Costa Rica has a wealth of benefits to offer visitors and residents, including tremendous ocean diversity. According to Nature.org, the ocean diversity in Costa Rica is estimated at 3.5 percent of all marine species. Consequently, Costa Rica consistently ranks among the top 10 destinations for sportfishing and holds a total of 570 IGFA world records. Even more astounding is the fact that 208 of those records are currently standing.
The vast amount of ocean access in Costa Rica, with the Pacific Ocean flanking the country along the west and the Caribbean Sea bordering Costa Rica along the east coast, makes the country an excellent choice for big game fishing. With a total of 1,228 km of coastline, Costa Rica offers ample opportunities for fishing.
Along both costs, Costa Rica is home to vast numbers of rivers and mangroves that feed into the oceans. Such rivers and mangroves serve as crucial environments for numerous species of feeder fish. Along the Pacific Coast, large numbers of plankton are drawn to the deep waters of the continental shelf. Vast amounts of smaller feeder fish and predator fish follow.
Visitors who are planning fishing trips to Costa Rica but who may wonder which regions are the best will find that the Central Pacific coast is ideal for sportfishing. Due to the fact that this area is home to large number of big game predator fish, the coastline that stretches between Quepos and Los Suenos tends to have the largest numbers of chartering companies catering to sportfishing.
In particular, the Pacific Coast is known for a variety of different types of fish, including roosterfish, sailfish, marlin, dorado, tuna, snapper, wahoo, and more. The Atlantic Coast also offers a wide variety, but tends to be more well known for big Snook and Tarpon.
Numerous inshore fishing opportunities are also available, including for such species as barracuda, striped bass, jack crevalle, rockfish, snapper, halibut, snook, tarpon, and roosterfish. Anglers who want to give deep sea fishing a hand will find that the waters off Costa Rica are home to such species as sailfish, tuna, wahoo, and marlin.
Whether an expert or a novice, most fishing enthusiasts consider the Blue Marlin among the most sought after predator fish. Almost all of the waters around Costa Rica are home to these hard fighting fish. A variety of different techniques may be used for catching Marlin, but fly fishing tends to be the preferred and most exciting method for reeling in these trophy big game fish.
Visitors who are planning to try fishing in Costa Rica will find numerous options available for sportfishing charters, which typically begin at about $400 for a half day of fishing. Luxury fishing charters are also available. When planning a Costa Rica sportfishing charter trip, it is a good idea to plan in advance and ensure that the charter company selected is headed by an experienced captain with a boat that is fully equipped and in good condition. With the right sportfishing charter, both novices and experts can expect a memorable time sportfishing in Costa Rica.
