Costa Rica

Jungle Tarpon Reserve

Northern Jungles

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Accommodations

Comfortable Single Occupancy Lodge Rooms // Capacity - 4 Anglers

Season

August-December

Species

Tarpon, Gar, Snook & More

Ideal For

Friends & Solo Anglers

Jungle Fishing for Large Tarpon

Part of one of the largest watersheds in Central America that includes Lake Nicaragua in neighboring Nicaragua, the Jungle Tarpon Reserve includes a vast inland system of freshwater rivers, creeks, and flooded lagoons prime for tarpon in late summer into fall. Tarpon migrate into these immense landlocked flooded lagoons during the region’s “wet season,” and although most mornings start sunny and beautiful, passing storm fronts and torrential downpours can come at any time, especially later in the day. While these periods of wet weather can be uncomfortable, they are usually brief and are why the tarpon are present. During the dry months of the year, these same flooded lagoons that support tarpon, are utilized as farmland for grazing cattle. With only 15 weeks during the fishing season and a maximum of 4 anglers max per week, this fishery offers limited pressure and shots at very large tarpon in the 60 to 150+ pound class. You can be prepared to put your accuracy skills to the test to target fish feeding on bait along eddy lines in the creeks and rivers, or you may have the opportunity to target rolling fish in lagoons. Tarpon can also be seen rolling in the main channels of the river and in small creeks where utilizing intermediate or sinking lines can produce massive fish. Gar are abundant, and snook and a variety of smaller cichlids are possible to catch at certain times throughout the season. But this place offers so much more than just fishing. On any of your fishing days you can expect to hear howler monkeys and see spider monkeys, as well as abundant and diverse birdlife. You may even get lucky and find yourself eye-to-eye with a jaguar!

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Lodging Details
Even though this is a fishery in the midst of a lush jungle, the lodging is truly world-class.

Anglers stay in a private luxury house located right on the river, complete with 4 private bedrooms & 3 full baths set across 2 floors, AC, WI-FI, and even a swimming pool. The spacious house also has 2 living room areas with TVs, couches, fly fishing coffee table books, etc. making it a perfect place for fly tying and relaxing between fishing sessions.

The private dock, where anglers start and end each fishing days, is located on the property and is only a 2 minute walk down the floating ramp from your door.

Food and Beverages
Breakfast is typically brought aboard the boat each morning and is local food like empanadas, gallo pinto, and other traditional delicacies. Copious amounts of hot gourmet coffee, juice, and water are all available to enjoy while cruising to the targeted fishing areas each morning. There are also always various cut tropical fruits onboard. Hot lunch is usually enjoyed at one of any number of local fisherman’s houses to help support the local economy followed by a siesta during the heat of the day. Dinner is on-site at the camp, and is a mix of local and international cuisine prepared with love by a rotating staff from the local community.

Typical Length of Stay
The total time in Costa Rica is eight (8) nights / nine (9) days. The time at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve is six (6) nights / six (6) fishing days, with fishing consisting of five (5) full days and two (2) half days. Anglers overnight in San Jose upon arrival before the drive to the Jungle Tarpon Reserve and again afterwards before departing Costa Rica. Additional days in Costa Rica and transfers or extensions to this trip can be arranged. Combination trips with tarpon fishing on the Rio Colorado in northeastern Costa Rica, machaca float trips, and even a variety of saltwater species on the Pacific can also be arranged. Please contact Yellow Dog for more details or customized itinerary options.

Non-Angling Activities and Options
The Jungle Tarpon Reserve is in northern Costa Rica approximately 50 Km from the border with Nicaragua. The area is mostly farmland and lowland rainforest. The best time of year for fishing is the rainy or green season, when the river floods the surrounding delta. You can expect rain showers, strong at times, and if you are interested in non-fishing activities, horseback riding, birding, and wildlife excursions can be incorporated into the fishing program or a custom cultural itinerary can be created based on your needs.

Internet / Communications
Internet service is available at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve. Cell phones also work but you should check with your local provider about rates and coverage.

General Information
Anglers can expect to fish from simple but efficient river pangas, with 2 anglers per boat taking turns on the bow. Since the environment is quite dynamic, fishing situations are also varied, ranging from sight casting at tarpon hunting or waking in shallow lagoons and creeks, waiting for tarpon to roll or break bait on the surface before presenting a fly, and blind casting in likely areas. There are even times when tarpon congregate at the mouth of one of the jungle’s many creeks and line up in feeding lanes like giant trout in an explosive feeding display one has to see to truly believe. As in most tarpon fishing worldwide, knowledge of distance casting and accurate presentation is a major asset, but due to the intimate jungle environment anglers can often get much closer to their quarry than in other global tarpon fisheries, making this a unique place to hone one’s skills.

Overall, anglers can expect shots throughout the week at fish ranging from 20 to the magical 200-pound mark. And since the tarpon here are actively feeding fish with little exposure to fishing pressure, flies are often grabbed without a second thought. Should the tarpon fishing slow down other species provide great sport on lighter tackle like common and fat snook, machaca, tropical garfish, tilapia, and jaguar guapote. Or do as the locals do and try your luck at artisanal hand-lining.

Due to the nature of the jungle river, conditions change drastically each week. Anglers are encouraged to practice both distance and accuracy casting before they come. Close range loading and delicate presentations with large 11 and 12-weight outfits are important as well, so working on side-arm and slot casting can also greatly help prepare anglers for whatever mother nature decides to throw their way. While some weeks are extremely productive, this can also be a very moody and challenging fishery at times, so being ready from the start will greatly improve the likelihood of capitalizing on opportunities as they come.

Boats and Equipment
The guides run 20-foot long pangas with large casting decks with plenty of room for anglers and gear. The tarpon are medium-large (20-200 lbs) and require 12 weights to tire them quickly before release. Floating lines work best in most scenarios, but sink tip lines can also be very useful if tarpon are in some of the river’s deeper pools or as the day heats up. Having 2 rods with both a floating line and a sink tip rigged onboard is preferred so that each fishing scenario can be efficiently handled. If you’d like to bring a 3rd line we also often use intermediates when tarpon are feeding in the river. On some windless hot days, tarpon sun themselves on the surface of the glassy lagoons. In these conditions, a 10-weight with floating line can be a great tool to have. Leaders are pretty standard tapered with shock tippet to 80-100 lbs. Anglers may also wish to incorporate a piece of 20-40 lb. class tippet into their leader system so that if a tarpon runs through some branches or submerged logs we have the ability to break them off and not damage the fish.

In terms of flies, the tarpon feed mostly on various types of minnows and other small-medium baitfish, so 3-6 inch deceivers and variants of deceivers are highly recommended. The river is stained a reddish-orange from tannins in the water, so colors that produce either match this coloration (orange, red, yellow) or stand out against it (black, white), preferably in combination (orange/black/white, red/black/white, yellow/chartreuse, etc). Standard black and black/purple flies are also highly effective in both the river and lagoons. Weighted flies are recommended to break the water surface quickly, and spun deer hair heads help flies push the maximum amount of water and vibrations to get tarpon excited. An important thing to note is that starting in 2016 only carbon steel hooks will be permitted by local authorities (no stainless). Note: Custom hand-tied collections are available for sale on-site.

Included in the package price and available with advanced notice is rental equipment from Hardy, Thomas & Thomas Fly Rods, Orvis, Hatch and Hardy fly reels, Cortland and RIO lines, and flies (custom hand-tied collections available for sale on-site). Leaders are not available for sale on-site.

Package Rates
Remember that Yellow Dog’s services are completely free! When you book a trip with Yellow Dog, you never pay more than when you book directly with the lodge or outfitter.

2024 Rates

$4,990 per person (based on single occupancy accommodations / double occupancy fishing)
$6,795 per person (based on single occupancy accommodations / single occupancy fishing)

2025 Rates

$5,445 per person (based on single occupancy accommodations / double occupancy fishing)
$7,474 per person (based on single occupancy accommodations / single occupancy fishing)

What’s Included:

Lodging at the Jungle Tarpon Reserve (single occupancy lodging – double occupancy fishing)
Private ground transportation from San Jose
All meals on location
Non-alcoholic drinks, fruit, and snacks for each day of fishing
Five (5) full days and two (2) half days of fishing
Park entrance fee & fishing license
Tackle (must be pre-arranged, you break-you pay breakage fee policy)

What’s Not Included:

International flights to San Jose
Lodging in San Jose on first/last nights
Meals, drinks, or additional costs in San Jose
Lunches on transfer days
Flies (available for purchase on-site)
Insurance (travel or medical)
Beer or alcohol
Souvenirs
Gratuities for guides and lodge staff

Jungle Tarpon Reserve (Costa Rica)
TERMS AND CONDITIONS – CANCELLATIONS
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is due at the time of booking for all Jungle Tarpon Reserve lodging and fishing packages, and final payment if due 90 days prior to arrival. For cancellations, all deposits and payments are non-refundable. Because of the operator’s no refund and no credit policy, we highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. In no event will Jungle Tarpon Reserve be responsible for any cancellation of services or operations due to inclement weather, any event of force majeure, airline delays or flight cancellations, or any other reason beyond the control of the outfitter. If your flights are cancelled and connections are missed, Jungle Tarpon Reserve is not responsible for alternative travel arrangements including flights, hotels, meals and any other expenses incurred. If a cancelled package is resold by either the operator or by Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, then a full refund will be issued minus a $100.00 per person cancellation fee charged by Yellow Dog. Receipt of deposit and/or final payment is acknowledgment that registrant has read and accepts the deposit, cancellation, refund and responsibility clauses for these packages. Once again, Yellow Dog strongly recommends that anglers and guests purchase travel insurance these Costa Rican packages.

Payment Terms for All Yellow Dog Trip Bookings
Unless otherwise noted on your invoice, for all trips less than 90 days out, full payment is required after receipt of the confirmation email to secure guides and reservations. For trips outside of 90 days, a 50% deposit is required upon receipt of confirmation email to confirm your reservations.

Yellow Dog accepts on-line payments via a secure payment portal – a quick and easy way to complete your trip reservation. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com to gain access.

Yellow Dog Flyfishing Standard Forms of Payment

Debit card (fee-free) and credit card (3% convenience fee) - to pay via card please utilize the customer payment portal. If you need assistance, reach out to 406-585-8667 ext. #3
Wires - please include name and/or invoice number for reference on your wire. Please reach out to accounting@yellowdogflyfishing.com for wiring instructions. (client is responsible for wiring fees)
Physical check - please include your invoice number in the memo. Mail checks to 213 S. Willson Ave. Bozeman, MT, 59715

If you have any questions about alternate payment methods, please contact Yellow Dog at (406) 585-8667 ext. #3. We are available Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM MT.