Costa Rica- the Sportsfishing Mecca

No matter what your preference, salt water or freshwater, conventional or fly, offshore or river fishing, Costa Rica has a fishing destination for you. Costa Rica is bordered by the Pacific on the West and the Caribbean on the East. There are too many rivers to count flowing in between. If you prefer to fish lakes, there are freshwater lakes of all sizes within the borders and even creating the border with Nicaragua. There are also canals, mangroves, and estuaries, in additional to offshore islands.

This abundance and variety of fishing venues has led to several game fish records being set in the relatively small country. Costa Rica currently holds 89 International Game Fish Association records including a 162 pound blue marlin, and a sailfish caught on the fly.

It is not just the abundance of fish that should make an angler choose Costa Rica, it is also the country’s eye towards game fish conservation. Circle hooks have long been required and the Costa Rican government, working with the Billfish Foundation has recently enacted new rules for both sports fishermen and commercial fishermen aimed at reducing the number of billfish killed as a result of long lining and poor fishing practices.

Whether you want to fish in the Pacific, the Caribbean, both or somewhere in between you will have no trouble finding the perfect fishing lodge or day charter.

The Caribbean coast, is the place for unparalleled world class tarpon fishing. This side of the country can be more remote than the Pacific. Here, you can find all inclusive lodges that include lodging, meals and fishing for tarpon, snook, snapper, and guapote.

Up and down the Pacific coast you will find everything from fishing villages, to beach resort towns, to world class marinas, to middle of nowhere lodges. When choosing to fish in the Pacific you need to do a little research. Although marlin, sailfish, snapper, tuna, dorado, amberjack, wahoo, roosterfish and snook are all common catches, the season for each fish varies depending on your location in Costa Rica.

It is not just the fishing seasons that vary the atmosphere in different locations can be completely different as well. In the north the beaches are popular, the condos are tall, and the wind makes the fishing season a bit shorter than further south. In Herradura, the Marina is world class, you can golf, the fishing is incredible three hundred days a year, but you might miss some of the Costa Rican experience. In Quepos, the fleet is large and experienced, the fishing is great nearly year round, and you can visit Costa Rica’s most popular National Park, Manuel Antonio. Further South on the Osa Peninsula you will find Golfito and Puerto Jimenez. The fishing is great year round depending on the species you are after, the locations are remote and you get to experience the natural beauty of Costa Rica.

Before you come to Costa Rica you need to decide what type of angler and what type of traveler you are. Are you coming for fishing and relaxing or do you want a place with night life? Do you like to feel like you have never left home or do you want to experience Costa Rican life and culture? Do you want luxury or economy? Are you just coming to fish or do you want to participate in other adventure activities? Are you traveling with your family, with your wife, or with a group of guys? Your answer to these questions will effect where you want to fish. What you want to catch and where you want to fish may effect when you want to fish.

Rest assured that you will have a great time fishing in Costa Rica. The fishing is world class due not only to the great number and variety of big fish, but also due to the number of days you can fish per year, the quality of the country’s conservation programs, the quality of the boats to be chartered and the experience and professionalism of the captains and crews.

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