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DORADO
Known as well as dolphin fish or mahi mahi, the dorado is one of the most
exciting fish to catch on light tackle. This extremely colorful fish is an
extremely fast swimmer. It's been estimated that they can reach speeds of 50 mph
in short bursts. They are more abundant from late May through November when the
seasonal rains flood the rivers, carrying out debris that forms trash lines
close inshore that like to lie under. 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.
MARLIN
Either blue and black species can easily approach 2000 pounds and because of the
power, size and persistence each fish is one of the most highly prized by all
anglers. Marlin can be found from the southern part of Costa Rica in the Golfito
area all the way up to the North Pacific Coast. Top Marlin spots in Costa
Rica include Golfito and Drake's Bay in the South, Quepos in the Central Pacific
and Guanamar, Tamarindo and Flamingo in the North West. It is generally agreed
that Marlin Fishing is the best in the southern and Central areas during
December to April and the North Pacific from May to November. Black marlin tend
to show up most during April and May off of Tamarindo (near Flamingo). The
smaller striped marlin is caught year-round.
SAILFISH
Perhaps the most acrobatic of all blue water fish, the sailfish has engraved
Costa Rica on every international angler’s wish list. There's no wonder why
some of the world's most esteemed billfish tournaments are held in Costa Rica.
The tournaments are usually during June and July but there is not really a
particular season regarding sails. 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. Quepos is
considered to the be the center of the action, from December to March, with
February being the key month with the highest concentration of sailfish and the
possibility of 20 or 30 hookups a day. Sailfish also abound throughout Costa
Rica's Pacific from the emerging southern port of Golfito to the northern ports
of Guanamar, Tamarindo and Flamingo. Year round availability of Sailfish
makes it a world leader for anglers.
ROOSTERFISH
The dorsal fin with its fanlike array gives the fish its name. It's an inshore
species, often found in the surf, over sandy bottoms and always in moderate
depths. The all-tackle world record is 114 pounds caught off of Baja, Mexico but
many international anglers speculate that the conditions are right for the next
record to come from Costa Rica. An aggressive predator, the roosterfish is
always exciting when hooked. They are available all year, but there are more caught in the Papagayo Bay area
from November through March. That may be because more boats in the northernmost
area of this region are fishing inshore during those windy months, and the
roosters like the structure of the shoreline and islands where they're found in
50 to 60 feet of water.
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.
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. The
first showing begins about the time the rains start in May, peaking in July and
August. Most are caught around the rocky points and islands, but you will pick
one up occasionally fishing offshore. It is considered 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.
YELLOWFIN
TUNA
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. Yellowfin are common from January until
June and July but look for the larger fish off of Tamarindo and Flamingo during
spring and early summer.
SNOOK
The Big snook
generally peak from March through May and again September through the end of
November, but those are also the months of the heaviest rain and as the water
becomes cloudy the fishing becomes more difficult, the snook preferring rivers,
estuaries and back lagoons. Although considered an Atlantic fish, snook do
appear in the Pacific coast. The fat snook or "calva" as it is
called in Costa Rica is a very popular species of snook that has emerged for
light tackle anglers, maximum size about 10 pounds. Peak from mid-November through late January, but often make
an appearance much earlier.
TARPON
An inshore and offshore fish, tarpon is one of the first saltwater species to be
declared a gamefish, and anglers come from every corner of the world looking for
Costa Rica's Caribbean tarpon action. The bony mouth and muscular, acrobatic
fights make this fighter one of the most difficult and exciting prizes a
fisherman can achieve. The tarpon action is not seasonal but is affected by the
heavy rains on the Caribbean and sometimes the ability of boats to get out into
the ocean. It is not a food fish and always is released.
GUAPOTE
The
guapote is the closest thing that Costa Rica has that resembles a bass so the
visiting anglers who could not pronounce guapote declared the fish a rainbow
bass even though it is not in the bass family. There is not seasonality for this
fish. At first, local anglers did try traditional bass fishing techniques but
soon shifted towards jigs. An exciting fish to hook-up with, the guapote quickly
finds the nearest log or branch to cut the anglers line. The most popular
location for guapote is Lake Arenal. Guapote can also be found in the back
lagoons and river systems of the Barra Colorado area in the Atlantic coast.
KINGFISH,
SPANISH AND CERO MACKAREL, JACK CREVALLE, BARRACUDA
Abundant close to shore any time the ocean is flat.
