There are two types of fishing. A relaxing day out on the water, beer in one hand, rod in the other, looking out over the blue sea, sighing and saying, “now this is the life.” The other kind is a bit more extreme. Two hands gripping the rod, strapped into your chair, feet bracing against the side of the boat, pulling with all your mite. This is marlin fishing.
For those looking to tame the mighty monsters of the deep blue sea, you need the right guides to cater to your preference. After all, it’s a big ocean out there, and you don’t want to be looking for that feisty catch all day.
The Pacific coast of Costa Rica is over 1,000 kilometers in length and includes several bays, three gulfs, and a large continental shelf which, according to National Geographic, measures 589,683 square kilometers. The shelf runs parallel to the Central American coastline and is closest to shore in the North Pacific region, lending more time to fishing and less time commuting. With 1,000-foot deep waters within short reaches of the bays and beaches along the North Pacific, you will spend more of your time fishing than in any other destination in Costa Rica.
The deep waters lining Costa Rica’s Pacific coast cause upwelling, which brings up plankton and feeder fish, drawing in those large beasts of the deep. Upwelling takes place year-round, drawing in the type of fish that Marlin love to eat.
Proximity to the fish is everything when it comes to big game fishing. If the mere chance at catching big fish were enough to satisfy anglers we’d all be fishing out of comfortable marinas in convenient locations. A two-plus hour ride to dropping lines simply isn’t acceptable for the captains of North Pacific Costa Rica, who have located themselves here to do what they do best – reel ‘em in.
No matter what type of fishing you prefer, all fisherman share one dream – reeling in ‘the big one’. Imagine reeling in a 600 pounder! Intrigued? It’s time to Go Fish!
You can find all three species of marlin in Costa Rica – Blue, Black and Striped Marlins. The blue marlin is most abundant, with peak marlin fishing season from November through April. You can find black marlin as large as 15+ feet and 1,500 pounds. Black Marlin tend to show up the most during April and May, but Marlin can be reeled in year round in Costa Rica. Blue marlin are slightly smaller and slower than the black marlin, which have been found to swim up to 80 mph.
Sound exciting? It is! Let owners of Go Fish Costa Rica Steve and Liisa help you figure out all the details. You can spend a half or full day on the beautiful Pacific ocean in search of Marlin, Sails, Tuna, Mahi, Wahoo, Grouper, Snapper and more. Departing from Tamarindo or Flamingo beach, you are close to the action and the migratory patterns of the most sought after fish in the world. What are you waiting for?
Blog by: Jennifer LaCharite – Costa Consultants, International
