Deep sea fishing in Costa Rica

Costa Rica fishing is some of the best fishing in the world, especially deep sea fishing. Fishermen travel to Costa Rica to catch some of the largest fish in the Pacific Ocean. Costa Rica's fishing has posted more "super grand slams" than an other fishing destination in the world. Some say that more than 25 sailfish can be caught in one day.

On the Pacific side, fishing enthusiasts will find sailfish, dorado, marlin, snook, wahoo, billfish, and tuna. On the Caribbean, the attraction is tarpon and snook.

Fishing boat charters cost about $250-400 per half day and $350-800 per full day.

Fishing on the Pacific

• Marlin fishing in Costa Rica is found from September through November.
• Sailfish fishing is found from mid-December to the end of April. Pacific Coast hot spots fishing destinations for catching sailfish include Tamarindo and Quepos.
• Dorado fishing is best from late May through October.
• Yellowfin Tuna is over 40kg (100 lbs) and the best fishing is during Marlin and Sailfish season. Small tuna is found year-round.
• Wahoo fishing is good any time of the year.
• Snook fishing is good from March through May and again in September through November.

Costa Rica fishing on the Caribbean

• Tarpon fishing season is from May through October.
• Snook fishing is from March through May and again from September to November.
• Billfish fishing is from February through September.

Best places to fish in Costa Rica

One of the best places to fish in Costa Rica is in the Golfo Dulce. Fishing operators work out of Puerto Jimenez. This area offers dorado, marlin, sailfish and tuna.

Nearby, in Drake Bay, there's sailfish, three kinds of marlin, yellow fin tuna, wahoo, cubera, snapper, sierra mackerel and roosterfish.

On the Caribbean, there Barra del Colorado and Parismina where fishing enthusiasts will find tarpon and snook.

Freshwater fishing in Costa Rica

There are thousands of kilometers of rivers and lakes in Costa Rica which have been left virtually untouched by fishermen. Costa Rica's fresh water fishing offers snook, machaca, mojara, guapote, alligator gar, drum and much more.

There are 181 fresh water fish species in Costa Rica. Some of these include:

• Mazatlan sole
• Bull shark
• Californian needlefish
• Freshwater sole
• Blackbelt cichlid
• White-eye
• Blue tilapia
• Rainbow trout
• Leatherjack
• Yellow fin mojarra
• Tarpon snook
• Fat snook
• Swordspine snook

If you are up to traveling to northern Costa Rica, there is great tarpon fishing. The Cano Negro and Rio Frio have lagoons and canals. Local fishing outfitters use small two-man inflatable pontoon boats with engines to provide access to every nook and cranny. The tarpon in these freshwater lagoons can grow up to 80kg (200 lbs).

In the Arenal area, there's guapote- and machaca- fishing in the lake. Guapotes is also called rainbow bass and is a cousin of the tropical fish found in fish tanks.

The best trout fishing rivers in Costa Rica are on the Rio Providencia, Rio Copey, Rio General, Rio Torro Amarillo and the lower Rio Tapanta.

Why travel to Costa Rica

Learn more about Costa Rica.