For the past few decades, Costa Rica has been home to some of the best offshore sport fishing in the entire world. A twelve month fishing season, calm seas, short run times, and some of the best captains and charter boats in Central America all play a part in why Costa Rica is called “the Billfish Capital of the World.”  A day spent fishing in the blue water in Costa Rica can offer double digit sailfish bites as well as opportunities for black, blue, and striped marlin. Offshore sport fishing will also produce other pelagic species like dorado, wahoo, and large schools of yellow-fin tuna. Browse our Costa Rica sport fishing packages below, then once you contact us we’ll work with you personally to customize your dream fishing vacation. Trust our decades of local expertise and see why nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests!

Costa Rica Sport Fishing

Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast has been known as one of the world’s premier sport fishing destinations for decades. Blessed to be at the confluence of two major ocean currents and protected by mountain ranges and extinct volcanoes, Costa Rica offers incredible offshore fishing twelve months a year. The main technique for offshore fishing in Costa Rica is trolling dead baits, such as ballyhoo.  Most boats will set a spread with a plastic teaser, a long bait, and a short bait on each side of the boat. Many boats will also troll a squid daisy chain or even a dredge to attract more attention. This tried and true method, combined with a healthy (and protected) billfish population, has had a massive impact on the number of sailfish and marlin (blue, black, and striped) caught in Costa Rica which has earned it the nickname “the Billfish Capital of the World“.

A big part of what makes offshore sport fishing in Costa Rica so popular is the ease and convenience of it. The offshore fishing grounds at the continental shelf are typically no more than 20-25 miles out, which means you typically don’t have to run for more than an hour before you put lines in the water.  Due to Costa Rica’s geographical location, the towering mountain ranges block seasonal winds and it is too far south for hurricanes so the seas are calm and flat the majority of the time. When the bite is hot, our top boats will finish with double-digit sailfish bites with double and triple hook-ups a common occurrence that throws the cockpit into chaos. While some months are historically better than others, marlin are always available and get the adrenaline pumping for even the most seasoned crews.  Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast offers opportunities for blue marlin, black marlin, and striped marlin. For anglers looking for the ultimate offshore sport fishing experience, Costa Rica offers the best marlin fishing in the entire world if you spend a few nights out at our seamounts 100-150 miles offshore. These two and three-night overnight trips typically produce double digit marlin bites. In addition to the incredible billfish action, Costa Rica offshore fishing also offers spectacular numbers of yellow-fin tuna, dorado (mahi-mahi), and wahoo.

All billfish in Costa Rica are strictly catch and release. In Costa Rica the use of circle hooks is obligatory when fishing for billfish (sailfish and marlin).  This has proven to increase hook up ratios, but more importantly it has proven to significantly increase the survival rate of hooked fish. Circle hooks tend to imbed themselves in the meaty corners of the mouth and are less likely to be swallowed and hook the fish’s vital internal organs like J-hooks.  Costa Rica has recently banned taking billfish out of the water for a picture, which also helps their survival rates.

In addition to the offshore fishing for pelagics like billfish, tuna and dorado, Costa Rica also offers fantastic inshore fishing as well. On our Pacific Coast we catch a variety gamefish on light tackle gear using both live bait and articial lures. The main prize is our famous roosterfish, but we also catch three kinds of jacks, sierra mackerel, grouper, several species of snapper, sea bass, and trophy-sized Pacific snook.  On the Caribbean Coast we enjoy world class tarpon and snook fishing. The tarpon population in Costa Rica is not migratory, so the fish are here year round and are typically larger adults in the 80-100 lb range. The snook fishing can be harder to target but incredibly rewarding as four different IGFA world records have come from these waters.

Where is the Best Offshore Sport Fishing in Costa Rica?

The best offshore sport fishing in Costa Rica is found along our Pacific Coast. The coastline is over 631 miles and features too many beaches and bays to count, so there are several classic beach towns from which to enjoy the spectacular offshore fishing. The two most popular and internationally acclaimed  offshore hot spots are the Los Sueños Resort & Marina and the Marina Pez Vela in Quepos. These are lcoated along the Central Pacific Coast and are home to some of the best captains and biggest tournaments in the country. The southern most region of Costa Rica, the Osa Peninsula, features Drake Bay on the Pacific side and Puerto Jimenez and Golfito on the Gulf side.  Last but not least is the region of Guanacaste in nothern Costa Rica which is home to all time classic like Tamarindo, Flamingo, and the Gulf of Papagayo. While the offshore pelagics are highly migratory, these are the four main areas we concentrate on when offshore fishing.

1) Los Sueños Resort & Marina in Bahia Herradura
2) Marina Pez Vela in Quepos
3) Osa Peninsula (Drake Bay, Goflito, Puerto Jimenez)
4) Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Gulf of Papagayo)

When is the Best Sport Fishing in Costa Rica?

Knowing when to visit and which part of the country to fish are as important as who you fish with and what boat you are on. While the offshore fishing in Costa Rica is productive 12 months a year, the Northern Pacific has very different weather patterns than the Central and Southern Pacific. Some months are traditionally better for marlin while others offer bigger sailfish numbers. If you are after tarpon & snook, the Caribbean Coast follows completely different weather seasons than the Pacific Coast. You can read more about these details and nuances on our Costa Rica Fishing Calendar blog. When you contact us to plan your sport fishing vacation we’ll make sure you are in the right spot at the right time for the best weather and fishing.

Offshore Sport Fishing Species List

Costa Rica Sport Fishing Lodges & Accommodations

Anglers have been visiting Costa Rica for decades so there is no shortage of quality accommodations for your next fishing vacation. You can stay at all inclusive fishing lodges, affordable 3-star hotels if you want to spend more on fishing, all inclusive resorts, and even fully furnished private condos & villas for larger groups or families. As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star properties that meet our expectations for quality, reliability, and service. Being local experts, we have personally visited every single property we represent so we’ll use our personal experience to hand pick the perfect fit for your group.

Costa Rica Day Tours & Non-Fishing Activities

Our Costa Rica sport fishing packages don’t need to be all fishing, all the time. Costa Rica offers so much more than just fishing as it’s famous for volcanoes, rain forest, beaches, adventure tours and incredible wildlife. Whether it’s an off day from fishing or for the non-anglers in your group, there are several great eco and adventure tours available. We can also customize your Costa Rica fishing vacation so you spend a few nights in different locations throughout the country so you can see how diverse it is. The list includes:

• Canopy zip-line tour
• White Water Rafting
• Waterfall rappelling
• ATVs
• Horseback Riding (beach or rainforest)
• Surfing
• Golf
• Guided tours of national parks
• Waterfalls
• Sunset catamaran cruise
• Snorkeling
• SCUBA Diving
• Kayaking
• Jet Skis
• Parasailing
• Coffee plantation tour

All Costa Rica Sport Fishing Packages booked with Central America Fishing include the following:

• Free Vacation Planning (no fees + direct rates)
• VIP Airport Meet & Greet upon arrival into SJO
• Private, air-conditioned transfers with English speaking driver.
• Luxury, private accommodations hand-picked and customized for your group. Choose between private condos & villas, luxury beach resorts, exclusive boutique hotels, and fishing lodges.
• Private fishing charters
• All eco / adventure tours you’d like to include
• All Costa Rican taxes
• Free quotes on travel insurance
• Pre-arrival assistance with dinner reservations, tee times, pre-stocking your condo or villa, hiring a private chef, and special requests.
• 24/7 support once you are here in country