Sportfishing Seasons on Costa Rica's Pacific Coast
Costa Rica is perfectly situated to attract the world's most exciting species of Sportfish! If you've been looking for a place where you can be sure to catch the big one you've been missing, Costa Rica is the place!
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This is the vacation you've been dreaming about... It's right here waiting!
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica has three areas for Sportfishing:
Sportfishing, year-round...
Come experience this tropical mecca for both IGFA Champions and leisure-time visitors to Costa Rica... IGFA records are set here almost every month... that's why Costa Rica is home to so many Champions! Let these guys take you for the sportfishing adventure of a lifetime... anytime of year. Boats like the Cazador, Captain Bobby McGuinness' flagship pictured above are always safe and ready for hire!
North Pacific — Guanacaste, Tamarindo, Papagayo
From The Gulf of Papagayo to Cabo Blanco
There is a full service Marina at Flamingo, which serves as the Sportfishing Center of the area, world-famous for its elegant lifestyle and Surfing too.
You can catch Marlin year-round, but particularly good months are between November to the beginning of March. The Marlin are always here, just a little more of a challenge between April to June, and getting hotter again between August and September.
Of course, there are abundant Sailfish here too, all year-round, with the best months being between May through August. You'll have to work harder between August and November, and September can be pretty tough.
The Tuna run hard from August through October. There are Yellowfin and Bigeye to be found out around Catalina Island, a short 30 minute trip from shore. The Tuna range from 12 to 20 pounders here in abundance. But there are also some giants here... with Tuna coming in at 40-60 pounds. Several 200-400 pounders are caught here every year.
Go for the Wahoo beginning in May at the onset of rainy season, and stay with them through the peak in July and August. They love to play around the rocky points and islands mostly.
Fantastic Roosterfish are caught all year, with those in Papagayo Bay peaking from November through March. They hang in 50 to 60 feet of water mostly, hugging the contour of the shore.
Central Pacific — Puntarenas, Quepos, Manuel Antonio
Cabo Blanco to Drake's Bay
Quepos serves as the Central Pacific's Fishing Capital the center of fishing, but Puntarenas also hosts a vibrant Charter business as do as well the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, Jaco Beach, Punta Leona and Drake's Bay on the Osa Peninsula.
Marlin's best month is in October, but September and November are also good; once in awhile you'll catch a blue and the rare black can also be found anytime of the year.
Sailfish rock the water from December through April when they begin heading north, with the big schools moving in October. There's always a few safish here from June through September.
Hunt for Tuna throughout the year all along the Pacific coast, with the best months being June to September. The majority weigh-in at 8- to 12- pounds, but catches in the 100- to 200-pound range are common too.
There's not a lot of Wahoo near Quepos but on Drake's Bay to the south they show up in late summer where you can find them around Caño Island, from late June to early August.
Dorado arrive in the Central Pacific as the winter rains late in May begin to spread debris from the river mouths which attract the dolphins.
Roosterfish like the mouths of the Parrita river, outside Damas, and Palo Seco river. You can also catch them around Dominical and Drake's Bay. The best months for Roosterfish fishing are from June through the beginning of September.
Look for Snook at the various and plentiful river mouths all up and down the coast, such as the Sierpe River and lagoon. You'' have the best luck from July through November as the heavy rains pound the region.
South Pacific — Osa, Golfito, Puerto Jimenez
Golfito, Osa Peninsula, Corcovado, Playa Zancudo and Drake's Bay
From August through December the Marlin peak, but if the water temperature is warm enough. you'll catch an occasional Striped, Blue or Black here.
December through March are the best months for Sailfish which decline in frequency from April into the fist part of June and get going up again in August and September.
Look for Tuna following the Marlin and Sailfish season, but schools are nearly always around.
The best time to catch Dorado is from the end of May through October because the rivers are running high from the inland rains. There's not much Wahoo, but they'll be found occasionally anytime of the year off of the point at Matapalo Cape.
Just about any month of the year is great for Roosterfish. Golfito and the South have got the really big roosters.
Snook are here all year with the best Snook fishing from the end of May through July and again in January and February.
