Most of our days start on Sámara beach. This one does not. Our tarpon trip goes to the fresh water of the Caño Negro river, in Costa Rica's northern jungle. It is a long way from Sámara, and a very different kind of fishing.
Why tarpon, and why on the fly
Tarpon are large, silver fish that jump when they are hooked, and many anglers travel a long way for them. We fish for them with a fly rod: you cast a light, artificial fly on a special line instead of using bait or a heavy lure. It takes more skill, and every fish feels bigger. Simone fishes the Pacific with trolling, live bait and poppers, but for tarpon he still picks up a fly rod. This trip grew from that.
Where Caño Negro is
Caño Negro is a national wildlife refuge in northern Costa Rica, near the border with Nicaragua. It is a protected wetland of lagoons, marshes and woodland that flood in the wet season, and it is listed as a wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. You fish calm jungle water, not ocean swell. Caño Negro is our main tarpon water, and we plan each trip around where you want to go.
How the trip is built
There is no fixed itinerary. We plan it with you, around your dates and what you want from the trip. There is a maximum of two anglers per boat, and we have two boats, so up to four anglers can come at once. One or two anglers is what we like best: it lets us give each guest our full attention. Meals and accommodation are included, everything is planned in English, and we organize the travel with you when we build the trip.
Bring your own fly gear
Rods and flies are not included on the tarpon trip, so you bring your own. Tell us what gear you have and we will tell you honestly if it suits these fish. Some fly-casting experience will help you enjoy the trip.
Add sea days in Sámara
Many guests want both the jungle river and the Pacific. We can combine days on the river with offshore days for sailfish and marlin, inshore days for roosterfish on the fly, or a guided shore-fishing walk. Send us your dates, how many anglers are coming and what fly gear you have, and we will build the trip from there.
A few days in Sámara
Many anglers add a few days at sea in Sámara before or after Caño Negro.