Costa Rica

Costa Rica’s deep blue waters rife with marlin, mahi mahi and sailfish are a Mecca for sport fishermen seeking world-class action. Fishing varies in each region according to season, but something is always biting in Costa Rica any month of the year.

Local tour operators throughout the country offer half or full-day fishing excursions that may include free hotel pick up, snacks, beverages, bilingual captains and fishing tackle. Many hotels and lodges feature all-inclusive fishing packages and will also cook the daily catch. However, most sport fishing outfits encourage 'catch and release' to help preserve big game fish.

Regional Fishing Info:

Northern Caribbean
Located on the extreme northeastern Caribbean Coast, Barra del Colorado has been voted one of the top ten places to fish in the world. Anglers come from far and wide to fish the 600-meter wide Rio Colorado. The area’s fresh water river system forms a unique habitat that attracts monster tarpon and two species of snook. It is the only place in Costa Rica where 100-plus pound tarpon can be taken year-round. 

Northern Pacific (Guanacaste Province)
Year-round action makes the beach towns of Tamarindo and Playa del Coco hot spots among anglers. Flamingo is another favorite and boasts the largest marina in Costa Rica. Flamingo also hosts an annual sport fishing tournament in July, when the tuna and sailfish are running. Other common catches include blue, black and striped marlin, yellowfin tuna and dorado. Marlin are pulled 12 months a year, and peak times are from November to mid-March, August and September. Sailfish are caught year-round, but April through August are the best months. Tuna is also landed every month, peaking between August and October. Boat charters and multi-day package trips are widely available.
 

Central Pacific
Sport fishing charters are extremely popular in Quepos and Jaco, both renowned for their warm waters and abundance of black snook, cubera snapper, dorado and tuna, as well as Pacific sailfish and marlin. The peak season for sailfish in Quepos is from December through April. Charters in Quepos can be arranged from $450 for a half-day to $1200 for a full day of fishing. The coastal towns of Puntarenas and Dominical also offer fishing charters. Wahoo, dorado, tuna and marlin are fished off Domical from mid-December through April.

Southern Pacific (Osa Peninsula)
Drake Bay holds several fishing records, and trolling in this area often lands giant wahoo, yellowfin tuna and Spanish mackerel. Anglers can catch big fish almost any month, although the species vary according to season. Drake Bay is usually accessed through the Sierpe River, which is bordered by a mangrove estuary home to snapper, corvina and snook. The reef here is famous for monster Pacific cubera snapper.  Sierpe de Osa is another great launching point for in and offshore fishing.

The Golfo Dulce is one of the country's best spots for deep-sea fishing, and charters can be arranged out of Golfito, Puerto Jimenez and Zancudo. Both inshore and offshore fishing trips are available.  Rooster, jacks, black tuna and mackerel are popular inshore catches while sailfish, marlin, mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna and snapper are caught offshore.  The famous Matapalo Rock formation, located just beyond the mouth of the Golfo Dulce, attracts snapper, roosterfish and amberjack.

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Regional Freshwater Fishing Info (Fly and Lure):

Central Valley-Tapantí National Park
For the freshwater fisherman, inland fishing in Costa Rica is just as exciting as the deep sea variety. Tapantí National Park is located in the Orosi Valley, a 90-minute drive from San Jose. The Río Grande de Orosi runs through the park, and trout fishing is allowed from April to October. A permit is required and can be purchased at the ranger station.

Southern Costa Rica
Rainbow trout averaging 11 inches can be caught in the high-altitude Río Savegre, near the town of San Gerardo de Dota. Fly fishing is best in May and June, and trout can be fished with lures from December through March. There are a couple of lodges in the area that offer guided fishing excursions on the river.

Arenal Lake
A three and a half hour drive from San Jose, Arenal Lake is chock full of guapote (rainbow bass), one of the best fighting freshwater fish in Costa Rica. Created by ICE (the National Electrical Institute) in 1979 for hydroelectric power, Arenal Lake spans 33 square miles and is the largest lake in the country. The picturesque lake is flanked by Arenal Volcano and is 19 kilometers west of La Fortuna. Arenal Lake is the premiere fishing spot for freshwater anglers, and other common catches include machaca, mojarra and tilapia. Several tour operators and fishing captains around Arenal offer fishing trips on the lake.
 

Northern Lowlands- Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge
Located in the northern Alajuela Province (16 miles southwest of Los Chiles), Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge is home to a freshwater lagoon and a series of canals full of snook, tarpon, drum, machaca, rainbow bass and gar fish. The lagoon is fed by the Río Frío which can be accessed by boat from Los Chiles or Caño Negro village. Fishing is allowed in the reserve from July 1 to March 31. A fishing license costs $30 per person and can be purchased from the ranger station. Several hotels and lodges offer single and multi-day fishing trips which include license fees.