Sportfishing in Guanacaste

Want to reel in an aquatic beast? Off the shores of Guanacaste in Costa Rica, you won't have to exaggerate about the size of your catch. Situated along the Pacific coast of northern Costa Rica, Guanacaste is renowned for its biodiversity, especially that diversity in its local waters. These parts of the Pacific ranked as some the best place to fish in Costa Rica

Costa Rican sport fishing companies offer fishing options with all price tags. Most follow the catch and release system, and feature half or full day tours.

Papagayo Gulf

The northern coastline of Guanacaste overlooks Papagayo Gulf, a luxury destination most famous for its beaches. The sun also shines out at sea, which is blessed with a diversity of marine life. Whether it's your first or hundredth time dropping a line in the water, fishing in the gulf caters to all experience levels. The most sought-after fish are the mahi-mahi and rooster fish, often found in open waters far offshore. The good news is that the rooster fish goes hunting every hour on high tides, making it a perfect catch.

Tamarindo

Originally a small fishing town, Tamarindo has boomed into one of the most popular tourist destinations in Guanacaste. Playas del Coco is the closest port where you can access the waters off of Tamarindo with boat ride times usually lasting around 30 to 40 minutes. The fishing spots are excellent year-round to search for game fish such as sailfish, all three types of marlin (blue, black and striped), wahoo, dorado, rooster fish and snapper.

April through September is generally the best time to go for marlin, sails, tuna and to spot dolphin. With calm seas, Taramindo is great for youngsters interested in their first sport fishing experience. October through December transitions into the dry season, churning up a variety of underwater species including billfish. Tamarindo has a local airport, which facilitates seamless transportation to the coast.

Playa Flamingo

Enjoy a day of blue water angling in Flamingo. This region is home to the country's largest marina, making it a favorite among deep-sea fiserhmen. During the day visitors head out on a family fishing trip, where the whole family can relax under the hot Costa Rican sun, admire the gorgeous beaches, dolphins and reel in some of the bountiful sea life.

With a captain at the helm, you'll be sure to land over some breeding hotspots. Offshore fishing, which naturally takes longer to ride out, boasts mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna and marlin while inshore waters harbor red snapper, jack crevalle, wahoo, roosterfish and mackeral.

Map of Guanacaste

Click to enlarge map - Guanacaste Region Map

Other Fishing Hotspots

Playa Grande, Playa Hermosa and Playa Potrero are also first-rate angling destinations along Guanacaste's northwestern coast. Another productive place to catch a bite is Playa Ocotal, a small sandy beach with a number of angling tours operating in the area. The nearby Playa Brasilito is also a worth dropping a line.

Getting To Guanacaste

Conveniently, Daniel Oduber Quirós International Airport just outside of Liberia provides easy access to the Guanacaste region. Meanwhile, paved roads simplify the rest of the trip to the Pacific coast.