Meet the fish · Choose your adventure
From the roosterfish’s comb-like dorsal fin to the sailfish’s towering sail, meet the fish that make Costa Rica one of the world’s great fishing destinations, and find out which trip each one needs.
Start with the species
Your target fish decides the destination, the boat and the trip length. An offshore billfish day, an inshore roosterfish trip and a Caribbean tarpon adventure each need a different plan.
Use this guide as a starting point, then send us your dates and priorities. To compare local boats, see our Los Sueños fishing charters. For a longer stay, explore our Los Sueños fishing packages.
The species collection
Filter by fishing style, then ask us about the fish you’re after. Every photo is from a real trip, and every trip depends on the conditions on the day.
Showing all 9 species
Offshore · PacificCosta Rica’s signature billfish, easy to spot by its tall dorsal sail and long bill, and famous for its jumps. From Jacó and Los Sueños, sailfish are an offshore target.
Plan it: Book an offshore trip and allow time for the run to the fishing grounds.
Offshore · PacificBlue, black and striped marlin roam Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. A marlin day means heavier tackle, a longer run offshore and realistic expectations about the conditions.
Plan it: Tell us marlin is your priority so we match the right boat and a full-day trip.
Offshore · PacificDorado and mahi mahi are the same fish. Bright colors, acrobatic fights and great eating. Captains often find them around floating debris and weed lines.
Plan it: Ask if your offshore trip can include a search for mahi mahi.
Offshore · PacificPowerful open-water fish with bright yellow fins. Finding a feeding school can make for a hard-pulling day, but where they are and how big they run changes daily.
Plan it: Tell us whether tuna is your main goal or one of several offshore targets.
Offshore & reefs · PacificLong, fast and armed with sharp teeth. Wahoo show up while trolling offshore or near underwater structure, and make a great bonus on a mixed fishing day.
Plan it: Mention wahoo to the crew so the trolling plan includes them.
Inshore & reefs · PacificSeveral snapper species live on Costa Rica’s Pacific reefs and rocky structure, from cubera to red and yellow snapper. Strong fighters and excellent eating.
Plan it: Ask for an inshore or bottom-fishing trip on a boat set up for it.
Inshore · PacificThe long comb of dorsal spines gives the roosterfish its name. A signature Pacific inshore fish, caught close to the coast and usually released.
Plan it: Start with an inshore trip if roosterfish are at the top of your list. Great for half days and families.
Rivers & estuariesCosta Rica has several snook species on both coasts. River mouths, estuaries and nearby coastal water are where a snook trip happens.
Plan it: Ask which destination and season suit snook, since not every charter targets them.
CaribbeanBig silver scales and explosive jumps make tarpon unforgettable. Costa Rica’s tarpon fishing is on the Caribbean side, a separate trip from a Jacó or Los Sueños charter.
Plan it: Plan a Caribbean itinerary if tarpon are your main goal.
Turn your wish list into a plan
Blue water, bigger boats and longer runs. A full day gives you the most time where the fish are.
Compare charter boatsClose to the coast and its rocks and reefs. Shorter runs, calmer water and a great choice for half days.
Ask about inshore fishingA different coast and a different trip. We’ll help with the destination, travel and the right type of fishing.
Discuss a tarpon tripBeyond saltwater
Freshwater fishing adds another side to a Costa Rica visit, with guapote (rainbow bass) and machaca in rivers and lakes like Arenal. Inland fishing is a separate trip from a Pacific charter.
Tell us where you’ll be traveling and what kind of outing interests you, and we’ll see how it fits your plans.
| Your target | Trip to book |
|---|---|
| Sailfish, marlin, tuna or dorado | Pacific offshore charter |
| Roosterfish or snapper | Pacific inshore or reef fishing |
| Snook | River mouth or estuary trip, depending on destination |
| Tarpon | Caribbean fishing trip |
| Guapote or machaca | Freshwater river or lake trip |
Before you choose
Tell us what you hope to catch, your experience and how much time you have, and we’ll recommend the right trip.
No. They live in different waters, and some are on a different coast. A Pacific charter from Jacó or Los Sueños is a different trip from a Caribbean tarpon trip or freshwater fishing.
Yes. Both names refer to the same species. You may also hear “dolphinfish”, which is a fish, not a dolphin.
Start with your target fish. Roosterfish and snapper mean an inshore trip; sailfish, marlin and tuna mean an offshore trip.
Ask us for local advice close to your trip. Water conditions, bait, weather and fish movement change from week to week.
No. You can choose a target species, but the conditions on the day decide the fishing. Talk to your captain about backup targets.
See our Los Sueños fishing charters for single days, or our fishing packages for a multi-day vacation.
What’s on your fishing wish list?
Send your dates, number of guests, where you’re staying and the fish you’d like to catch. Add any experience level or comfort needs for your group.