Costa Rica Inshore Fishing Info

Costa Rica became a popular international fishing destination decades ago thanks to the incredible billfishing on the Pacific Coast and the world class tarpon fishing on the Caribbean Coast. For many anglers, inshore fishing was something you could do on a half day or with wives and kids that didn’t want to spend a full day trolling offshore, but it wasn’t a priority. That has since changed and today we get just as many anglers asking specifically for light tackle inshore trips as we do big game offshore fishing. Marlin and sailfish are still considered bucket-list catches by most saltwater anglers, but roosterfish and cubera snapper aren’t far behind. Over on the Caribbean Coast, Costa Rica offers world record sized tarpon and snook fishing that is hard to match anywhere in teh world. Inshore fishing in Costa Rica isn’t just about targeting the rare trophy fish either, it offers incredible variety (over 20 species) and many fish you can bring back home for a tasty dinner like snook, snapper, and corvina.

Inshore fishing in Costa Rica can be done on nearly any kind of boat, from pangas to our big 50′ tournament yachts.  Most inshore days on the Pacific will have you slow trolling live bait along the rocky coastline or over reefs and high points. While the big offshore boats can fish inshore, for a better experience we set our anglers up with dedicated inshore guides that tend to have smaller 26′-28′ pangas and center consoles. These smaller boats can maneuver in much closer to the islands where the fish are hiding as well as get you into the river mouths where we find our big snook and corvina most days. The smaller center console design also allows for multiple anglers to be casting and fighting fish at the same time as opposed to having everyone in the cockpit on a bigger offshore-type sport fisher. Every captain has a different personality and every operation has different pros and cons, so trust our local knowledge to hand pick the perfect fishing charter for your group. All Costa Rica inshore fishing charters are private so the boat is 100% yours, we do not set up shared charters with strangers. All Costa Rica fishing charters include bait, tackle, gas, lunch, snacks, and drinks (beer/water/soda). A quality tip for your crew is generally 15%-20% of the cost of the charter.

 

 

 

Costa Rica Inshore Fishing Techniques

There are so many different inshore species to catch in Costa Rica and so many different ways to fish for them, Costa Rica is a dream destination for light tackle anglers. Different species need to be targeted in different locations with different baits and techniques, so if trolling offshore all day doesn’t excite you then inshore fishing should be exactly what you are looking for. Whether it’s trolling live bait, fishing with poppers and stick baits, or jigging we can do any and all of that throughout the course of your day.

Live Bait 

Nearly all Costa Rica inshore captains agree, the best way to get into the action is with live bait. We hand pick all our local fishing charters so they will be equipped with livewells and/or tuna tubes to keep bait fresh for you. In our more popular beach towns the inshore guides can buy live bait from the night guards, but some days you do need to fish for it on your own. The preferred live bait on the Pacific are blue runners, but we’ll also use lookdowns, sardines, and even bonito. On the Caribbean we usually fish sardines for tarpon and snook because they can be floated in the currensts even after they expire. Live bait will be fished with a circle hook, so you’ll need to let the fish run for 5-6 seconds before you close the bail to set the hook.

Popper Fishing

Everyone dreams of seeing a rooster’s dorsal comb or the giant orange ball of furious cuber snapper come up behind their popper. Popper fishing in Costa Rica is most effective over reefs and high points, but they should certainly be cast towards islands when possible. It varies by day, but generally poppers in the 4″ to 8″ range do the trick and blues, purples, blacks, greens and the red/white combo always get the job done.

Stick Baits & Crank Baits

Another favorite among light tackle enthusiasts are stick baits and crank baits. Some days these are more effective than poppers, especially if conditions are a little choppy, as they get a bit deeper in the water column.  Typically 1′-3′ divers work best, but having a few deep divers is always good in case you fish deeper water or can’t get that stubborn snapper to leave his cave.

Jigging

Jigging is not as popular in Costa Rica as it is in Panama, but it can be extremely productive. We can fish jigging irons down deep for snapper & grouper, working a butterfly jig through the water column for any and everything that might be passing by, or even using soft baits in hopes of landing a snook or sea bass near a river mouth. Jigging is much more popular on our Caribbean Coast as it’s a tried and true technique for landing big tarpon, often a bucktail jig with a soft plastic to give it some movement. Tossing bucktail jigs into the surf is the favorite way to catch monster snook on our Caribbean Coast.

Trolling

Last but not least, if it’s been a slow day without bites, if the sea conditions aren’t ideal, or if you are simply tired from casting or jigging all day you can always set a spread and go trolling. You can slow troll live bait around islands and reefs or you can speed troll swimbaits to cover more ground and go at a faster pace.

 

Where is the Best Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica?

Costa Rica is only the size of West Virginia, but with two coastlines on two different ocean it offers tons of great habitat for inshore fishing. The Pacific Coastline is roughly 630 miles long, and the fishing seasons, structure and even species vary from north to south. Central and Southern Costa Rica feature major river mouths, as well as smaller islands, so we tend to see more snook and corvina in these locations. The Northern Pacific features larger islands like the Catalina Islands and the Gulf of Papagayo so there is more rocky structure there. Over on the Caribbean Coast the tarpon and snook fishing is world class thanks to several major river mouths, little commercial or local fishing pressure, and plenty of bait. No matter when you want to visit or what species you are targeting we’ll be sure to put you in the right spot at the right time. There are countless beaches and bays where we fish, but the five major inshore fishing destinations are:

1) Quepos/Manuel Antonio
2) Osa Peninsula (Drake Bay & Puerto Jimenez)
3) NE Caribbean Coast (Rio Colorado, Rio Parismina, Tortuguero)
4) Guanacaste (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Gulf of Papagayo)
5) Los Sueños Resort

 

 

 

When is the Best Costa Rica Inshore Fishing?

With two coastlines on two different oceans and five different mountain ranges, the weather and fishing seasons vary as much as they do from Northern Costa Rica to Southern Costa Rica as much as they do from the Pacific to the Caribbean. Fortunately the inshore fishing is so good on both coasts that we can honestly say that no matter when you visit Costa Rica you can enjoy the peak season for at least one species somewhere in the country. The Central and Southern Pacific tend to have the best conditions from December through April, then the Northern Pacific enjoys it’s best fishing from May to November. The Caribbean Coast is entirely different in that it’s dry season (Sept & Oct) are the wettest months on the Pacific. In the end, some months can be better than others based on sea conditions, the presence of baitfish, and seasonal patterns so you can review our Costa Rica fishing calendar below. Once you contact us and we have a better idea of what you want to fish for and when you are visiting, we can customize a package to put you in the right spot, at the right time.

 

Costa Rica Inshore Fishing Species List

 

 

Costa Rica Accommodations

Sport fishing and tourism in general have been popular in Costa Rica for decades so there are plenty of options to fit almost any travel style and budget. Your choices include exclusive boutique hotels, luxury beach resorts, private villas and condos, and all inclusive fishing lodges. As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star operations 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 Inshore Fishing packages don’t need to be all fishing, all the time. Costa Rica has been immensely popular for decades due to its volcanoes, rain forests, pristine beaches and incredible wildlife so we can easily incorporate any or all of that into your vacation package. 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 Inshore 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