Costa Rica Fishing Caribbean Coast

Costa Rica Fishing Caribbean Coast Fishing along Costa Rica's Caribbean coast can vary from one day to another depending on the weather. When it rains, as it often does, fishing is difficult out in the ocean. If the rivers fall somewhat or the surf is low enough to let you outside the river mouths, you'll probably catch tarpon, some in the 150-pound range.

Tarpon fishing out of the lodges in Tortuguero and Barra Colorado further north on Costa Rica's Caribbean coast is best from about May through October, while snook traditionally peak from October through December. There are a lot of flat days in October and November when tarpon are abundant, and some of the best fishing has even been in June and July. But both species can be caught year round, providing the weather cooperates.


Other species caught are guapote, goliath grouper, small tuna and for the lucky angler, the rare Atlantic sail. There are no roads into the area, and its possible to get there only by local flights or all inclusive hotel packages with boat transportation included. We pick up people from any hotel in Tortuguero for fishing trips!

The canals and rivers of the northern Caribbean coast boast some of the best snook and tarpon fishing in the world, and they are lined with lush rain forest, which adds to the natural experience. The tarpon average about 100 pounds in the Caribbean canals, and though the snook are much smaller, they are good little fighters that taste great.

About half a dozen fishing lodges are located in Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero and Parismina, all on the canals, and the houseboat Rain Goddess offers fresh water costa rica fishing adventures that let anglers fish the canals, several rivers and hidden lakes which will give you a fulfill Costa Rica fishing experience.

 SEASONS Tarpon: They're always around, with traditional high season from December through May, but that was a number of years ago when all of the lodges were fishing with 16-foot boats and couln't get outside the river mouths as they do today with lager boats designed for that purpose.  

Snook: Big snook generally peak from March through Mayand again September through the end of November.  

Fat Snook: (Calba) Peak from mid-Novemberthrough late January, but often make an appearance much earlier. Billfish: When you can get outside to the blue water you will find Atlantic blue marlin most any time of the year. Most are caught from February through September.


 Wahoo: Plentiful on the outside from early February through mid June.


 Dorado: Caught jus outside the river mouths throughout the year. Best fishingis when the runoff carries out the debris that forms inshore trash lines.  

Tripletail: January through June. Spanish and Cero Mackerel, Jack Crevalle, Barracuda: Abundant close to shore any time te ocean is flat.