Costa Rica Sport Fishing Trips

Costa Rica

Sport Fishing in Paradise 

 

Because of the great diversity of its marine species, Costa Rica has become a sport fishing icon, with 3 Grand Slam records per year. The country hosts several important tournaments throughout the year, such as: National Sailfish Tournament, International Sailfish Tournament, and Ladies Open Sailfish Tournament, Los Sueños Signature Billfish Series, and Presidential Channel among others. The Pacific flat coasts and exotic Caribbean coasts are abundant in species including Marlin, Sailfish, Dorado, Roosterfish, Tarpon and Snook.

 

Crocodile Bay Lodge  |  Silver King Lodge  |  Jungle Tarpon Lodge

 

Costa Rica Pacific Coast Sport Fishing

 

Not only is billfishing sensational, in Costa Rica's cobalt offshore waters, but the 30-mile long, 15 mile wide Golfo Dulce also offers some of the best inshore fishing action in Costa Rica. More than 40 IGFA world records have been established in the area. It is the dance of the sailfish and the lightning speed of the marlin that that attract most anglers to the Osa Peninsula. It is not uncommon to raise more than 20 billfish in a days fishing. Most dorado coming to the dock have been over 30 lbs with Tuna always plentiful. You can likely catch a billfish any day of the year, with January through April the top months for marlin and sailfish along this region of the southern coast. there is also a good showing of marlin in August and November, while months during and just after the rains produce more dorado, as the debris washed out of the rivers forms the inshore trash lines they feed under. Football-size tuna are almost always present and sometimes those that hit 300 pounds. Crocodile Bay Lodge »

 

Inshore fishing is consistent all year. Roosterfish and cubera snapper are the main attraction, but the waters along the beaches and the Golfo Dulce add to the menu. Snook roam the beaches as well as the rivers. A dozen other types of snapper, grouper, amberjack, bluefin trevally, sharks and barracuda cruise the reefs. Giant schools of bonito bust bait in the gulf, great game for a fly rodder. What makes the fishing unique in this area is the Golfo Dulce itself. On the mainland side of the gulf, the mountains seem to melt into the emerald water. The volcanic structure continues underwater creating habitat and feeding grounds for the finned residents.

 

Fishing Costa Rica's Caribbean Side

 

Tarpon are always present in the Caribbean and in the river and lagoon systems. The fish travel in huge schools on the ocean and in small pods or singles once they enter the fresh water, although in February, March, and April they occasionally school up in the lagoons. Large groups of tarpon begin entering the rivers in December and travel upstream for several months until they return to the ocean in May. There are also a few resident fish that for some reason choose to stay inside year round in the rivers and lagoons. Fishing is done on the main river in the holes behind the sandbars.  Silver King Lodge »

 

Tarpon can be taken in any month of the year. The king of game fish journeys from saltwater into freshwater at will. They roam the warm inshore waters of the Caribbean Sea along the entire Eastern seaboard of Costa Rica as well as venture up the many rivers that flow to the coast. Tarpon commonly travel up the Rio Colorado into the Rio San Juan all the way to Lake Nicaragua. Fishing is more apt to change day to day.  Jungle Tarpon Lodge »

 

Snook is a prized game fish in Costa Rica for a couple of reasons. One, they are an intelligent fish and there is a knack to fooling them into taking a bait. Two, when they hit the frying pan, they are a real treat to the taste buds. Snook move freely in and out of salt and fresh waters, making the angling possibilities for them almost endless. They are abundant at the river mouths that run into the ocean and also can be found far up the rivers and creeks, miles from the ocean. Their habits are similar to the striped bass and are easily identified by their distinct black lateral line. Costa Rica has 8 different varieties of snook, 4 on the Pacific side and 4 on the Caribbean side.