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Warm tropical waters caress Costa Rica throughout the year, mixing with the cold, deep waters of the Pacific; this confluence of hot and cold helps explain the incredibly diverse sea life population – it’s no surprise that the west coast of Costa Rica is a haven for sport fishing enthusiasts. With Blue Marlin, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Mahi Mahi (Dorado), Pacific Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna, and the Yellowtail, the Ocean presents a bursting, colorful spectrum of sport fishing and fun.

Of course, the Pacific coast is only the beginning of the story. Moving toward the inland lakes and rivers and the eastern Caribbean coast, Costa Rica is home to an incredible variety of fishing regions, each yielding its own distinct series of species. The Caribbean waters of the Atlantic Ocean are home to stunning selection of fish including barracuda, Spanish Mackarel, Grouper, Snook, Tarpon, Kingfish, Jack and Snapper fish, among others. The best towns for fishing on the Caribbean side are Barra del Colorado, and Tortuguero.

Inland, the many pristine lakes make for prime sports fishing destinations, where you are most likely to reel in a shimmering, speckled Guapote. Check out Arenal Lake (Laguna de Arenal) And in the central rivers – there, a lively battle with a Tarpon, Snook, Machaca or the big Tropical Gar awaits those who dare. For those seeking a more relaxed fishing expedition, trout also abound in the Rio Savegre.

Back on the West coast, charter a sport fishing boat offshore of the Pacific Coast and try your hand at wresting the Blue Marlin out of the sea. Serious anglers would not consider a Costa Rica expedition complete without a tour of the west coast. Here, however, it is important to be sensitive to the local migrations, as the fish have their seasonal preferences. From November through March, the Sweet Gulf (Golfo Dulce) is ideal. The recommended towns to cast out from here are Puerto Jimenez, Zancudo and Puerto Quepos. The rest of the year (mostly May to September) the Papagayo Gulf (Golfo de Papagayo) is replete with fish, the best towns for sports fishers being Playa Flamingo, Tamarindo and Playas del Coco.

There are plenty of fishing boat charters to choose from in Costa Rica, which provide offshore sport fishing out from any of the popular harbors. Charter boats typically offer a complete package with many essentials included in the price: fishing tackle, boat captain, lunch and, yes, drinks. Depending upon the size of the group a charter, a day-long trip can range from between $400-500 on the low end, to $1,500-1,600 on the high end. Many companies offer half-day, or three-quarter day charters for reduced rates. Multiple day charters can last up to 5 days, at fares ranging from between $3,000 and $4,000.

Note that throughout the country, inland and offshore, most charters and independent anglers follow the “catch and release” policy, so as not to destroy the populations. This has resulted in an sustained abundance of fish, and a very happy sport fishing tourism sector.

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