Sportfishing boat with tuna tower and outriggers heading out over blue water at golden hour

First light · heading offshore

The sailfish here are not a rumor.

Two coasts, eleven world-class species, twelve months of season. We chart the water, vet the charters, and tell you straight what's biting.

Find your charter When to go

2
Coasts: 8
Fishing regions: 11
Signature species: 12
Months of season

Billfish are release-only in Costa Rica — every sailfish and marlin swims away. We wouldn't have it any other way.

Where to fish

Eight regions, one blue horizon.

From Guanacaste’s winter sailfish runs to tarpon in the Caribbean rivers — every launch has its own character and its own calendar.

Islets off the rainforest coastline at Manuel Antonio, near Quepos

9.428° N · 84.164° W

Quepos & Manuel Antonio

The center of the Central Pacific sailfish grounds, with full-service Marina Pez Vela minutes from blue water.

Explore

9.651° N · 84.660° W

Jacó & Los Sueños

Tournament royalty — home port of the Triple Crown, about ninety minutes from San José.

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10.299° N · 85.841° W

Tamarindo

Guanacaste's surf town with a serious offshore side — short runs to roosterfish water and seasonal sails.

Explore

Anchored boats in the white-sand bay at Playa Flamingo

10.434° N · 85.785° W

Flamingo & Potrero

A modern marina on a white-sand bay, with the Catalina Islands and offshore grounds close at hand.

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Rocky islets in calm Guanacaste gulf water near the Gulf of Papagayo

10.550° N · 85.700° W

Papagayo & Playas del Coco

Calm gulf mornings behind volcanic headlands, and a fleet that runs from pangas to sportfishers.

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Rainforest river in Costa Rica's southern zone, misty mountains behind

8.617° N · 83.163° W

Golfito & the Golfo Dulce

A rainforest gulf where roosterfish patrol the shorelines and blue water starts at the mouth.

Explore

Wild palm-lined beach on the Osa Peninsula under a moody sky

8.690° N · 83.670° W

Drake Bay & the Osa

Wild-coast fishing off Corcovado — remote, lightly pressured, and worth the journey.

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10.541° N · 83.502° W

Caribbean Coast

Tarpon and snook at the river mouths — jungle fishing out of Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado.

Explore

What’s biting now

July, in one glance.

Seed calendar, refined weekly by the Bite Report. Taller, darker bars mean a hotter month.

Blue Marlin

Pacific · release only

peak

Yellowfin Tuna

Pacific

peak

Dorado (Mahi-Mahi)

Pacific

peak

Roosterfish

Pacific · release only

peak

Sailfish

Pacific · release only

good

Black Marlin

Pacific · release only

good

Wahoo

Pacific

good

Cubera Snapper

Pacific

good

Snook

Caribbean

good

See the full calendar

Charters

Hand-picked boats, honest listings.

Curated from the live Viator fleet — real ratings, real trip lengths, one click to availability.

Tamarindo

Fishing Charter In Tamarindo With Food & Beverages

8 hrs4.7(32)

From$1,000

Check availability

Flamingo

8-Hour Offshore Fishing Adventure - Chase the Big Game!

8 hrs5.0(18)

From$1,950

Check availability

Papagayo

Sport fishing at El Coco in Guanacaste inshore half-day tour in the Pacific side

5 hrs4.7(6)

From$261

Check availability

Golfo Dulce

Sport Fishing from Puerto Jimenez, Private Snack Tour

8 hrs5.0(1)

From$660

Check availability

Browse all charters

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The Bite Report

Reports with receipts.

Three mornings a week we round up what the fleet is seeing, what the ocean is doing, and what’s on the tournament calendar. Every claim cited. No fish invented.

The Bite Report, in your inbox.

Reports, conditions, and tournament news — Monday, Wednesday, Friday. Written by people who cite their sources.