That’s Fishin’ – December 2024
Welcome to the December edition of That’s Fishin, the official start of the dry season here on the Pacific Coast where the next few months will deliver some of the best Sport Fishing on the planet.
DORADO DERBY TOURNAMENT
The Dorado Derby 1 & 2 took place over the weekends of 9th & 16th November and we witnessed a record setting turnout of 103 teams competing over the two tournament weekends! 63 boats for Derby 1 and 40 boats for Derby 2. Despite some challenging weather spirits were not dampened and everyone had a blast trying their best to be crowned this year’s DORADO DERBY champions.
Huge congrats to all the winners, TEAM REEL FREEDOM for taking the win in Derby 1 with a 35lbs Dorado, huge congrats and well deserved guys! And TEAM MIAMI VICE for winning Derby 2 with a huge 55lb Dorado. Fantastic to see a local Quepos team take the win in one of the smallest boats in the boat, great result and well done guys! A huge thank you to all sponsors and everyone that took part, we hope to see you back again next year for Dorado Derby 2025 where we hope to continue breaking records!
Dorado Derby Results
Reel Freedom 35lbs
Reel Texans / Stress Reliever 28.5lbs
Pacific Fly 27.5lbs
Top Lady – Madison Scorson (Reel Freedom)
Top Junior (Boy) – Xavi Castro (Mirse Azul)Top Junior (Girl) – Danna Martinez (Asi O Mas)
Dorado Derby Dos Results
Miami Vice 55lbs
Scatterbrain 31lbs
MAGA Crew / Tag n Stick 30lbs
Top Lady – Luanne Bozeman (Tag n Stick)
Top Junior (Boy) – Axel Arrieta (Prime Time)
Top Junior (Girl) – Charlee Wade (Reel Wade)
OFFSHORE FISHING
Early November produced some excellent Sailfishing which surprised most of the fleet with some double-digit Sailfish days posted by charter boats. Sailfish numbers should increase as December progresses and water temps rise. The Blue Marlin fishing during day trips in December should provide some of the best action of the entire year and expect some Striped Marlin mixed in too. Big Black Marln can be targeted over Offshore reefs with a slow trolled live bonito, patience is definitely required but the reward can be priceless.
We had some fantastic Dorado fishing during November with fish in the 15-20lb range showing and a few larger fish mixed in also. It felt like the peak of this years run had not arrived just yet and I expect that late November/early December will provide the best Dorado fishing of the year. It has been one epic year for Yellowfin Tuna and we typically catch some of the largest Tuna of the year from December to February. Huge congrats to TEAM TRIP for catching a 220-250lb Tuna during mid-November, a fish of a lifetime for sure!
INSHORE FISHING
December brings some of the best inshore fishing of the year to the Quepos area. The sardine bait schools have arrived and it will provide opportunities for species galore along the coastline for the next few months. Beaches, rivermouths, rocks and some of the reefs slightly offshore will all hold excellent fishing potential for all our major species. Roosterfish, Snook, Snappers, Grouper, Jacks, Mackerel, Corvina, Tripletail and more can all be targeted here. Half or Full Day trips can be taken to get you on the bite and we have a host of excellent inshore boats and captains ready to take you fishing. Livebaiting with sardines, blue runners, goggle eyes and lookdowns are some of the most popular methods here. Bonito livebaits are a favorite for large Roosterfish ad Cubera Snappers. Vertical jigging and popping with topwater lures can also provide excellent results and we have some great boats offering these trips also.
TOURNAMENT CALENDAR
The next tournament we have to look forward to is the always epic PELAGIC ROCKSTAR tournament which is taking place at the Marina Pez Vela over the weekend of Jan 9-12th. More than US$1m prize money is expected to be on the line with Billfish, Dorado & Tuna Divisions to play for. I hope to see you there!!
The rest of the 2025 tournament calendar is now set and you can find our full event schedule at marinapezvela.com/tournaments.
Jan 9-12 Pelagic Rockstar
Feb 1 Roosterfish Rodeo
Feb 20-22 Pescadora Billfish Championship (Ladies Only)
Mar 8 Sailfish Slam
Mar 13-15 FA Open (New!)
Apr 5 Marina Pez Vela Open
Apr 6-10 Offshore World Championships
See you out there!
Benn Gilmour
Jackpot Sport Fishing, Marina Pez Vela, Quepos
Cell: 8458 4997
[email protected]
jackpotsportfishing.com