The piscatorial adventures and travels of a self-confessed fishing nut: The Roosterfish and Sailfish Challenge

Those of you that watched 'The Big Fish' show on the BBC will be well aware that during the Costa Rican leg of the competition, myself and the other contestants were set the task of catching a Sailfish. Things didn't exactly go to plan as the Sailfish hadn't read the script. Over two days filming, only one was caught by my fellow contestant Dan. I narrowly missed out on one.

This winter just gone, I got the chance to have another crack at them as my wife and I were volunteering in Panama for a couple of months. It made sense to stop in Costa Rica for a few days on our way down there and see if I could come face to face with one.

Shimano Tiagra - Big Game Workhorse!

I wanted to return to the same lodge the BBC took us to but a little digging around revealed it was way out of my price range. After a bit more searching online I discovered 'Jackpot Sport Fishing', based on the Central Pacific coast in the town of Quepos. What stood out about these guys was that they are owned and run by a British fella – Benn Gilmour. His is the the only British owned and run charter business in the country.

Quepos - nestled up against the Costa Rican rainforest - Lush!

Benn and his family sold up everything and moved to Costa Rica back in 2015 to set up their business. They bought a 31ft Sportfisher boat named 'Good Day' from which to pursue the many species, inshore and offshore, that the country is famous for. Benn's team on board includes 'Captain Manuel' who has 30 years experience fishing out of Marina Pez Vela in Quepos with 12 of those on 'Good Day' itself. By his side is Yoxan, his son, who is an extraordinary deck-hand. I really liked the idea of a father and son team working together.

Captain Manuel - A lifetime fishing the waters off Quepos

I got in touch with Benn and we bounced a few emails back and forth. He seemed just the man for the job, making everything straightforward, so I booked in two days in mid-December to fish with him. The plan was to spend one day offshore after the Sailfish and the next day inshore after Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and the like. With the high season for Sailfish being November through April, Benn assured me we stood a good chance of catching one.....which was just what I wanted to hear!

The more I spoke with Benn the more excited I got, he was passionate and enthusiastic about his fishing. His online catch reports were very impressive too. He and his team were consistently catching some fine fish, I knew I'd picked the right guys. They seemed keen, eager to please their customers and their results spoke for themselves.

Offshore, they work up to the 40 mile range and target Wahoo, Tuna, Marlin, Dorado, Sailfish, Amberjack and Grouper. Inshore, the list of species is mind boggling. The big draw are the Roosterfish but there's also Snook, Grouper, Jacks, Sierra Mackerel, Bluefin Trevally, Tripletails, Corvina, Cubera, Milkfish, Pompano and various Snapper species including the Cubera, Red, Yellow and Mullet to name a few. Then you have to decide how you're going to catch all these incredible species. With gear on board to cover trolling, jigging, popping, lures, livebaiting, fly and bottom fishing you really are spoilt for choice!

A sailfish fly...pink is THE hot colour!

When my wife and I arrived in Costa Rica, it was just at the tail end of some particularly out of season rain that hung around after hurricane Otto. It wasn't looking too clever, but as we made our way down to the coast it fizzled out and some nicer weather moved in, just in time for the fishing. We met with Benn and his family for dinner on our second evening in Quepos and hit it off right away. Plans were made and targets were set. If we could pull it off and get the Sailfish on day one and then a nice Rooster inshore the following day, I'd be one very happy chap. The challenge was on!

Yoxan, the deckhand rigs up a ballyhoo bait

As my first fishing day dawned, it was grey and overcast. Benn picked me up at 6.30am sharp and we made our way down to the modern and well equipped Marina Pez Vela. I was very impressed with 'Good Day', she was immaculately kept. Captain Manuel and Yoxan had been busy preparing everything on board well before I arrived. After introductions and hand shakes, Manuel steered her out of the marina on to the open sea and gunned the engines for our steam out to the fishing grounds.

As we edged ever further offshore, the weather cleared and we soon had the tropical sun beating down on us. We discussed techniques and the drill for if and when we connect with a fish. In a big game fishing situation like this, it's all about teamwork. Our spread consisted of teasers without hooks and trolled ballyhoo deadbaits with rubber skirts. In the boat, the fly rod was ready to go in case we had the chance to tease a Sailfish close enough for a shot. Anything is possible in this situation and it pays to be well prepared. As much as we hoped for a Sailfish, there was every chance we might find Tuna, Dorado or even a Marlin out there.

Benn Gilmour with one of his favourite Sailfish lures

The anticipation was intense as we approached the fishing grounds. A nice Sailfish breached nearby which gave me great confidence, they were in the area. Once the lines were set, all eyes were on the water behind us with Captain Manuel having the best view from up in the tower. To my surprise, not more than 20 minutes after we started fishing, the trolled ballyhoo bait to my left was away. The reel started screaming and Manuel was shouting 'Sail, Sail, Sail' from the tower. It was all happening!

The clutch was engaged and with it the circle hook driven home. At this point, a magnificent Sailfish, all lit up in blues and purples, started to leap and tail-walk behind the boat in it's bid to shake the hook. It was an incredible sight and the reel was literally fizzing as Benn and Yoxan cleared the other lines and teasers. With these out of the way, I had space to get to work on the fish and the fight began properly.

Once the first run was over, I was able to gain some line back by steadily pumping and winding. It was an immense weight on the end and I was willing it to stay attached. To be honest, I was rather shocked at just how quickly it had all happened after the many months of planning and thinking about it. These guys were on it!

The fish regained some strength after a while and tore off on another blistering run, sounding a little this time. This was to be it's last though. It was then a case of solid pressure from me and the drag that proved too much. Slowly but surely, I managed to edge the fish back to the boat.

Yoxan and Benn's experience shone through in the next couple of minutes as they had the fish unhooked, tagged, measured and got trophy shots for me without the fish ever leaving the water. It's law in Costa Rica that any billfish caught should never leave the water and there's a no-kill policy too. They truly value the incredible fishing they have.

I swam the fish by the boat for a short while as it got it's strength back and then released it, watching as it swam off strongly to fight another day. What an amazing creature and what an incredible experience. I was over the moon and it wasn't even 10.30!

I filled in the paperwork that goes with the tagging research program and the boys set the lines once again so we could continue fishing. With a Sailfish in the bag already, I couldn't quite believe it. There had even been talk of a couple of Marlin being raised on the radio. With this in mind we got the coordinates from one of other captains and headed over to investigate. To catch a Sailfish and a Marlin in one day would be really quite special!

A fine sailfish - 198cm

We got a chance too. After a couple of hours of trolling, Manuel started screaming from the tower and sure enough there was a Blue Marlin in the spread. In a flash, it scythed through the lures and baits slashing at them with it's bill but failed to connect before sinking out of view. As quickly as it began, it was all over.

Apart from one other dropped run from a Sailfish, that was all the action we had that day. It wasn't an easy day by Costa Rican standards but what mattered is that we got a Sailfish to the boat and our target was met. As the lines were drawn in and the bow pointed back towards Quepos, I was certainly returning back to port one happy angler. We did it. Another species ticked off the list, and at 198cm, a fine specimen.

DAY 2

"A Sailfish offshore on day one and a Roosterfish or Cubera Snapper inshore on day two please". That was my request to Benn Gilmour of 'Jackpot Sportfishing' when I made my booking with him back in the autumn of last year. I knew it was a lot to ask from just two days of fishing, but you've got to dream haven't you? Specimens of those 3 species were right up there on my 'bucket list' of fish too.

Day one went to plan in magnificent style with the beautiful Sailfish capture. We couldn't have asked for a better start and as such were in high spirits and full of optimism as we headed out of Marina Pez Vela for Day two. There had been a little rain in the night but as we pushed up the coast in the early morning light the clouds retreated over the mountains, leaving a clear sky above us.

The first task for the day was to fill the livewell with bait. When looking for trophy fish inshore then a livebait is hard to beat, more often than not it sorts out the better specimens. Catching the bait in itself can often be a challenge and the first couple of spots we tried proved to be just that. We got a few sardines, but not enough for the day.

Captain Manuel made a call that we should try for a Snook as were close to a productive river mouth that he loves to fish. We drifted the mark with livebaits out the back while Benn tried casting lures and poppers to fish that were showing on the surface from the bow.

After a few quiet drifts and one aborted take on a livebait, the call was made to move on and attempt to fill the livewell properly. Captain Manuel ran us down the coast a fair distance. He had some rock marks in mind where he hoped to be able to put us on to the Roosters and Cuberas. On the way, we stopped and tried to gather some more bait where there were a couple of smaller boats attempting to do the same thing. There were birds working the area and after a quick scan with the fish finder Manuel was able to put us right over a large shoal of sardines.

Out came the Sabiki feathers and we all began jigging at the back of the boat. This time the sardines were obliging and it didn’t take long to get what we needed. Within fifteen minutes the livewell was full, the lines were wound in and we were heading down the coast to Manuel and Benn's favoured rock marks.

The further we went, the better the inshore ground began to look. There were deserted black sand beaches interspersed with dramatic cliffs and ominous pinnacles of rock rising up from the turquoise waters. The scenery was fantastic, it was lovely looking ground that simply screamed fish!

Once the engines were cut over our first mark, we prepared the rods. At the rear we had two livebaits out, both hooked through the nose with circle hooks. One was freelined while the other was fished with a bullet lead of 1.5oz on the line to keep it down. With the water column covered at the stern we could fish lures, poppers and flies from the bow, hedging our bets so to speak.

Benn had spotted a large shoal of Milkfish lurking behind one of the pinnacles and was casting flies at them. They were incredibly spooky with just the shadow of the fly line above their heads enough to send them scattering in every direction. Sadly, they were having none of it.

The livebaits also remained untroubled at the rear and after twenty minutes or so Manuel made the call to move on to the next fishy looking spot. Casting a glance down the coast, it was clear to see we were spoilt for choice. Everywhere I looked had potential for swimming a bait or chucking a lure. Knowing where to start is half the battle and fortunately for me, Benn and his team had a few tried and tested marks in mind.

Live Bait!

The next spot was a cracker. There were two huge pinnacles of rock towering out of the water with swell and white water washing all around them. Manuel edged the boat in to casting distance and we sent the first livebait out to run the gauntlet. Just as the second one was being lowered down the reel on the first rod screamed into life, it all happened so quick.

With the rod bent double in the holder and the drag begrudgingly giving line, the fight was on. I grabbed the rod and hung on for dear life as Manuel was screaming 'ROOSTER!' from the tower. The pressure was on as this was one of the target species!

The Rooster fought hard and long, but didn’t give me any trouble by heading down into the rock like some species do. It was zipping around behind the boat giving us all a great show with it's comb like dorsal fin slicing through the surface on several occasions. They really are very special fish. With their radical hair do and awesome black and silver stripes, they must surely be the rock stars of the ocean.

A few more spirited runs were all the fish could manage before it surfaced by the boat and Yoxan was able to scoop it up with the net. It was an incredible fish and the second target met in as many days. Estimated at a little over 20lb in weight, I was ecstatic. These guys were good!

With the circle hook easily removed, I held the beautiful creature for a few trophy shots before releasing it. The fish swam off strongly, which is always nice to see. They are another of Costa Rica's protected species which makes it easily one of the best places on the planet to catch one.

I was buzzing after that incredible experience and could have gone home happy. But we still had a few hours of fishing left. Benn mentioned how great it would be if we could find a Cubera Snapper as well......I should be so lucky! The livebaits were once again deployed and Manuel slowly trolled them along a submerged reef.

After changing baits a couple of times, a rather peculiar bite developed. The line pulled tight and the rod bent over slightly. I wound down to allow the circle hook to do it's job and then everything went slack to my disappointment. On checking the bait, all that was left was a head with some puncture marks in it, the body having been savagely bitten off. It seems the fish had just missed the hook and from the teeth marks Benn called it as a large snapper. So close!

By this time the tide had peaked, so rather than wait for it start moving again we trekked up the coast to another big river estuary for the last hour of the day. Once we arrived, the ebb was well underway. Livebaits were sent out to the rear and Yoxan was up the front chucking a big popper around. What happened next can only be described as total carnage!

Within minutes, the first livebait was away and I was bent into fiercely strong fighting Jack. Then the other rod was off and Benn and I were into a double hook up. Then Yoxan hooked a Sierra Mackerel on the popper. It was crazy, there were fish everywhere. As soon as one was unhooked and another bait deployed then it was instantly hit by the Jacks. At one point we even had a triple hook up.

A dozen or so Jacks and several Mackerel later we had pretty much run out of bait and it was time to head back in to Quepos. It had been an incredible day, what a way to finish off my Costa Rican fishing experience. It really doesn’t get much better. All credit to Benn and his team, they did a great job putting us on to some serious fish in such a short space of time. That's two more species ticked off the list. Until the next time.....Tight lines!