Costa Rica Fishing – An overview of the various regions

About Costa Rica Fishing

Before selecting the region of Costa Rica you would like to visit for a fishing trip read this.

Costa Rica has long been renowned as one of the top fishing destinations in the world. With offshore fishing on the Pacific Coast for marlin and sailfish and big game trophies such as dorado, tuna and wahoo – it’s no wonder Costa Rica has a reputation as dream fishing destination.

North Pacific Costa Rica Fishing

To make things even more exciting for anglers the inshore fishery in and around the basalt, volcanic coastline of this paradise on Earth is teeming with species such as roosterfish, snapper, snook, African Pompano, bluefin and golden trevally, corvina and several others. A short trip to the mountains and you can shift your Costa Rica fishing trip in to yet another gear with exotic fresh water species such as machaca and guapote or trout on the fly.

Costa Rica Fishing is Dvidied Into These Regions
North Pacific – Guanacaste Flamingo, Tamarindo, Nosara, Santa Teresa
Mid Pacific – Herradura, Quepos, Jaco
South Pacific – Golfito, Drake Bay, Puerto Jimenez, Zancudo
Caribbean Coast – Barra Del Colorado
Fresh Water / Central – Lake Arenal and other lakes and rivers

Costa Rica Fishing – The Caribbean Coast

The Caribbean coast offers one last surprise for hard core anglers – tarpon – and big tarpon who will fight until there is nothing left. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica is also home to a handful of snook species that are dream fish for most anglers, making excellent table fare.

Costa Rica fishing map

So, from the North to the South – on both coasts, and in the mountains, you can find Costa Rica fishing species and adventures that would easily be the fishing trip of a lifetime for most anglers.

Getting to Costa Rica

Given Costa Rica’s proximity of only 2.5 hours or so from Miami or 3.5 hours from Houston, Costa Rica fishing trips are well within the realm of possibilities for those looking to escape work for a week to chase the inshore and offshore behemoths that call Costa Rica home.

The first question after taking in the sheer magnitude of the fishing opportunities is where to start. Costa Rica is divided into three areas on the Pacific side with Guanacaste in the North, Quepos, Jaco and Herradura in the central, and The Osa Peninsula and Golfito in the South. Of course there are dozens of other destinations, towns and villages all up and down the coast, but these areas are where you will find the infrastructure and the “fire power” if you will, to make your Costa Rica fishing adventure the stuff of dreams.

Costa Rica fishing – North Pacific

The North is probably the most touristy of the country where all inclusive resorts can be found sprinkled around some of Costa Rica’s most magnificent beaches. Flaming beach is where much of Costa Rica’s fishing industry was born in the early 90’s and is home to Flamingo Marina, but you can also find the Marina Papagayo here and several other jumping off points to charter a fishing trip or for multi day fishing trips.

Costa Rica Fishing – Mid Pacific

In the mid Pacific and one of our “other” favorite parts of the country you will find legendary fishing towns such as Quepos, Jaco and Heradura home to Los Suenos Resort. Two majaor marinas are here – Marina Pez Vela in Quepos and Los Suenos Marina. This region is also very heavy on tourism so you will see lots of “gringos” around. If you are really looking to get off the beaten path and into some serious pristine fishing spots keep heading South!

Costa Rica Fishing – The South Pacific (Home Sweet Home)

In the South of the country, home to Osa Fishing Trips, you will find some of the most unique fishing lodges in the country and some of the best fishing. Golfito, Drake Bay, Zancudo and Puerto Jimenez are legendary in terms of the fishing action and you can be to any of these cool little towns in about 45 minutes. Please check out our in depth guide to fishing on the Osa Penisula to get a better idea bout the fishing in the South and weather this region is a good match for your Costa Rica fishing expectations.

Osa Peninsula Costa Rica

Ready to start planing your Costa Rica Fishing Trip?

OsaFishingTrips.com has worked in and around Costa Rica fishing for 20 years so although we operate out of the South we know everyone in the business…The good, the bad..and the downright ugly 😉 Drop us a line and let us know where you are considering taking your costa rica fishing trip and we can help set you up with the right people.