No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveBillfish bite hot in Guanacaste; calm seas, plenty of tarpon on Caribbean

Billfish bite hot in Guanacaste; calm seas, plenty of tarpon on Caribbean

Most of the offshore action on the Pacific side has been in the northern Guanacaste region. A good number of sails and dorado are biting. Action is still good off Playas del Coco, and Richard Chellemi reports the sails are being cooperative. Marlin also are popping up here and there, so it seems northern Costa Rica is the hot spot for billfish as of late.

On the central Pacific coast, at both Herradura and Quepos the billfish bite slowed this last week. In Quepos, boats bottom-fishing have been taking some nice snapper and grouper. Along the coast, the roosterfish, jack and sierra mackerel continue to take both live bait and trolled diving lures.

Down south off the Osa Peninsula, the billfish action was slow this week and only a few boats were out on the water. A few smaller dorado and wahoo have been taken, but it seems the great tuna bite that lasted almost two weeks is over for now. The weather is improving and the dirty water inshore is clearing up, so the inshore action should pick up any day.

Tarpon keep pounding both bait and jigs on the Caribbean side. Yesterday the water was as flat as a pancake and boats could drift right through the river mouth, where normally they are dancing with waves to get outside. Boats are getting up to 20 bites a day and landing four to six tarpon each. The snook action has been slow, but, with the calm waters, anglers should be able to comfortably fish the areas where they like to hang out.

Skippers, operators and anglers are invited to email fishing reports by Wednesday of each week to todd@crocodilebay.com. To post reports and photos on The Tico Times’ online fishing forum, go to wordpress-257819-2837440.cloudwaysapps.com/Weekend/Fishing/Fishing-Forum.

Trending Now

Costa Rica Voted for Change Now It Must Decide What Kind

The people have spoken. Laura Fernandez is our new president. The next four years in Costa Rica will be interesting. As the handpicked successor...

Laura Fernandez wins Costa Rica Presidency in the First Round

Laura Fernández won Costa Rica’s presidential election in the first round today, after early official results showed her clearing the 40% threshold required to...

Panama Cancels Canal Concession as China Vows to Protect Firms

Panama’s Supreme Court on Thursday annulled the concession under which the Hong Kong company CK Hutchison operated two ports on the Panama Canal, a...

Costa Rica election 2026 hinges on security, prisons, and Chaves legacy

Costa Ricans elect a president this Sunday, with ruling-party candidate Laura Fernández the clear favorite, buoyed by promises of a tough crackdown on crime...

Costa Rica Seeks Independent Check on Protected Forest

Costa Rica's Ombudsman’s Office has raised doubts about a report from the Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) on the boundaries of forested lands...

Your Digital ID Won’t Let You Vote in Costa Rica’s Elections

With national elections set for February 1, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) has stepped up reminders that only the physical cédula de identidad qualifies...
Avatar
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica