-Tours by Activity-
FISHING

The greatest thing about fishing in Costa Rica is that it’s an activity that can be done year round. Either if its freshwater fishing in the Caribbean Coast, or deep sea fishing in the Pacific Coast, you can find a fishing spot throughout the year.

 

 

Costa Rica's Fishing Spots:

1. Caribbean Coast Fishing:

This area is benefited with the freshwater lagoons and rivers, and with numerous world-class lodges tucked away in the jungle. The best time of the year is from January to May when the rain comes and the water level rises or from August to October, when the ocean flattens and boats can safely leave the river mouth. A Travelers’ Haven offers fishing packages to the lodges in the Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado area, check out our Caribbean and Pacific: They’re Biting package for more information.

• Tarpon can be found all year round, high season from December through May.
• Snook generally peaks from March through May and again September through the end of November.
• Fat snook (Calba) peaks from mid-November through late January, but often makes an appearance much earlier.
• Billfish, Atlantic sailfish and occasional blue marlin can be found most anytime of the year. Most are caught from February through mid June.
• Dorado can be caught just outside the river mouths throughout the year. Best fishing is when the runoff carries out the debris that forms inshore trash lines.
• Tripletail is available January through June.
• Kingfish, Spanish and Zero Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Barracuda are abundant close to shore any time the ocean is flat.

 

2. North Pacific Coast Fishing:

Sport fishing has long been a great attraction in the area of Guanacaste, which is the site of several major international and local tournaments every year and provides incredible action on blue, black and striped marlin, sailfish, yellow fish and big-eye tuna, dorado and lots of other species.

• Marlin can be found every month of the year, especially from November to early March; then slowing from April to early June and picking up in August and September.
• Sailfish is also available throughout the year, with May through August as the top season. The slowest months are from August through November, with September as the lowest time.
• Tuna peaks from August through October. Yellow fish and big-eye tuna are found at Catalina Island, 30 minutes from the beach where schools of 12- to 20-pounders are abundant. Frequently, there are large concentrations of 20- to 60-pound tuna and there are plenty of 200- to 400-pounders caught every year.
• Roosterfish is available all year. In Papagayo Bay more are caught from November through March. The roosters like the structure of the shoreline and islands where they’re found in 50 to 60 feet of water.
• Wahoo season begins with the May rains and peaks in July and August. They are caught around the rocky points and islands and occasionally offshore.

Our Fishing Delight package combines fishing trips in Playas del Coco in Guanacaste with some Central Pacific Coast fishing.

Also check out our Caribbean and Pacific: They’re Biting package for more information on combined Caribbean and Pacific Coast fishing.

3. Osa Peninsula Fishing:

It's a rare day during the peak season that boats don't raise a dozen sails and a marlin or two, along with plenty of jacks, runners, mackerel and perhaps an amberjack, roosterfish or big snapper inshore. Light-tackle fishing inside the bay of Golfito, with its profusion of small coves and rocky islets, as well as off the shoreline, is good for small barracuda and snapper, sea bass and occasional snook to more than 40 pounds.

• Marlin: August through December is peak season, but an occasional blue or black may be taken most any month if the water temperature is up.
• Sailfish: a few taken off and one year-round with the exceptional fishing from December through March. Often slows from April into early June, then picks up again and begins to peak in August or September.
• Tuna: best fishing for the bigger ones corresponds with marlin and sailfish season, but the schools of footballs can nearly always be found outside.
• Dorado: best runs are traditionally from late May through October.
• Wahoo: not abundant, but an occasional Wahoo may be taken most any time of the year while trolling offshore for billfish, or around the structure off Matapalo.
• Roosterfish: the region is famous for its big roosters and they can be caught virtually any month of the year, some to nearly 100 pounds.
• Snook: all year, but best from middle or late May through July and January and February.

 

4. Central Pacific (Herradura, and Quepos):

Quepos has been a long time favorite fishing spot for those in the Central Pacific Area of the country and with the recent construction of the new Marina in Los Sueños Resort in Playa Herradura, the fishing activity in the area has increased considerably.

• Marlin has its top month in October, but it’s also good in September and November; occasional blues and rare blacks are likely to be found anytime of the year.
• Sailfish is best from the middle of December to the end of April when they begin moving north, but the big schools move in October. A few sails always show from June through September.
• Tuna is easily found throughout the year along the Pacific coast, but is more abundant from June to September. Most are 8 to 12 pounds but you can make catches in the 100 to 200 pound range as well.
• Wahoo is not common around Quepos, but in late summer you can find them in Drake’s Bay and Caño Island (Osa Península), from late June to early August.
• Dorado begins with the winter rains late in May, which wash debris from the river mouths creating the inshore trash lines that dolphins favor.
• Roosterfish is better in the mouths of the Parrita and Palo Seco, outside Damas, the mouth outside Damas, around Dominical and Drake’s Bay. Best fishing is from June through early September.
• Snook is found in many river mouths along the coast, like the Sierpe River and lagoon. Best months are from July through November during the heavy rainy season.

Our Fishing Delight package combines fishing trips in Playas del Coco in Guanacaste with some Central Pacific Coast fishing.

Top