfish,tuna and dorados. One Black showed up, juvenile about 350, and one of our friends boat released a 500+. The fishing is much different in January as bites can just explode on the reef and you can have multiple boats all hooked up on quality fish via live bait.

Tropic Star offers so much more though....kind of hard to explain but this place will recharge your batteries, refresh your soul, inspire an artist to paint or a writer to write. It's a very special place and if you can make it...take the walk through the jungle to the isolated beach. Good luck and post some pics if you go!

[Donpop]

Went to Tropic Star the first week of March in 07.Caught marlin both blacks and blues every day.One day we only caught one marlin.The most was 3 twice.one boat caught 8 one day.lots of tuna

[hubris 1]

I went in March. With Bvette. It was like 6 years ago now. I would never go back. If that place is 5 stars Ill take another route to the heavens. Fishing is OK at best. Like bvette said, its better than anything on the east coast in March. They hype it ALOT! If you have nothing else to do for a week.......GO. I would rather stay home and go fishing in North Carolina any day of the week. Im not into total isolation. I dont want to live in a jungle. I like Italian food, not fried plantains. Im not a monkey. The food is a 3 on a scale of 10. I actually couldnt wait to get home. I think a week in prison best describes my experience there and Bvette knows how I feel. If you paid for me to go back, I aint going. Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut.....the sound of a small diesel for 5 days putting along. I would not get on the boat for the last day. I couldnt take another day of that. We caught 3 sails out of 4 in the first 15 minutes of fishing on day one. We never had another fish or bite in 6 days. I think Costa Rica has much more to offer unless you need a place to hide. I hated it, JMO but I think alot of guys say how great it is because its legendary. Good Luck, I did have a post on here a long time ago with pics of the trip. Maybe someone can find it. I went back to the village the last day of fishing..........I liked that more than the fishing. They didnt like it that I stayed back either. Im sure I was a first at that.

[hubris 1]

HUBRIS AND BVETTE, GO TO PANAMA,

[tom@marlinstar]

I went in March. With Bvette. It was like 6 years ago now. I would never go back. If that place is 5 stars Ill take another route to the heavens. Fishing is OK at best. Like bvette said, its better than anything on the east coast in March. They hype it ALOT! If you have nothing else to do for a week.......GO. I would rather stay home and go fishing in North Carolina any day of the week. Im not into total isolation. I dont want to live in a jungle. I like Italian food, not fried plantains. Im not a monkey. The food is a 3 on a scale of 10. I actually couldnt wait to get home. I think a week in prison best describes my experience there and Bvette knows how I feel. If you paid for me to go back, I aint going. Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut Dut.....the sound of a small diesel for 5 days putting along. I would not get on the boat for the last day. I couldnt take another day of that. We caught 3 sails out of 4 in the first 15 minutes of fishing on day one. We never had another fish or bite in 6 days. I think Costa Rica has much more to offer unless you need a place to hide. I hated it, JMO but I think alot of guys say how great it is because its legendary. Good Luck, I did have a post on here a long time ago with pics of the trip. Maybe someone can find it. I went back to the village the last day of fishing..........I liked that more than the fishing. They didnt like it that I stayed back either. Im sure I was a first at that.

You did make a good point....if you don't like to be isolated...don't go. I found the absence of TV's,computers,phones and anything else electronic to be pure heaven. I should have mentioned that we also stayed at "The Palace", which was the original owner's home. It is 122 steps above the bay and has incredible views from the covered patio area. Every morning you are actually awoken by staff members where they serve you coffee in bed....can't get that at the St. Regis!

Plantains? I only remember eating loads of sashimi,fresh mahi and a very Americanized menu....This was in 2001 and 2002 under Henny and Marsella's rule which was tops. Maybe things have changed?

Hubris is right in a way as it isn't a universal place for all. I just happen to like the heat,the jungle, the fumes of a fleet of 31 Bertrams, doing nothing but fish,eat, sleep,fish...over and over for days.....it was a perfect fit. But, I did see the guys who were struggling with "it".

There are a lot of other things to do there but you have to be open to it. We went with a couple of boats at night and made bait for the fleet....that was a lot of fun and a quick way to make friends. You can take kayaks for an afternoon of fishing around the bays, and there was a center console available if you wanted to do some casting for roosters and snapper. At night take a stroll to the dock...stop at the lights midway and see what follows your lure....you might be surprised! Sure the grasshoppers are two feet long and you're going to get bit up running around in the dark....but the smell of diesel and the putt,putt over the Zane Grey Reef....makes me smile every time.


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