Now Serving Samara

Bait and Switch - High Speed Lures

Developed and perfected in Costa Rica, the Bait and Switch Tactic makes for one of the best strikes in all of fishing. This yields maximum excitement and fish strikes extremely close to the boat. This spread consists of medium or large sized high-speed lures running off both outriggers and the shotgun line. We add a pair of teasers off both outriggers and one teaser in the exhaust alley. The high-speed lures are trolled off 50 or 80 class rod and reels at 9-10 knots. The pitch baits can be armed with live bait (Black tuna or Blue runner) or dead bait (Ballyhoo or Black tuna strips).

 The larger fish like to strike the high-speed lures but also will come up the spread towards the teasers bouncing along the surface. The spotter mate on the canopy tower identifies which fish species are in the spread and relays to the cockpit below on which line or teaser the fish has fixated. The crew immediately extracts the teasers to draw the fish in close. The appropriate size pitch bait is dropped back to the target fish on either TLD30 or Penn 50W (depending on fish size) and the switch is complete. The strike is imminent so hold tight.

This medium sized/high speed spread run at 9-10 knots is brutally effective on big Marlin, Dorado, and Wahoo. The advantage of the Bait and Switch tactic is that you can apply the right bait/tackle combination on the target fish to virtually guarantee a great catch.

For the safety of both fish and angler, FishingNosara uses only circle hooks for pitch baits. This guarantees safe live releases of ALL Sailfish and Marlin caught by our team.

Equipment

Penn International 50W - 80W reels, C+H Lures Medium sized High-speed lures, 200-250lbs. leader

Pitch Baits on Shimano TLD30 or Penn 50W (Ballyhoo, Black tuna strips, live Blue runner, live Black tuna)

Bait and Switch - Low Speed Lures with Bait

This variation of the Bait and Switch is ideal for catching Dorados, smaller Sailfish, and all the species of tuna (Yellowfin, Black, White). The fishing approach is identical, but the spread blends real bait into the mix of lures.

This spread consists of small-sized lures with Ballyhoo or Black tuna strips running off both outriggers and the shotgun reel. We add a pair of teasers off both outriggers and one teaser in the exhaust alley. The low-speed lures are trolled off 30lbs. or 50lbs. class rod and reels at 4-6 knots. The pitch baits can be armed with live bait (Black tuna or Blue runner), Ballyhoo, or Black tuna strips.

Once again, the spotter mate identifies which fish species are in the spread and the teasers are retracted as the target fish approaches. Once the teasers are extracted the appropriate pitch bait is presented. However the slower boat speed means that the baited rigs may get hit on the way into the boat, leading to some pulse-pounding multi strikes.

The small lure and bait combination at these low speeds is a very effective spread, with the only potential drawback being that slower speeds limit the amount of ocean you can cover. However when the bite is on this tactic leads to double and triple strikes that keep the whole party smiling.

Equipment

Shimano TLD30 or Penn International 50W, C+H Lures Small sized Low-speed lures, 100-150lbs. leader

Trolled/Pitch Baits on Shimano TLD30 or Penn 50W (Ballyhoo and Black Tuna strips, live Blue runner or live Black tuna)

Basic Inshore Spread

Not all fishing in Nosara is based around the massive behemoths that live off the shelf; there is plenty of action-packed fishing within a mile of the shore. This spread intrigues the appetite of multiple species of fish and can lead to the most strikes of all our tactics. We like to put this spread out and watch the Cerro Mackerals, Dorados, Yellowfin tunas, Black tuna, White tuna, Sailfish, Wahoo, and even Marlin line up for their turn to get in the boat.

We use surface baits with small lures trolled off the outriggers, Ballyhoo or Black tuna strips trolled off the outriggers. You can bait the shotgun as well, but sometimes we like to use a cedar plug on a 30lbs. rig instead. Our teasers are short spreader bar teasers off the outriggers and run off the 3^rd wake. Also, the center teaser is run right down the middle of the exhaust alley.

Finally, throw a planer/spoon combo rig on starboard transom with a 50lbs. rig. On the port short line we alternate between Lip Diver Rapala lures, Braid Diving lures, or jig depending on conditions.

Troll around at 4-6 knots and wait for the feeding frenzy.

This tactic is good to catch whatever is hungry and around. Sometime the TLD30 may not be big enough, so always keep a Penn 50W handy for the pitch bait.

Equipment

Planer/spoon, C+H Lures small-sized lures, 100-150lbs. leader. Ceder Plug.

Trolled and Pitch Baits on Shimano TLD30 or Penn 50W (Ballyhoo or Black tuna strip, live Blue runner or live Black tuna)

Yellowfin Tuna Tactic

Sometimes the fish down here are chewing the bottom out of the boats, but when the big boys are reluctant to bite our Captains fall back on this tried and true Yellowfin Tuna Tactic. The yella fellas are always biting, and this is the rig to get 'em in the boat.

We use Penn Power Pole rods and Penn 760 spinner reels to ensure that no tuna will out-class our tackle, then we sight cast Williamson Jet Poppers to the school of Tuna. A handy tactic is to follow the spinning porpoises to the tuna school, then try to cast in front of the porpoises.

This 'slump-buster' technique provides tons of action and a hands-on style of fishing that suits sight-casting anglers who are used to skinny water, lakes, ponds, and piers. Plus the quality of Yellowfin Tuna meat is second-to-none as sushi or as table fare.

Planer/Spoon Tactic - Craig's Secret Weapon

Though a common rig in Northeast Florida, the Planer/Spoon combo was brought to Nosara by US Representative for FishingNosara Craig Sutton. Known for nailing big Kingfish and Wahoo up in Florida, this rig is an absolute monster for catching Costa Rican Yellowfin Tuna, Wahoo, Ciero Mackerel, and more.

The Planer runs 10-20 feet deep and creates a different angle of attack from the rest of the spread which swims on the surface. Of course, we up the trolling speed a tad (3-7 knots) to compensate for the increased drag from the planer.

A 30 foot section of 150lbs. monofilament is connected to a barrel swivel (this enables the spoon to swim properly) then a 15 foot section of 100lbs. Flurocarbon connects to the spoon. The deep bubbling of the spoon is irresistable to the fish.

The secret to making this rig swim is in the barrel swivel, the knots, and using the proper style flurocarbon. When this rig is working we can increase or decrease the trolling speed to target different species, making the Planer/Spoon a true marine harvesting weapon.

Near-Shore Rooster/Cuberra Fly fishing (<1mile from shore)

FishingNosara has recently expanded our fishing options to include near-shore fly fishing for big Rooster Fish and Cuberra Snappers. We start by working fertile reef areas with large hookless topwater plugs; this keeps the smaller fish from hitting the lures while we wake up the big boys. Once the target fish is lured up from the reef we pull the plugs and then present the fly.

This tactic is extremely effective on the big Cuberra and Roosters because they are selective hunters who won't budge from the reef unless there is commotion overhead. Don't be surprised if you'll need a 14-16wt. fly rod for these guys, where 10-12wt. will be sufficient on smaller reef fish.

Equipment

Large topwater hookless plugs

Preferred Fly Colors: Blue/White Blue/Pink Blue/Red Blue/Yellow.

14-16wt. Fly rod (WILL BREAK SMALLER RODS. FOR EXPERIENCED ANGLERS ONLY)

Large Cuberas Only

(Not for WEAK, MEEK, or FAINT OF HEART. DO NOT ATTEMPT)

 FishingNosara has perfected this tactic to catch the biggest Cubera Snappers on the whole reef. We start by slow trolling over a near-shore reef with live Black tuna or Blue runner from the outriggers for 30 to 45 minutes; this commotion will bring the large Cuberas out of their holes where they can't use the protection of the reef. They will ascend the water column, sometimes striking the bait right on the surface.

If they need a bit more encouragement after the 30-45 minutes of slow trolling, we anal-hook the same bait fish and send them swimming to the bottom.

HOLD ON! Usually the Cuberas will be within 40ft. of the surface and they are STRONG! You will need at least 25lbs. of drag, and perhaps an extra crewman to keep you in the boat.

Equipment

Penn 50TW, 100-150lbs. leader, Live Black Tuna or Blue runner, Nerves of Steel