First of all, Crocodile Lodge is first class all the way.  All the arrangements, over night hotel in San Jose, pick up at airport, next morning pick up at hotel for hop to the Lodge airstrip.  Every thing went like clock work.  Great job on your part making these arrangements

Early morning breakfast, traditional American style, and off the pier to meet our guide and mate.  Great boat and lst class gear.  All Penn reels and rods with live bait we caught each morning.  The 25 foot Boston Whaler with twin Merc 150 Verados took the chop like a champ.  We trolled most of the day with the two motors and you could barely hear them.

Here's the best part.  Captains Johnnie and Anthony puts us on fish straight away.  We got into some huge Jack Crevelle which got our motivation right on track.  We didn't catch that many rooster fish that day, but I did manage a trophy of about 30 lbs.  After trolling inside close to surf, it got slow and our Captain suggested deep water for red snapper and cuebera which we caught in about 200 feet of water.  We caught yellow tuna, rainbow runners, mackerel, some fish I have never heard of.  We kept the snapper as Todd, the manager of the Lodge told us to do.  Man, you talking about good eating.  Small red snapper gutted and scaled deep fried whole.  Yes, I said whole.  The meat fell off the bone and melted in your mouth.  Next day got better.  We worked mostly for rooster fish and caught several up to 30 lbs.  More Jacks, snapper and one pompano.  The 3rd day was the gravy day.  We targeted the rooster fish and caught 14 with me catching 3 over 40 one of which was 50.  We were getting bites all morning and there were some nice fish that broke off and the hook just pulled out.  Just part of fishing, but we should have boated well over 20 rooster fish.  Troy and I agreed that it was one of the best fishing trips we had ever been on together. 

I remain a die hard peacock bass fisherman, but I now have a healthy respect for that rooster fish.  I have never had ahold of a more powerful fish in open water.  When they take off, all you can do is hold on.  They do come up and show themselves and I liked that.  When you think you have them whipped and they see the boat, off they go like a streak of greased lightning and again all you can do is hold on.  I have never seen a fish that can move that fast in the water.  All were safely released to fight again.

WE managed to catch one more pompano on about the last fish. It fought bravely, but when we tried to release it, it could not be revived.  Anthony filed it out for us and told us to tell the cook to fix it on the grill.  Alan, that undoubtedly was the best fish I ever put into my mouth.  I cannot fully explain the flavor and texture of the filet.  You would just have to experience for yourself.

Thanks buddy for all your help.  Troy wants to go back they same time next year and take his youngest son who will be 17 then.  Of course, I will gladly tag along.  Although the Lodge Manager said Jan, Feb and Mar were the best months, Sept is off season and both our Captains agreed that was a good time to come and we were the only boat out and the pressure on the fish was minimal.  That was a trip and finished my "bucket" list of fish I wanted to catch and a trip beyond my wildest dream.  How fortunate I am to have been able to be healthy enough to have fished all over the world as I have.

Capt Smitty (OF)