Costa Rican Fishing

By Author: Will Briegel
Total Articles: 4762
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It is the dream of most avid anglers to fish in Costa Rica, one of the premier destinations for sport fishing. Known worldwide for the ultimate blue water fishing experience, you can stay inshore and reel in 40-50 pound roosters or go outshore and match your skills with hundred pounds marlin, tuna or sails. Wahoo, snook and tarpons are also available throughout the entire year. You can choose to spend your time on the Pacific or the Caribbean coast. You can even make plans to cast your lines on both coasts.

The geographic size of the country makes most destinations reachable within several hours drive. The fishing spots on both coast are cater to by charter flights and Costa Rican commercial airlines. Although there are some variations, depending on factors, such as the season, weather, currents, wind, migratory habits and other innate patterns, there is always someplace in Costa Rica where you can get virtually non-stop fishing action whenever you desire.

Most sport fishermen are well aware of the exciting blue water fishing offered in Costa Rica; however, the country has many inland lakes and rivers that present ...
... some of the most attractive fresh water fishing in the world. Native guides can take you by horseback to some remote locations to fish for species you've probably never heard of, including jaguars, guapote, mojarra or machaca, which is Costa Rica's version of the piranha.

If you are looking for rainbow trout, Lake Arenal is a 33 mile long man-made lake that is situated in a peaceful and natural setting. It is located about a four-hour drive from the capital of San Jose. Besides being well-stocked with rainbow trout, there are machaca and even 6 to 10 pound tilapia. Typically, this location is available for fishing year-round, but check ahead of time when planning your trip.

About 71 miles northwest of San Jose is Cano Negro Lake. It is Costa Rica's second largest inland lake. It is also the habitat of world-class size tarpons. The largest tarpon pulled from this waterway weighted in at 205 pounds. There are also snooks and rainbow bass that make this freshwater fishing location truly one of best. This lake is part of the Cano Negro Wild Life Refuge which is almost 25,000 acres of lakes, rivers and channels. The fishing season runs from July 1st to March 31st. In addition, there are many smaller lagoons for freshwater fishing including Lake Hule. It holds the International Game Fishing Association (IGFA) record for rainbow bass with a recorded 12.9 pound catch.

For blue water fishing enthusiasts, on the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica is an area known as Golfo Dulce. The city of Golfito, which is the largest town on the southern coast, is only an hour's flight from San Jose. It is a striking port city that overlooks the peaceful deep blue waters of the Golfito Bay. In its background the mystifying Costa Rica rainforest and the Golfito Wildlife Refuge. While snooks and big roosters can be caught in this region nearly any time of the year, the best time for blue, black and stripped marlin is August through December. Fishing for sails is best during the period December through March. Overall, the best time to go fishing in these waters is January through March.

Puerto Jimenez is also located in the Golfo Dulce area; it is the last town before the Corcovado National Park. Further out in the 600 foot deep waters of the Pacific Ocean, is one of the premier sport-fishing venues in the world. It is a setting for migrating magnificent hump-back whales, as well as multiple world records for marlin and sailfish. Los Suenos and Quepo are the primary hotspots for fishing on the Central Pacific coast of Costa Rica. You can stay close to shore and fish for tuna, mackerel, wahoo, roosters and small cubera snapper. Los Suenos is a great place for anglers who have set their sight on billfish. In fact, one of the most important fishing tournaments of the year is the Los Suenos Signature Billfish Series.

From both of these fishing centers, 12 to 20 mile run out to the blue water is where most of the billfish action is found. Closer inshore there are tuna, roosters, wahoo, dorado, jack, mackerel, small cubera snapper and even snook that can be taken trolling just outside the breaker line of the river mouths. On the North pacific coast there is the town of Flamingo. The best months for sailfish and all types of marlin is January through April. The peak periods for Billfish are May through September and November and December.

Generally, October is excluded because it is the rainiest month and the conditions are not conducive to fishing expeditions. Less than a 30 minute from San Jose is Barra del Colorado, which is on the Caribbean coast of Costa Rica. It is a premier destination because of the many light tackle game fish. The area has a global reputation for 20 pound snooks and 100 pound tarpons that inhabit the lagoons, rivers and river mouths.

Costa Rica has been a haven for serious sport anglers from around the global since the 1950's. The country holds over 84 world records from IGFA. In recent years, Costa Rica has received international recognition from sport fishing publications and sport fishing productions. Its islands, rainforest, mountainous terrain and rocky shorelines make it a haven for all type of sport fish and unusual wildlife. Whether you are looking for warm weather to escape the cold, or seeking to live out your passion as a sport fisherman, Costa Rica offers a powerful combination of weather, natural beauty and challenging sport fishing that rivals any of the competition.
About Author:
Crocodile Bay Resort is the finest fishing Costa Rica and Ecotour destination. The resort is situated on 44 acres of lush tropical gardens with 40 air-conditioned rooms in Puerto Jimenez on Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast (Osa Peninsula). Visit online for a complete list of our 22 tours.