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Sportfishing Costa RicaN 9°56′ · W 84°05′

Fish species

The game fish of Costa Rica's Pacific and Caribbean coasts: where each one lives, when it runs, and how crews fish for it.

Guides

An almaco jack swimming over a reef in blue water, showing its deep body and dark band through the eye
Fish speciesAmberjack in Costa Rica: The Almaco Jack of the Deep ReefsThe amberjack Costa Rican crews catch on the Pacific is mostly the almaco jack, a powerful fish of deep rocks, reefs and…
A spotted cabrilla grouper covered in dark spots with faint dark bands, resting under a rocky ledge
Fish speciesGrouper in Costa Rica: Cabrilla, Broomtail and the GiantsThe groupers caught on Costa Rica's Pacific reefs are mostly spotted cabrilla and broomtail grouper, and the huge Pacific goliath…
A blue marlin alongside a sportfishing boat in deep blue Pacific water, ready to be released
Fish speciesMarlin in Costa Rica: Blue, Black and StripedCosta Rica's Pacific coast holds blue, black and striped marlin, all caught offshore and all released under Costa Rican law. Blue…
A young angler holds a roosterfish with its tall comb-like dorsal fin raised, over clear blue water
Fish speciesRoosterfish in Costa Rica: The Pacific's Inshore PrizeThe roosterfish is an inshore fish of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, famous for the tall comb on its back and its hard, fast runs…
Fish speciesSea Bass in Costa Rica: Corvina and the True Sea BassesIn Costa Rica, the fish sold and served as 'sea bass' is usually corvina, a family of croakers caught in the Gulf of Nicoya…
A yellow snapper swimming in green-blue Pacific water, with yellow fins and tail
Fish speciesSnapper in Costa Rica: Cubera, Rose and Yellow SnapperSnapper are caught all year on Costa Rica's Pacific coast, from the huge Pacific cubera (dog snapper) on the rocks to spotted…
A freshly caught common snook laid on a pale surface, showing the black lateral line and yellowish fins
Fish speciesSnook in Costa Rica: Record Fish on Both CoastsCosta Rica has snook on both coasts: common and fat snook on the Caribbean, black and white snook on the Pacific, living around…
A broadbill swordfish lying on the wooden deck of a boat, showing its long flat sword and large eye
Fish speciesSwordfish in Costa Rica: A Rare Catch for Sport AnglersSwordfish live in the deep offshore waters of Costa Rica's Pacific, but they're mostly caught by commercial longliners, and few…
A large silver tarpon swimming, its big mirror-like scales and upturned mouth clearly visible
Fish speciesTarpon in Costa Rica: The Silver King of the CaribbeanTarpon are Costa Rica's big Caribbean game fish, caught in the river mouths, rivers, lagoons and nearshore sea from Barra del…
An angler on a boat holds up a large bull dorado with its blue and gold colours still bright
Fish speciesDorado (Mahi-Mahi) in Costa RicaDorado (mahi-mahi) are fast, colourful offshore fish caught all along Costa Rica's Pacific coast, often around floating logs and…
A Pacific sailfish kept in the water beside a sportfishing boat off Jacó while the anglers get ready to release it
Fish speciesThe Pacific Sailfish: Costa Rica's Signature Game FishThe sailfish is Costa Rica's best-known game fish, caught offshore along the whole Pacific coast. The central and southern…
A wahoo swimming in open blue water, showing its long slim body and dark vertical bars
Fish speciesWahoo in Costa Rica: Speed, Teeth and Great EatingWahoo are long, fast, razor-toothed relatives of the mackerels, caught offshore and around rocky islands and seamounts on Costa…
Side view of a yellowfin tuna showing its dark blue back, gold side stripe and bright yellow finlets
Fish speciesYellowfin Tuna in Costa RicaYellowfin tuna are caught offshore along Costa Rica's Pacific coast all year, and fisheries data shows them as the most common…

When they're running

Best months for each fish
FishJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Sailfish Central and South PacificJan bestFeb bestMar bestApr bestMay goodJun goodJul goodAug goodSep goodOct goodNov goodDec best
Sailfish GuanacasteJan goodFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay bestJun bestJul bestAug bestSep goodOct goodNov goodDec good
Blue marlin Pacific, offshoreJan goodFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay bestJun bestJul bestAug bestSep bestOct goodNov bestDec best
Roosterfish Pacific, inshoreJan bestFeb bestMar bestApr bestMay goodJun goodJul goodAug goodSep goodOct goodNov goodDec good
Dorado (mahi-mahi) Pacific, offshoreJan goodFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay goodJun goodJul bestAug bestSep bestOct bestNov bestDec best
Yellowfin tuna Pacific, offshoreJan goodFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay bestJun bestJul bestAug bestSep goodOct goodNov goodDec good
Wahoo Pacific, offshoreJan goodFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay bestJun bestJul bestAug bestSep goodOct goodNov goodDec good
Tarpon CaribbeanJan goodFeb bestMar bestApr bestMay goodJun goodJul slowAug slowSep bestOct bestNov goodDec slow
Snook CaribbeanJan bestFeb goodMar goodApr goodMay goodJun goodJul goodAug goodSep bestOct bestNov bestDec best
BestGoodSlow