Have you ever been deep sea fishing? It is great fun and many people consider it the adventure of a lifetime. Would you like to hook a sailfish on a fly, catch and release a marlin, fight a giant tuna, reel in dolphin fish, take a swim with a porpoise, and catch a few snappers to take back for your dinner? The Coasts of Costa Rica are a World-Class sport fishing paradise.

Costa Rica has some of the best Sport Fishing in the world. The Pacific side has incredible fishing for Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Tuna, Wahoo, Roosterfish, Snapper, and more. The Caribbean side and Northern regions of Costa Rica are famous for big Tarpon and big Snook.

More than 40 world records have been registered in Costa Rica waters. Sailfish, black marlin, blue marlin, striped marlin (sails and marlin are catch and release), yellow fin tuna and Wahoo are found in abundance.For anglers that want to fish a bit closer to home you can go charter fishing inshore for species like roosterfish and snapper. You can find large concentrations of grouper and snapper when fishing inshore.

Billfish are the favored target of most visiting anglers. There are many charter boats up and down Costa Rica's Pacific coast. They can accommodate an individual, a couple, a family or a group of any size. Changes are occurring in the practice of deep sea fishing in Costa Rica.  Fishing boat charter owners and captains want to preserve certain popular fish species. When a billfish or large shark is caught, they pull it in to measure and to take great photographs. Then they release the fish into the water.

The fishermen do not have to despair because they cannot keep their trophy.  With new technology taxidermist's can make you a superior mount that exactly replicates your catch. You still have a great keepsake and full bragging rights after deep sea fishing in Costa Rica.

Check out the listings for charter and guide fishing in saltwater and freshwater regions all across Costa Rica. Choose knowledgeable charter boat captains and guides to put you on those trophy fish you've been missing. Most of the larger outfits are proven professional, trustworthy, and experienced fishing boat charters that use the newest innovative and most widely accepted fishing techniques available today.


Fresh water Fishing
Costa Rica 's northern province's feature a couple of inland lakes which make up for some very interesting Costa Rica freshwater fishing: Arenal Volcano And Caño Negro provides angles with a shot at fishing for rainbow-bass (Quapote).

The biggest of the lakes is Arenal, Fortuna which has an area of 80 square kilometers and a length of 42 km.  This man made lake fed by a multitude of rivers was form when a dam was constructed on the southeast side for producing hydroelectric power.  The lake is loaded with rainbow-bass and machaca, with the occasional 6 to 10 lb tilapia. This is a premier Costa Rica  freshwater sport fishing destination, so there are a lot of options on boats and accommodations for every budget.

The second largest body of water for practicing Costa Rica freshwater fishing is in the area is called Caño Negro (Cano negro tours available) with 800 hectares of wetlands on the Caño Negro Wildlife Refuge, that occupies an total area of 9,969 hectares.  You will also find accommodations for every budget when freshwater fishing in the area, as well as well stocked sport fishing boats that give service for Cano Negro fishing and Cano Negro Tours.

There are also some "smaller" lagoons worth checking out if Costa Rica freshwater fishing is on your mind.  Río Cuarto and Lake Hule are known for their big and mean rainbow bass.  Actually Lake Hule produced the 1991 IGFA rainbow bass fishing record with 12 lb. 9 oz.  Costa Rica freshwater sport fishing is growing in popularity and has become a fresh water fishing tourist destination.

Costa Rica has a very complex river system contained in a small terrain, which is very good if you like sport fishing.  From trout to tarpon, rainbow bass, alligator gar, snook, machaca, river drums and more can be catched when fishing these rivers.

In the northern part of the country the towns of Upala and Guatuso stand out as great fishing destinations when searching for the acrobatic machaca. Wide and deep rivers with medium current and mixed rock and wood cover present ideal settings for machaca, guapote, alligator gar and the occasional tarpon.

The clear, crystal and cold water is ideal when sport fishing for trout, which has been gradually stock by a government agency in the surrounding areas.  Ideal opportunity when sport fishing with kids or beginners. A must if you want to learn to fly-fish.

In the Southern regions of Costa Rica there are also many wide, deep, medium to clear flowing waters with rock and wood cover. Some have big still water  pools, which present ideal conditions for fresh water sport fishing. In short you can find great fresh water fishing in Costa Rica through out the entire year. The best thing is that most people do not know.