The water explodes as a giant tarpon rockets from the depths of the blue Caribbean to soar skyward, twisting and turning in a wild frenzy to shake the barb from its bony jaw! For legions of sportsmen, Megalops atlanticus offers the ultimate in sport fishing, and no place in the world provides better tarpon angling than the waters of Costa Rica's Caribbean coast or more explosive action for marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado and a host of other species on the Pacific.
Fishing in Costa Rica
The aerial acrobats of the northern Caribbean are here year-round, but during the peak of the season it is not unusual to raise 20 or more tarpon per day that average nearly 80 pounds each, with plenty running 100 pounds and over.
But tarpon are not the only prey available out of the fishing lodges on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast. The region is world famous for its snook fishing as well, and five of the current International Game Fish Association world records plus a fly fishing record for the species came from this area, including the all-tackle 53 lb. 10 oz. snook taken here in 1978.
The best season for tarpon is normally from February through June, but they are routinely caught the rest of the year as well. Snook peak from September through January, but are routinely caught all year around.
Lodges on the northern Caribbean coast three at Barra del Colorado and another at Parismina are all-inclusive, with tackle, lodging, all meals, guide, boat and air transportation between San Jose and Barra del Colorado included. There is another fine lodge at Parismina where most of the fly fishing snook records have been established.
Other species regularly caught incidentally in the area by anglers targeting tarpon and snook include wahoo, dorado, cubera snapper, grouper, barracuda, king fish, jack crevalle, mackerel, tripletail, Atlantic sailfish, drum, rainbow bass and more. The best fishing is generally in the high water months from June through January.
When fishing for tarpon, two rules are important:
1. Sharpen your hooks and set them hard, to penetrate the bone-hard jaw. Not just once, but hit them two or thee times.
2. Remember the adage "Bow to the King," which means to drop the tip of your rod each time the fish jumps out of the water frequently 10 or 12 feet and often doing an 360 degree turn in the air in order to allow slack in the line so it won't throw the hook, and crank it in as he hits the water again.
Snook are most often caught up the river, in the backwaters and lagoon, trolling or casting, and are also caught casting from shore, particularly at the river mouths.
On Costa Rica's Pacific coast, the major fishing areas for marlin, sailfish, tuna, dorado, wahoo, and a host of other blue water species will vary with the time of year, so there is good to sensational fishing throughout the year.
Fishing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica anglers have scored as many as three super slams in single season, with sailfish, blue, black, and striped marlin on the same day. The largest marlin ever confirmed was a 958 pounder. Most billfish are released to be caught again another day, but even bigger ones have been hooked, so we know the granders are out there, just waiting to be caught and released. Action most often begins only 20 to 30 minutes running time from the beach, and rarely do boats have to run more than 25 miles before raising the first fish.
The main fishing areas on the Pacific are Tamarindo and Playa Flamingo on the northernmost coast, and moving south to Playa Carrillo, Jacó, Quepos and the southernmost Golfito region.
Most charter boats are in the 30-foot range and all have experienced skippers and crew, provide top quality tackle, lunch, beer and soft drinks on board and top quality tackle. Price for a full day of fishing will run about $850 to $900 per day. There are also some larger, more luxurious fishing yachts available.
The easiest way to arrange a trip is to contact one of the agencies that specialize in fishing trips such as the Travel Services Division of Costa Rica Outdoors, a company that I previously owned and operated. They can do everything from meeting you at the airport on arrival to seeing you off on departure, arranging hotels in all price ranges, plus golf, whitewater rafting, or any anything else you might want to do here.
Activities and Sports 
