Costa Rica Fishing

Other Fish, Visiting Species: Descriptions

The ocean is a big place, and fish don’t need a visa to travel to new areas. Often when there are unseasonably warm waters, heavy rains, or other abnormalities, neighboring fish species from Mexico, the northern Caribbean, or even deeper off-shore will come to the beautiful coasts of Costa Rica. There is no guarantee that you will see these species, but the adventuring angler could be fortunate enough to hook some of these interesting visitors.

African Pompano – Another Florida native, this silvery fish puts up a good struggle for a smaller weight fish. This fish can be found in any warm water area in the world but prefers the Atlantic hot spots. This fish can be seen on the Atlantic or Pacific Costa Rican coast on a more regular basis than most of the other visiting fish.

Grouper (Leopard) – There are many varieties of grouper found in most Southern areas in both the Atlantic and Pacific. The Leopard Grouper, a fish with an interesting leopard pattern, is a wonderful food fish as most groupers are, and are seen commonly in most seafood restaurants. This variety of grouper will migrate to the Costa Rican coast when the rains are exceptionally heavy, or the water temperatures are fluctuating.

Hawkfish – There are many varieties of Hawkfish, most notably the brightly colored aquarium favorites that adjust very well to life in captivity. Their aggressive nature means that they need more space, and privacy than most fish, and travel only in small schools or congregate during breeding seasons. They are normally found in the South and Indo-Pacific but will move to the Costa Rica Pacific coast when food supplies surge.

Jack Crevalle – A fish native to the Atlantic Ocean, can be commonly found off the Florida Coast but also spends some time offshore, especially for breeding. This fish varies greatly in size depending on the environment, anywhere from 3 – 50 pounds is common. Known for their long, drawn-out battles when they are hooked, even the most experienced angler could fight the larger of the species for over an hour to finally make the catch. The smaller of the species are relatively easy to hook and put up a fun fight for the beginner angler. They appear on the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica when the waters around Florida are cooler or the temperature is fluctuating.

Ladyfish – This slender dainty fish can be found commonly on the Atlantic Florida coast and often moves from saltwater to freshwater estuaries and inlets. Its smaller size and tendency to travel in large schools make this a perfect starter fish for beginners. It will travel down the Atlantic coast of Costa Rica, and into the freshwater water sources when food supplies up north are dwindling.

Mexican Lookdown – A silvery, flatfish commonly seen on the Eastern Pacific, Southern California Coast through Mexico, is known locally as the Antena. While it is a food fish, it is not as commonly seen in restaurants as some of the other local tropical fish. This fish will migrate to the Costa Rican coast in search of food and warmer waters.

Needlefish – A delicate often small fish with an elongated upper and lower jaw commonly travels in large schools and is native to South America’s freshwater sources, Hawaii, the Atlantic coasts, and Australia. The 60+ species of needlefish vary greatly in size, some as small as one inch, some as large as 3 feet long. They can sometimes be found in Costa Rica’s coastlines and freshwater areas.

Sting Ray – These flat, graceful fish with long “tails” have long been the study of oceanographers all over the world. Common in reef areas including Florida’s coastline, Hawaii, and Australia, as well as some parts of the eastern Pacific, these fish can be awe-striking or even startling to the scuba diver or observer. They are not often hooked, but can be seen bottom-feeding, or swimming gracefully through the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica when the waters are exceptionally warm.

Trevally (Blue Fin, Big Eye) – A native to many areas of the Pacific, including the coasts of Australia, Mexico, and Argentina, the trevally is a fighter. Hooking this fish can lead to a struggle sometimes ending in the smart breed cutting your lines on the sharp reefs, a preferred habitat for the species. These fish, especially the Blue Fin, can be seen off the Costa Rica Pacific Coast when the water is warm and the food is plentiful.

Yellowfin Croaker – This California and Mexico Native is a beautiful elongated yellow-toned fish that is usually small in weight and easy to hook. These fish are good starters for new surf anglers and can be seen on the Pacific Costa Rican coast when the waters in the north are cooler.