I heard it coming before it happened. There was a low rumble permeating through the jungle behind our cabina. It sounded a little like thunder, but then I felt the ground beneath me start to shake, and I began to sway in my hammock.
A minor earthquake, or tremor, had just rolled through. I felt the vibrations for just a few seconds before it ended as quickly as it had begun. The tremor was small, but the brief feeling of utter helplessness against the immensity of Mother Nature stuck with me.
Costa Rica Geology 101
The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is located along the edge of the Caribbean tectonic plate which underlies much of Central America and the Caribbean. Not far offshore from the Osa this plate collides with the Cocos plate, which is being pushed beneath the Caribbean plate. Earthquakes and tremors are relatively common.
The rocky formations on the coastline in front of where we are staying in Costa Rica were formed millions of years ago. The rocks attract all sort of reef fish, as well as predators like bluefin trevally.
The two massive pieces of Earth collide in this spot, forming a vast mountain range and dozens of volcanoes, 6 of which are considered active. By spilling lava the volcanoes molded the coastline of Costa Rica over millions of years.
The lava solidified and was shaped by the ocean, creating impressive rock structures and black sand beaches that are 15 million years old. Contrast this to the beaches of Cape Cod which were formed by glaciers only 15,000 years ago.
Pictured here is Matapalo Point with Matapalo rock just offshore to the right. This is a popular spot for boat anglers, as well as surfers.
The rocks in particular make fishing the coastline an intriguing experience. All sorts of organisms, creatures and fish are attracted to the structure. You never know what you might see, or hook into next!
The Bluefin Trevally
One species that's been on my fishing bucket list is the bluefin trevally. Known for its electric colors, fierce fighting ability, and delicious table fare, the bluefin trevally is a prized Costa Rican fish species.
Over the past 6 years, most of the surfcasting I've done in Costa Rica has been near inlets and along sandy beaches, which is not ideal bluefin trevally territory. On the other hand, the rocks I've been fishing during this Costa Rica trip are a hot spot for these fish.
A small bluefin trevally (bottom right) swims alongside a school of black jacks. I captured this image while snorkeling the rocks in front of our cabina.
Live sardines is probably the most effective technique for catching bluefin trevally where I am staying on the Osa Peninsula. Fortunately for me, these fish will also happily attack topwater plugs and poppers.
One night a couple weeks back I was invited to go pargo fishing with the caretaker of our property, his son, and his son's friend. The trip occurred at night from a high rock that was reachable from shore 2 hours before until 2 hours after low tide.
An overhead shot of the rock from which I would spend most of my surfcasting time during my final 10 days in Costa Rica. This rock provided me with a safe casting platform from 2 hours before, until 2 hours after low tide.
The discovery of this spot was huge for me. The rock was easy to access and safe to fish from. It provided terrific access to some very fishy water. In addition, the guys told me that this is a good rock to catch bluefin trevally (which they called blue jacks).
The Perfect Rock to Fish From
The next morning I woke up before sunrise to rig my larger travel rod for some long distance popper fishing. I chose to use my Tsunami 8'6" three piece travel rod with my Van Staal VR150 reel. The reel has thirty pound braid and I used a Slim Beauty knot to attach the braid to a forty inch section of 30lb fluorocarbon leader.
This 1.75oz red/white Halco Roostah Popper has caught several roosterfish and big jacks over the past few years. For this trip, I replaced the treble hooks with BKK Lone Diablo in-line single hooks.
After eating some pineapple and enjoying a cup of coffee I made my way down to the beach. It was almost low tide so I was able to easily access the big rock which my new friends had kindly shown me the night before. Walking was still, however, quite treacherous and I needed to pay attention so I didn't slip and fall.
I knew the rock would be a great casting platform, but I also knew that successfully landing a big fish would be a serious challenge. There was a huge offshore rock to my left which a big fish could easily snap my line on. To my right was another substantial rock that a big fish could easily get me hung up on.
Nevertheless fishing from this rock was definitely my best option. It felt great just to feel safe while fishing. I was really looking forward to casting and retrieving for the next couple of hours, without having to worry about being swamped by a wave.
The rock also gave me a spectacular vantage point where I would over the next few days observe turtles, dolphins, whales, and many other creatures of the Golfo Dulce.
I could easily see down into the clear water as smaller fish cruised by and I had scarlett macaws and other extraordinary birds and reptiles along the shoreline behind me. I also had plenty of space to spread out my gear, and I could tell right away that this would be my "home" for the rest of our Costa Rica trip.
Popper Fishing from the Rock
A few minutes later my new fishing friends arrived with their smaller spinning setups and hand lines.
However, after a few casts my friends told me they were going to go fish from a different nearby rock. I honestly think they were politely giving me the spot so I could have extra room to fish. I felt as if they wanted to see me catch one of the big bluefin trevally they had told me about.
I told the guys I would talk with them later, and I watched them maneuver onto another rock about two hundreds yards to the east. I made a mental note of their location as another potential rock from which I could potentially cast poppers from.
You can see me casting from the rock in the bottom left of the above photo. You can also see my two friends fishing from a different rock towards the righthand side of the photo.
The tide was nearly dead low as I made a long cast straight offshore. I let the lure land and reeled up the slack before starting my retrieve. I reeled at a slow to medium pace, and I made long and low sweeps of the rod to impart a chugging action to the popper. The lure sprayed white water into the sky and sent bubbles down into the water.
Big Bluefin Trevally From Shore
The lure looked great and I knew it was just a matter of time until it got clobbered by a jack, a trevally, or maybe even a roosterfish. About 30 yards offshore the rock I caught sight of swirl behind the popper, and split second before a big fish exploded on the plug.
You can see the topwater bite in the photo above, depicted by the red arrow. At this moment I was unsure whether the fish was a trevally, a roosterfish, or something else.
Whitewater shot into the air as the sharp hooks penetrated the fish's mouth. I could feel a solid weight on the end of my line as I went to set the hook. Line started peeling from my reel as the fish darted offshore and kicked for deeper water.
The fish was stripping line and heading offshore. I kept thinking about how cool of a spot this was to be hooked up with a good fish.
I was hooked up and my friends had taken notice! We gave each other a big thumbs up as my rod bent in half and line continued peeling from my reel. It felt great to be tied into a decent fish while fishing from such a unique spot.
It was now time to focus and do everything in my power to land the fish without getting hung up or snapped off on the sharp rocks.
Ryan-I decided to become a member because I really respect the way you approach fishing-and take care of the fish-“roosterfish restoration in the kayak” Our family has fished Costa Rica several times and this year we are bringing inflatable kayaks- we will surfcast as well,but I am 67 and after a day in the surf I think I’ll be glad to switch it up. We fished the bay at Golfo Dulce but never as far south as Matapalo- do you know of any areas between Puerto Jiminez and Matapalo good for launching kayaks? Keep up the great attitude and positive vibes- Pura Vida Jay
Thanks for the comment John! Always great to hear from someone who has visited and fished the same areas I have in Costa Rica.
For launching kayaks, I would check out Playa Pan Dulce. It’s nice and calm down that way. I’ve launched from beaches that are closer to Matapalo, but it’s really rocky and the swell can make launching and retrieving kayaks really dangerous.
Ryan.. Your enthusiastic descriptions of Costa Rica had me worried. I thought we might lose you as a Cape Codder to the magic of Central America. So much to do and see down there. And no snow or slush to fool around with. Yesterday my neighbor had his lawn mower out and today we had 3 inches of gook!
LOL, yes Norm it really is a magical place down there with all the wildlife, plants and more. However I think I’m okay with just visiting, as I love my home in Bourne too much to leave. That is pretty funny to hear about your neighbor mowing his lawn and then the next day we are shoveling snow. The changes in weather around here are so dramatic, especially compared to Costa Rica where every day is basically the same. Thanks for the comment!
Ryan first off Thankyou for sharing so colorfully & detailed aspects of fishing for thst bluefin trevally off that rock. What you describe & what you shared with us in the picture made me feel I was there. I feel like I now know that rock! Hopefully it will serve you as well in future trips! I’m sure jumping on the rocks in the canal over the years in some small way sharpened you rock hopping skills needed on your adventure! That trevally was beautiful! It looked like an aquarium fish with its colorfull display! I don’t remember a fish that big being so colorful! The ceviche looked & sounded delightful! Sounds like you found some good fishing buddies to share your adventure & fish with ! Very nice of you! Safe adventures to you & Lauren on rest of your trip ! Johnny F
Thanks for the comment John! I am already excited to get back to that rock. Maybe I’ll get back there in 2023, we’ll see. As always thank you for reading and I appreciate your comment! The ceviche was delicious and I highly recommend giving ceviche a try if it’s something you aren’t already familiar with.
The weather in your blog is a far cry from the cape cod weather recently. It makes me wish spring was in full swing. great landing in a fairly tricky spot. Had you already premeditated how you would land a fish? I have learned my lesson more than a few times to have a plan.
I love the content and the stories you have given us from Costa Rica. Thank you for your efforts and energy that goes into this group.
Spring is right around the corner. I know you and a lot more people are chomping at the bit! Yes I had thought up a general plan for landing fish, but in hindsight I realized it would be next to impossible to land a fish from the opposite side of the rock. So again, I got very lucky that the fish chose the “correct” side of the rock. I’m happy you are enjoying the blog posts and MFCC, it’s great having you aboard as a member!
How would you compare the Bluefin Trevally fight with a striper of the same size and weight? Glad to hear you made it home safe and sound!
The trip back home was pretty interesting, with one plane not showing up, and several other delays, but we made it! The bluefin trevally fights much, much harder than a striped bass of similar size.
What a gorgeous fish! Landing it amongst the sharp rocks is an impressive accomplishment. Did you land others from that same spot?
The colors are really something! It’s like a work of art. I got lucky landing this fish, as well as another bluefin trevally and a black jack. Unfortunately I lost some other fish on the rocks (not sure the species), and I also lost a roosterfish that I only had on the line for 5 seconds. I would’ve loved to have landed the rooster, but that’s fishing! Thanks for the comment David. 👍
Looks like an amazing trip and some great fishing!!! Can’t wait to try out that ceviche recipe as well…
Let us know how the ceviche works out for you Jason!
That was a beautiful looking fish. It was nice of your new friends to help you out even with the language barrier. Just goes to show you, you don’t need to speak the same language when it comes to fishing. We all have the same goal, to catch fish!! Now it’s almost time to start fishing the Cape.
Well said Stan! And I couldn’t agree more. Thanks for the comment. 👍
Hi Ryan – How did your travel rod do in catching the Bluefin Trevally? How much did the fish weigh? We’re you happy that you used the single hook on the popper? Thank you for sharing your travel adventures, Gretchen
Hey Gretchen! I really like this travel rod, but unfortunately it can be difficult to find. For anyone who’s interested it’s the 8’6” Tsunami Surf TSTSS 863H: Action Heavy, 12-25lb, 3/4-3oz. Regarding the single hooks, I ended up losing some nice fish this past trip that I might of landed if I was using trebles. Next time I will probably use poppers with treble hooks, unless I am fishing from the kayak. I like the single hooks when fishing from the kayak because I feel it’s a bit easier and safer.
Thanks for the response – I’ll check out the Tsunami Surf!
Nice fish! I can appreciate landing something like that in a rock field where you have to pay attention to the tide. I used to fish the Plum Island jetty on a regular basis, pretty difficult even on a sunny day. A buddy of mine and I got caught at the end of the jetty late one night in pretty bad weather with a full moon tide. You need to pay stay aware, especially when the bite is on. We got off in the nick of time, barely. I learned several good safety lessons that night – lights, footgear, general awareness – the list is long 🙂
Thanks for the comment Paul! I’ve never fished the Plum Island jetty before but I appreciate you sharing your experience.
I also have some good news. You won the giveaway for the $50 gift certificate to themightyfish.com! I will send you an email with the details. Congrats!
Another classic tale! Glad you were able to cross another species off the list.
Seems like a large fish. How much would you estimate that it weighed?
It must be a tough adjustment to go back to the cold weather back home. We’re leaving the record setting heat in Fort Myers on Sunday ourselves.
Spring is coming soon!
I’d guess maybe 15-20 pounds. For comparison’s sake, they fight much harder than a striped bass. Believe it or not I really enjoy the cold weather back home, although today it feels like spring! I hope you have an easy time traveling home from Florida.
That is one serious fish … I don’t know how you manage on those rocks … perhaps in my youth I would be doing the same. Well done …
Such a fun fish to catch and the colors on them are awesome. To help manage on the rocks, I definitely recommend Frogg Toggs or some other type of boot studd. They make a world of a difference!
Holy cow!! Smart move loosening the drag when it was rubbing the braid on that rock. I can only imagine the panic! Beautiful colors on that fish too. Definitely a trip to remember.
I got lucky with loosening the drag and still landing the fish. On another day I tried the same thing when my line got wrapped on the same rock, and I ended up losing a nice one. I am very lucky and fortunate to have landed this guy. Lots of fun!
Another great fishing story , I agree with you on the lime juice “cooking ” the cervice, i love that ,can’t wait to read some more of CR Adventures. Thanks again..🤙🎣
My pleasure! I’m glad you’re enjoying the CR adventures. Ceviche is such a refreshing and interesting way to prepare fish. This season on Cape I plan on trying sea robin ceviche, and I’m looking forward to experimenting with other species too.
Your reports from Costa Rica are a great lunch break read! Only problem is that then I don’t want to go back to work! Glad you guys made it home safely and I am looking forward to another post on the trip.
The colors of the fish in the tropics are truly amazing. My wife and I did a trip this past summer to St. John’s. Snorkeling a coral reef is one of my favorite things to do and with water temps where they are, you almost never have to stop!
I made the mistake of trying to climb over some volcanic rock to see around a bend one day. Very painful on the bare feet! What foot gear were you using to do your rock hopping? Thanks for sharing the trip with us!
You’re spot on about the water temperature and snorkeling. Here on Cape Cod maybe you will last 15 minutes in the water, but down in the tropics you can stay in all day long. Sometimes it’s even hotter in the water than it is on land!
For footgear, I have been using Teva heavy duty sandals with Frogg Toggs screwed into their soles. The Frogg Toggs were a tremendous help for keeping good traction on the rocks.