Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
MARLIN

Marlin are one of the most prized and sought after game fish in the world. Costa Rica is fortunate enough to have three different types of Marlin roaming its Pacific coast. One unique thing about Costa Rica is that Marlin can be taken any month of the year.

Fishing Pacific Blue Marlin: the most frequent of the Marlins taken here, three to five hundred pounders are frequently landed. Costa Rica has yet to see a grander, although several fish over 900 lbs have been taken and fish over 1000 lbs have been hooked and lost.

Fishing Black Marlin: also taken in the same waters. Several fish over 700 lbs. have been recorded and it has been reported that much larger fish have been hooked up.

Fishing Striped Marlin: the fish that those lucky enough to have taken grand slams in this country are looking for. These brilliant fighters average around 150 to 200 lbs.

Fishing season: october is normally the top month for fishing Marlin in this area, but action is also good in september and november. Occasional Blue Marlin and the rare Black Marlin are likely to be found anytime of year.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
SAILFISH

Perhaps the most acrobatic of all blue water fish, the Sailfish has engraved Costa Rica on every international anglers wish list. There's no wonder why some of the world's most esteemed biilfish tournaments are held in Costa Rica.

The beautiful fish, spending more time in the air than in the water during the fight is not as powerful as the Marlin, but always spectacular. Double and triple hookups are not uncommon. February is the key month with the highest concentration of Sailfish and the possibility of 20 or 30 hookups a day. Year round availability of Sailfish make it a world leader for anglers.

Fishing season: mid-december to the end of april is rated the best fishing season, but the big schools often move in about october and stay longer. A few sails always show among the catch from june through september, mixed with other species that are found inshore during those months.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
DORADO

Also known as Dolphinfish or Mahi-Mahi, the Dorado is one of the most exciting fish to catch on light tackle. An extremely colorful fish, Dorados are extremely fast swimmers. A hooked Dorado might leap or tailwalk, first in one direction, then another.

It's been estimated that they can reach speeds of 50 mph (80 kmh) in short bursts. Look for them under trash lines that accumulate during the rainy season (roughly may to december). Schools of Dorado can become a nuisance for anglers looking for the larger Billfish lurking below the school. The Dorado is a delicious food fish.

Fishing season: are taken on a regular basis all around the year, with the best fishing during the rainy season when the rivers deposit huge logs and other floating debris into the ocean.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
YELLOWFIN TUNA

In Costa Rica most anglers find Yellowfin Tuna, an extremely valuable commercial fish, esteemed for its very light flesh, but also valued as a sportfish.

This is one fish that you want to take back to the resort for the chef to prepare that evening. Yellowfin are usually around the size of a football but can reach up to 300 pounds and begin one of an anglers most spectacular fights. A Tuna must constantly swim and is one giant muscle.

Fishing season: found throughout the year as they are all along the Pacific coast, but most abundant from june to september.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
WAHOO

The Wahoo is a loner and when traveling with other Wahoo it's usually only a school of five or six. The fish can be found anywhere in the ocean but does seem to concentrate during the summer off of Costa Rica's Pacific coast.

Considered a relatively rare species, the Wahoo is usually caught while the angler is looking for other oceanic species. That's always a nice surprise because many fisherman consider the Wahoo one of salt water's finest delicacies. Experts speculate that the Wahoo is the fastest fish in the ocean and it's no wonder that the first scorching run can burn out the drag on some reels.

Fishing season: abundant in South Pacific (Drake bay and Caños island area) from late june to early august.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
ROOSTERFISH

Rooster Fish are one of the most sought after and exciting fishes of the inshore species that roam the entire west coast of Costa Rica. Averaging 15 to 20 pounds, forty pounders are common, and fish over 80 pounds have been taken in Costa Rican waters.

Volcanic rock outcrops are one of their favorite hangouts, but they also roam behind the surflines and near the mouths of rivers that flow into the Pacific. There is no season that is better than another and roosters can be taken year round. A member of the jack family, they are edible but not considered a prime food fish.

Fishing season: available every month of the year. Best fishing period: from june upto early september.

Fishing in Central Pacific Costa Rica
SNAPPER

There are many species of Snapper. Each fish is a shallow water fish preferring a rocky bottom structure that provides bait fish and protection. The Cubera is the largest of the Snappers, often going beyond 100 pounds.

The Dog Snapper is the largest of the Pacific Snappers with the world record of 78 pounds held by a resort in Costa Rica. Each species will be a tough fighter, particularly on light tackle and although all Snapper are delicious eating the flesh of the larger fish can become course.

Fishing season: available every month of the year. Best fishing period: from june upto early september.