As we close another season at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve, we reflect on what is always an awesome time of year. As usual, the river and its many tarpon have kept us on our toes. Some weeks have been incredibly productive, and some had the help of gourmet Costa Rican coffee and stories to keep the vibe alive between bites.
The trials of El Niño at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve
Our season started with normal water levels and a pattern of active fish spiking around the waxing moon. This is something to note if you are booking in 2024. Tarpon were caught in various size ranges and in both river and lagoon. The final week of August raised some particularly nice fish. The looming El Niño reared its head in September, and several weeks of dry conditions focused our efforts on the river only. Even though the lagoons were off limits, we had some incredible fishing, and a few true monsters were brought to hand. October continued the trend of low water, but increased activity on the waxing moon. Finally in November, the rains came, and brought water and fresh tarpon back from lower in the system. Truly a welcome way to end our season in the jungle.
Amazing Jaguar Sightings & More
The amazing flooded forest and the immense biodiversity that surrounds the Jungle Tarpon Reserve is a constant reminder that this place is so much more than just a fishing experience, and we continue to be blessed with many awe-inspiring wildlife encounters. Of special note are the 6 groups (40% of clients) that had jaguar encounters in 2023, some of which lasted up to 15 minutes or more. Seems like our jaguar study is slowly starting to crack the code on these elusive animals. We are excited for the many great opportunities in conservation on the horizon – more on that soon! We also had two groups focused on bird watching alongside fly fishing (part of our burgeoning Fins & Feathers program). Without getting off the boats and into the forest we were able to see 142 and 173 species of rainforest birds during these weeks.
A Big Thank You
We would like to thank our clients, both those who come every season and the new ones who experienced our fishery for the first time. Our entire staff really appreciate you coming to fish with us and we hope to see you again in the future. From our families to yours, thank you, happy holidays, and may 2024 bring you health, prosperity, and many more memorable fishing experiences.
Interested in booking a trip to catch tarpon in Costa Rica?
The 2024 Jungle Tarpon Reserve season is filling fast. Come experience all that our river has to offer. Click here to find out more!
Want to follow in the footsteps of fly fishing legends like Lefty and Blanton? Bring your A-Game, because our ocean tarpon fishery is amongst the world’s best places to tangle with giants. The Rio Colorado Tarpon Club is calling!
Or maybe you want to combine tarpon with machaca into a legendary trip? Test your might in the ocean against the biggest and baddest tarpon in the world, and follow it up with some amazing topwater machaca action. Check out our Jungle Quest program!
Can’t make up your mind? Contact us to learn more!