Fishing in Gulf of Papagayo, Costa Rica

Gulf of Papagayo in Guanacaste province of Costa Rica ever has been great for fishing. Many kind of migratory species come into the gulf making fishing wonderful. Species including marlin, sail, dolphin, and by seasons, Yellow fin tuna, Wahoo and others no migratory species make this place incredible for fishing. And if your pleasure is for fishing bottom, no better place: Grouper, big Cubera Snapper, Amber Jack, Read Snapper (Guachinango, Pargo Rojo) make unforgettable catches.

Fishing trips to the gulf of Papagayo and Playa Tamarindo can be booked in Playas del Coco, a very popular area for sportfishing. Playa del Coco is the largest village in Guanacaste province. Known as the gateway for surfers to reach places like Witch’s Rock in Naranjo beach and Ollie’s Point in Potrero beach in Santa Rosa national park (both within the gulf of Papagayo). At 25 minutes from the international airport Daniel Oduber, Playas del Coco is close to the biggest and most popular tourist project of Costa Rica: Papagayo which include hotels such as: Alegro Papagayo, Four Seasons, Malinche Real, Costa Esmeralda and many others. Explore gulf of Papagayo map in the next URL: http://www.costarica-fishingtrips.com/map_fishing.htm

Fishing in gulf of Papagayo go from good to excellent around the year for a wide variety of species. The waters here are world famous for year 'round for sport fishing. While each year may be slightly different, the catch rate for all our game fish is fairly consistent all months of the year. There are no specific seasons here. However specific species are more prevalent during some periods, therefore, catch of every one specie depend on season as follow:

Sailfish: Caught throughout the year, with May through August normally the top season. They may begin to thin out in September and the slowest months are from late August through November.

Marlin: Caught every month of the year, with mid-November to early March exceptional, then slowing a bit from April into early June when it picks up again, peaking in August and September.

Dolphin(Mahi-Mahi) or Dorado: these colorful gamesters are most abundant from late May through October when the seasonal rains flood the rivers, carrying out debris that forms trash lines close inshore that they like to lie under. Troll past a floating log and you'll likely hook a Dorado.

Tuna: Peak months are probably August through October, but when all else fails, there are always tuna, anytime of the year you want to look for them, and more often than not when you'd just as soon avoid them to concentrate on billfish. The yellowfin and some Bigeye tuna are often found well inside the Santa Catalina Islands, 30 minutes or less running time from the beach.

Wahoo: The first catches are 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.

Roosterfish: 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.

Fishes are waiting, let fish them, but remember to release. Take as much photos as you want but return the fishing you don’t eat. LET KEEP THE SPECIES FOR FUTURE!!!