Things are tough in North America, and that's certainly been reflected in my fishing business. We're down compared to last year, and we're not the only ones in Costa Rica in the same position.

However, the fish here don't know that! It's a bull market. They're biting as avidly as ever. Captains on both coasts who have guided our clients in the past couple of weeks report some pretty good catches.

Jim Dilbeck and his buddy Paul Sinclair fished a day and a half with Captain Eddie Brown on the Bull Shark out of Tortuguero on the Caribbean side the third week of September. Their aim was to catch tarpon, and they weren't disappointed. Jim brought a prized 120lb prehistoric monster to the boat on Day 1, and on the second morning, both guys caught smaller, but very welcome tarpon to round off their enjoyable trip.

The period from now until mid-January is the optimum time for tarpon on the Caribbean coast. It's also very good for snook, which usually begin running end of October. There's a small snook called 'calba' which is a gourmet's delight. So if you have a couple of free days, come down and fish with me at FishCostaRica or see my other website Americana Sportfishing. Call me toll-free from the U.S. and Canada: 1-800-634-0012, 1-800-399-8532 and 1-866-978-5198, or e-mail me, and I'll set you up for tarpon fishing with Eddie, the top tarpon fisherman/guide in Costa Rica.

Tip Briney and Allan Gibson bring down a bunch of guys to fish with us every September out of Jacó/Los Sueños Marina on the Central Pacific coast. They call themselves the 'Marlin Brothers'. This time the 13 anglers didn't get the marlin they wanted, but they did strike it rich inshore: a whole slew of nice, fat tasty grouper and some dorado to round out the two days of their annual Costa Rica fishing adventure on the Hoo's Your Daddy and the Barbarrosa.

October, November and December are great months for tuna — the big yellowfin, some reaching 200lbs and more, go up the Pacific coast — and dorado in the North and Central Pacific. In the south (Golfito and Puerto Jiménez), the sail season sets in. So if you have some time between now and Christmas, call me, and I'll set up a great trip for you on either coast, or both, if you want.

Let me also remind you about Lomas Coronado, my 29 ocean and mountain view lots on Costa Rica's South Pacific coast. This area is absolutely beautiful! For those who want ocean front luxury plus convenience and great fishing, theres no better buy here in Costa Rica than the Tres Regalos condominiums, right at the end of Jacó beach — 10 minutes from Los Sueños.

This leads me into my song that, for those of you who know me, I start singing at this time every year. If you want to get in on the annual January-April world-class sail bite off the Central Pacific coast (Los Sueños and Quepos) and fish with the top captains and boats in the two marinas, call FishCostaRica/Americana Sportfishing now: 1-800-634-0012, 1-800-399-8532 and 1-866-978-5198, or e-mail me. The calendars of our world-class captains are filling up quickly in both of these prime Costa Rica fishing destinations. Make sure you get the dates and captains you want. Look forward to hearing from you all shortly.