Casa Mar (Sea House) has become synonymous with great
tarpon and snook fishing. Very likely you've read about this famous
fishing lodge in outdoors magazines. Field & Stream, Sports Afield,
Florida Sportsman and Saltwater Sportsman as well as others have carried
articles on the fantastic angling near the popular lodge. And perhaps
you saw Casa Mar featured on TV's "Southern Sportsman", or read about
it in the outdoors columns of the daily press. But in case you haven't,
this an introduction to some of the world's finest light tackle sport
fishing.
Your Luxury Jungle Camp
Casa Mar is on the northeast Caribbean coast of Costa Rica in a remote
rainforest setting which has the largest river and lagoon system of
fishable waters on the east coast of Costa Rica.
Casa Mar is nestled in seven acres of tropical garden, a scenic,
serene, setting. A main lodge and six duplex cabins are on lush
grounds where varieties of fruit, native flowers and wild birds
thrive. The lodge faces Laguna Agua Dulce (sweet water), a freshwater
lagoon where tarpon can often be seen rolling right in front of
the dock.
The lodge at Casa Mar is homey and spacious. A well-equipped tackle
shop is at one end of the lodge; dinner tables are at the other,
and large screened windows offer a view of the jungle lagoon.
Each cabin has twin beds with private bathroom and showers. There's
ample electricity for your electric shaver or other small travel
appliances, hot water, several deep freezes, an ice maker and lights.
Drinking water is filtered and pure.
Food is home-cooking style and you'll have all you can eat at every
meal. It's good American food with enough local dishes to keep things
interesting. Most meals are buffet style. Homegrown pineapple, breadfruit,
bananas, papaya, mango, oranges, guanabana, coconut and other fruits
are served in season.
Fishing, Fast and Furious
Tarpon are here by the thousands from January through May. In September
and October, only scattered tarpon are found in the rivers and lagoons.
Instead, they congregate in vast numbers just outside the river mouth
in the Caribbean.
Most fishing is done is sheltered rivers and lagoons. When the
sea is calm, it's possible to venture outside the river mouth where
tarpon are bunched. Still there's enough action inside to make the
trip to the sea unnecessary.
Tarpon average 75 pounds at Casa Mar, and some exceeding 150 pounds
are caught each season.
Snook also star at Casa Mar. They are unpredictable actors, but
in January swarms invade the Río Colorado and surrounding waters.
These snook average about five pounds, with many in the 12-pound
class. A few more of 20 pounds are taken. This is one time that
a snook fancier is almost guaranteed his fill of sport.
Large snook become more numerous in April and increase in numbers
through May. September and October are the best months for taking
really big snook, but now the action moves to the beach. Surf casting
is most productive because the 30 pound plus heavyweights are on
a spawning run.
Tarpon are also hooked in the surf and a 75 or 90-pound tarpon
on your line with no boat to aid in chase presents a challenge.
Tarpon begin their move inside the rivers in January and build
up to a peak during the spring months
It's not unusual for an angler to jump 30 tarpon in half a day
when the fish are grouped in the deeper areas.
The same fantastic action is often found with snook during their
spawning run. In January, it's possible to catch a fifty snook in
half a day's fishing, but Casa Mar urges its guests to release most
fish. In addition to tarpon and snook, anglers can enjoy sport with
smaller gamesters such as machaca, guapote, roncador, and mojarra.
You'll be fishing in 17-foot, wide-beamed boats powered with new
40-hp motors. These new fiberglass boats are designed with a casting
deck on the bow. Guides are English-speaking and knowledgeable in
fishing methods, including fly.
Though its possible to simply cast a lure into the depths, jig
it a couple of times and jump a tarpon and snook almost every cast,
this is not always the case. Fantastic fishing does not occur every
day of every week at Casa Mar or any where else we know about. There
have been guest at Casa Mar, who did not catch tarpon, but most
came in contact with them. There will be days when fishing is slow,
perhaps several days in a row, but usually at sometime during the
week, tarpon go on an all-out feeding spree. Some weeks are awesome
when tarpon and snook decide to cooperate on a daily basis.
We at CASA MAR have two seasons: (1) January through mid May and
(2) September through October. We encourage selecting your reservation
date as soon as possible as reservations are frequently made six
months to one year in advance.
RATES 1998
| Package |
3 days fishing
Package |
5 days fishing
Package |
7 days fishing
Package |
Extra Day fishing
Package |
| Angler * |
$1,125.00 |
$1,695.00 |
$2,195.00 |
$350.00 |
| Private ** |
$1,275.00 |
$2,050.00 |
$2,695.00 |
$425.00 |
* Double occupancy at Casa Mar Lodge,
sharing a room and guide.
** Private room at Casa Mar Lodge and private guide. |
| Packages Include: |
Not Included |
- Ground transportation (airport-hotel-airport)
- Accommodations at Casa Mar Lodge
- All meals, soft drinks/beer and open bar while at Casa
Mar Lodge
- Fully guided fishing, boats and fuel
- Laundry Service
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- Roundtrip airfare
- Hotel accommodations in San Jose
- Rods, reels, and terminal tackle
- Tips for guides, staff, luggage handlers adn transfer
service
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Airline reservations and hotel accommodations in San Jose (if necessary)
can be arranged by either the agent or Casa Mar. If you make your
own flight and hotel reservations, it's necessary to inform Casa
Mar of arrival times and flights so we can meet you and provide
transportation to the lodge.
A deposit of $500 is required to confirm a reservation.
This deposit is fully refundable only if notice of cancellation
is provided sixty (60) days prior to the date of scheduled arrival.
The balance is due sixty (60) days prior to your lodge arrival date.
In case of cancellation within sixty (60) days of your arrival,
only the deposit is forfeited. You are responsible for the full
reservation price if cancellation is made thirty (30) days or less
prior to arrival.
Bill Barnes, owner, hopes you will choose his facility and fully
enjoy the greatest fishing experience of your life - fighting a
jumping, crashing, gill rattling 100 pound Tarpon or a challenging
Snook which may weigh more than 30 pounds.
RESPONSIBILITY
All bookings made are accepted on the conditions that Casa Mar and/or
its agents and affiliats act only as agents for carriers, hotel, bus
operators, outfitters, fishing lodges and other supplying services
and shall not be held responsible for any injury, loss or damage caused
by accidents or events beyond their control, including weather conditions,
or by any action or negligence or attendance of third parties who
are not in the regular employ of Casa Mar. And/or its agents affiliates.
Furthermore, Casa Mar and/or its agents or affiliates shall not be
held responsible for any injury, damage or loss to person, property,
or money resulting from tours, etc. Which passengers participates.
TACKLE REQUIREMENTS
Choice of tackle depends upon both a fisherman's skill and his desires.
Recommendations here are simply general guidelines.
TARPON: Rods of 6 ½ to 7 feet designed to handle 12 to
20 pound line are most popular. Twenty pound line is practical,
though 12 and 15 are used frequently. Because some tarpon fishing
is done with lures weighing around two ounces, sufficient rod
backbone in tip and butt section is desired. Because Tarpon average
80 lbs., the butt strength is important to raise them by jumping.
Reels should be sturdy, with smooth drag systems, and have a capacity
of at least 200 yards of the test line you choose.
SNOOK: In the surf, 10 and 12 pound line is usually sufficient.
Rods should be light enough for continuous casting without causing
fatigue. Spinning rods of medium weight designed to handle 10
to 20 pound test line are ideal. Six to seven foot lengths are
popular. Plug casting rods in 5 to 6 foot lengths are popular
for inside waters, while in the surf, 6 and 7 are better suited.
Surf fishing along this coast does not require the type of long
sticks used along the mid Atlantic shores of the U.S. Most one-handed
spinning or baitcasting tackle will be sufficient. Reels for snook
should have a capacity of 150 to 200 yards and a good drag system.
FLY FISHING: For Tarpon, rods that will handle 12 or 13
line are best. Snook can be fished with success on tackle which
handle lines in size 8 or 9. Tarpon reels, of course, should have
a very smooth drag and have capacity of at least 200 yds. with
20 - 30 backing. On occasion it's necessary to go deep, so we
urge fly fisherman to bring a variety of shooting heads up to
850 grains.
Don't forget to bring your lighter bass or trout gear for the
smaller species such as Machaca and Guapote. They provide lots
of sport on tackle matching their size.
CLOTHING:
This is a rainforest jungle and it does rain. So bring rain gear.
Most often, however, the rain will come as showers of short duration.
Average rainfall is 188 inches, but most of this comes in November
and December.
Rubber soled tennis or boat shoes are needed. Wide brimmed hats
are popular among the sun-sensitive. Don't forget sun screen, shorts
are best for fishing the surf. Lightweight trousers and shirts in
light, heat reflective colors are recommended. Laundry service is
available at camp, but bring enough fishing togs to have a dry change
in reserve.
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