Tales of epic struggles with huge Marlin usually grab the sportfishing headlines, but there are other gamefish that provide anglers with just as much excitement.

The majestic Tarpon, often referred to as the Silver King, is among the most popular of all catch-and-release sportfishing trophies. Pound for pound, this survivor of prehistoric times – the Tarpon is one of the world’s oldest fish; they were around 75-80 million years ago – is by far sportfishing’s undisputed champion. Getting even a 75lb Tarpon to the boat is like hauling a 1949 Buick off the bottom of the sea.

So imagine what it’s like battling a 180lb monster!

Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, the northern region near the Nicaraguan border and the Río San Juan, is one of the world’s top Tarpon destinations. From August through the end of January, these prized gamefish congregate in the ocean in large numbers between 500 meters and a kilometer off the coast, as well as populating the rivers and canals of the area. Americana Sportfishing has hosted anglers coming from as far away as Russia and Australia specifically to do battle with these mighty predators.

Joe Post from Pennsylvania and three of his buddies decided to try their luck over the weekend out of Tortuguero. Adding to the odds in their favor was that they were fishing two to a boat with two of the premier guides in the area: Captain Eddie Brown is considered Costa Rica’s top Tarpon fisherman/guide. He is a native of the area, and has been guiding anglers there for more than 35 years. He has won virtually every Tarpon tournament he has entered in the last decade or two. With one exception… Eddie’s lovely wife Cynthia once beat him two years ago!

Eddie’s brother Roberto was the other captain. He is no slouch either. When the two fish together, they are very competitive. Both have 22ft open Sport fishermen powered by outboards. Eddie’s boat is the Bull Shark, Roberto’s the Whale Shark.

The best way to get to Tortuguero is by commuter flight. It’s a 25-minute journey from San José, either by commercial airline or private charter. Joe and his group stayed at the lovely all-inclusive Tortuga Lodge, not exactly a fishing lodge, but the nicest and best known in the area, catering to anglers and other tourists alike eager to enjoy the beautiful Tortuguero National Park, with excellent accommodation, dining and service. It’s where Eddie and Roberto moor their boats.

Day 1 proved to be absolutely terrific. Jigging off the coast, the Post group boated and released five Tarpon on each boat. All were between 80 and 110lbs. They hooked but lost more than double that number.

Day 2 didn’t yield the tally of the previous day – lots hooked, but ‘only’ five Tarpon released, the final score 4-1 in favor of Roberto Brown. But it did produce a highlight of the trip. One of the group hooked a monster Tarpon that Eddie estimated at 180-200lbs. He fought the fish on 25lb test for almost an hour and a half. Just before he could get it to the boat, the Tarpon agonizingly broke off. The ‘one that got away’ of sportfishing legend.

‘Unreal’, Joe wrote on our Facebook sportfishing page.

The group then flew back to San José to fish with Captain MJ Alligood out of Los Sueños Marina. More about that in our next column with The Costa Rica Star.

This exclusive article comes courtesy of Americana Sportfishing which has been arranging sportfishing charters and complete sportfishing vacations in Costa Rica for the past 20 years.