Fishing |
- Costa Rica’s Top Sport Fishing Areas
- In the past decade, more sport fishing records have been established in Costa Rica than in any other country in the world. First-class sport fishing throughout the year is the name of the game in Costa Rica. To see our one-day fishing option visit our package Pacific Fishing. Remember that we can help you with any other fishing arrangement you may desire.
Northern Pacific: Flamingo, Samara, Tamarindo, Carrillo and Cabo Blanco
Flamingo Beach, with a full-service marina, is the major sport fishing center along the northern Pacific coast, but boats also charter out of nearby Coco’s beach, Tamarindo, Ocotal, Potrero, Brasilito and a few points in between. Further south, boats operate below Cabo Blanco, out of Nosara, Garza, Samara and Carrillo beach, a region that gets more protection from the winds that normally blow from late December into March and April. Boats from the northern coastal areas often base at Carrillo from December through March if the winds are blowing and the main billfish population is moving north from the central coast.
Seasons for the Northern Pacific Area
Marlin: Caught every month of the year, with mid-November to early March usually exceptional, then slowing a bit from April into early June when it picks up again, peaking in August and September. Sailfish: Caught throughout the year, with May through August normally the top season. They may begin to thin out in September, and the slowest months usually are from late August through November. Tuna: Peak months are August through October. But when all else fails, there are always tuna - any time of the year if you want to look for them, and often when you’d just as soon avoid them to concentrate on billfish. Yellow-fin and big-eye tuna are often found well inside the Santa Catalina Islands, 30 minutes or less running time from the beach, while schools of 12- to 20-pounders are usually abundant on the outside. Concentrations of 40- to 60-pound tuna are frequently found, and there are plenty of the 200- to 400-pounders caught every year. Dorado: Also known as dolphin, these colorful gamesters are most abundant from late May through October, when the seasonal rains flood the rivers and carrying out debris that forms trash lines that they like to lie under. If you troll past a floating log, you’ll likely hook a dorado. Wahoo: The first showing begins when the rains start in May, peaking in July and August. Most wahoo are caught around rocky points and islands, but you can pick one up occasionally fishing offshore. Roosterfish: Available all year, but are more plentiful in the Papagayo Bay area from November through March - perhaps because more boats in this region are fishing inshore during those windy months. The roosters seem to like the structure of the shoreline and islands, where they’re found in 50 to 60 feet of water. Central Pacific: Puntarenas, Quepos and Drake Bay
Quepos is the center of fishing on the Pacific coast but charters are also available out of Puntarenas, resorts at the southern end of Nicoya Peninsula, Jaco beach, Punta Leona and further south at Drake Bay. Billfish are the target of most visiting anglers, and they are seldom disappointed from around December through April. Some sailfish and marlin are taken throughout the year. From most areas mentioned above, it’s no more than a 12- to 20-mile run to the blue water where most of the billfish action is encountered. In shore sport includes tuna, roosterfish, wahoo, dorado, jacks, mackerel, cubera, a variety of small snapper species and even snook. The snook can be taken trolling just outside the breaker line of the river mouths in the area, but are more often fished from the shore. Some boats out of Quepos offer multi-day trips to the Drake Bay and Cano Island area. This region is best known for its wahoo, big cubera and roosterfish, but there are also tuna, dorado, sails and some marlin.
Seasons for the Central Pacific AreaMarlin: October is normally the top month for marlin in this area, but action is also good in September and November. Occasional blues and even blacks can be found any time of the year, although they are usually out farther than boats hunting for sailfish are likely to be fishing. Sailfish: Middle of December to the end of April - when they begin moving north - is rated the best season, but big schools often move in about October and occasionally stay longer. A few sails always show among the catch from June through September, mixed with the other species that are found inshore during these months. Tuna: Found throughout the year -along the entire Pacific coast - but are most abundant from June through September. Most are the eight- to 12-pound range, but a dozen or more heavier than 200 pounds and maybe another two dozen in the 100- to 200-pound range are taken every year. Wahoo: Not common in the area around Quepos, but are more abundant farther south, especially around the Drake Bay area, from late June to early August.
Southern Pacific: Puerto Jimenez, Golfito and Zancudo
Golfito is the largest town on Costa Rica’s southern coast, but there are only a half dozen operators scattered between the northern end of Dulce Gulf, the town of Golfito, Puerto Jimenez on the Osa Peninsula and Zancudo Beach. Zancudo is a narrow peninsula with miles of beach on the ocean side and bordered by several rivers on the other. Expect to raise a dozen or more sails and likely a marlin or two outside Matapalo Cape during the peak season, and plenty of jacks, runners, mackerel, amberjack, roosterfish and big snapper inshore. Two modern marinas are located in Golfito, both offering fishing charters as well as facilities for transient yachts. Light tackle fishing inside Golfo Dulce, with its profusion of small coves, rocky islets and shoreline, is also good for small barracuda and snapper, corvina and occasional snook weighing more than 40 pounds. Fishing the drop-off outside Matapalo Cape brings in sails, marlin, tuna and other blue water species, and inshore there are roosters that average more than 30 pounds, grouper, jacks, barracuda, trophy size Pacific cubera snapper and more. Excellent snook fishing is found inside the Zancudo peninsula and farther north, at the mouth of the Esquinas River.
Seasons for the Southern Pacific Area
Marlin: August through December is the peak season, but an occasional striped, blue or black marlin may be taken almost any month if the water temperature is up. Sailfish: A few taken, off and on year round, with the best fishing from December through March. The sailfish season often slows from April into early June, then picks up again and peaks in August and September. Tuna: Best fishing for the 100-pound and up yellow-fin corresponds with the marlin and sailfish season, but schools of up to 30-pound tuna can nearly always be found outside. Dorado: Best runs are traditionally from late May through October when the rivers are running full. Wahoo: Not abundant, but occasional fish may be taken almost any time of the year while trolling offshore for billfish or around the structure off Matapalo Cape. Roosterfish: The region is famous for its big roosters. They can be caught virtually any month of the year. Snook: Season lasts all year, but is best from mid- or late May through July, and in January and February.
Recommended Southern Pacific Fishing Lodge: Roy’s Zancudo Lodge
Roy’s Zancudo Lodge is located across the bay from Golfito on the southern Pacific coast. It’s a very comfortable lodge on the Zancudo Peninsula, with the open ocean on one side and the confluence of three rivers on the other. The lodge has a swimming pool, air-conditioned cabins, a restaurant and bar. All meals and open bar (Costa Rican beer or liquor) are included. Boats are the best in the area, center consoles: two 22-footers, six 25-footers and one 29-footer. Bilingual guide is included on fishing trips. Top-quality tackle is provided. More than 30 IGFA world records have been established here. There will be a shot at billfish, but the area is particularly famous for its great variety of fishing. Species will include tuna, amberjack, jack crevalle, grouper, cubera barracuda, roosterfish, corbina, snook and many others.
Seasons for the Northern Caribbean Coast: Barra del Colorado
Tarpon:
Recommended Northern Caribbean Fishing Lodges: Rio Colorado Lodge
Located in Barra del Colorado, near the mouth of the Colorado River. This is a world-famous tarpon and snook fishing lodge. Lodge has its own menagerie of tropical birds and animals, including monkeys, toucans, parrots, macaws and even a tame tapir. Lodge has a bar and game room, separate TV lounge with cable TV and a patio lounge extending out over the river. Fishing packages include air transportation from San Jose, all meals and lodging.
Silver King Lodge
The lodge is the newest and finest in the area, with beautiful rooms situated at the edge of the river, a big Jacuzzi, tackle shop, lounge and dining room. Excellent food is served family-style, all-you-can-eat. The restaurant even bakes its own bread and rolls. Wine is served with the evening meals. Meals and open bar are included. Lodge is North American-owned and operated. Canoes are available should you want to go out on your own and explore the backwaters and lagoons. This magnificently beautiful area is set in the midst of a wildlife refuge. You are more than likely to see various species of monkeys, crocodiles, tropical birds and much more.
Lake Arenal (Fresh Water Fishing, Central Northern Zone)
Lake Arenal is the most popular inland fishing destination in the country, located about a three-and-a-half-hour drive from San Jose. The lake is loaded with the popular guapote, or rainbow bass, a member of the cichlid family (as is the peacock bass found in some parts of South America and more recently introduced to Florida waters). Mature males develop a bizarre hump at the back of their head that can grow as large as a softball, and display the shadings of a rainbow trout. It has the fishing characteristics of a largemouth bass, but it’s related to neither. The rainbow bass can weigh up to 12 pounds.
