Game Fish Commonly Caught In Flamingo, Costa Rica
The waters of Flamingo and the Gold Coast in Guanacaste are teaming with every kind of sea creature. From whales to crabs to eels to manta rays, these waters are abundant with marine life.
This, of course, means great sport fishing and the following is a list of the most commonly caught fish in these waters. But before we dive into all the possible fish types you could find while sport fishing with the Flamingo team, we’d like to make a note about protected fish. These special beasts are what makes this such a fun activity, and so we take care to follow the law and it’s spirit.
That means catching them in a way that we’re sure to be able to release them. Specifically, we only use circle hooks and no double hooks. We take our responsibility to protect the population very seriously.
Blue Marlin
OFFSHORE - Due to their rarity, amazing beauty, and fighting spirit, catching one of these really is an accomplishment to brag about. We usually find them at an average of 200 pounds, though we have caught a 700 pounder once.
Black Marlin
OFFSHORE - Another great sport fishing challenge, these are rarely found in the Atlantic, so take advantage of your time here in the Pacific. While Blue Marlin are technically the bigger species, Black Marlin tend to be the biggest taken on rod and reel.
Striped Marlin
OFFSHORE - While smaller than it's Blue and Black cousins, this one is certainly the most entertaining to fish. Thanks to it's smaller size, these fish are incredibly acrobatic and when hooked seem to spend more time out of the water than in it.
Wahoo
OFFSHORE - This one takes the top spot as hardest to catch. These guys are super fast and smart to boot. Only live bait will do, but don't worry we've always got plenty. It takes a patient angler to hook one of these, and around here they usually weigh in between 30 and 80 pounds.
Yellowfin Tuna
OFFSHORE - Since these aren't protected fish, and are just about the tastiest thing you can catch around here, we're always happy when these get hooked. They're very strong as well, so you've got to work for your dinner! We caught these in a range of sizes from 30 pounds to 130 pounds.
Amber Jack
INSHORE - The Amber Jack is another popular inshore trolling fish, caught mostly with live bate or rapala. You don't have to venture far from shore to land one of these fighters.
Sailfish
OFFSHORE - Another great sport fishing classic. We typically find them in the 70 pound to 130 pound range. Their tales feature amazing colors, and generally the more aggressive the more colorful. The tone of the color is highly dependent on the energy of the fish and you can see it soften as the fish gets tired.
Roosterfish
INSHORE - This is the challenge all anglers should try and conquer while sport fishing with us. One of the feistiest fish out there, it also makes for an exotic photo op. Those tell-tale spines mean you're in for a fun fight. For us these usually range between 25 pounds to 70 pounds.
Crevalle Jack
INSHORE - Most people don't like the Crevalle Jack's taste, which is quite "fishy", but if it's a nice big one, it will put up a great fight so don't discount it. The sometimes get up to 50 pounds but commonly, we catch them in the 20 to 40 range.
Dorado (Mahi Mahi)
OFFSHORE - Another classic. Fights hard and is acrobatic as well. The colors are intense and beautiful, making this one of the most popular sport fishing trophies. We usually find them alone or in pairs, though if there is a current nearby they can be found in schools. Our average is 30 pounds to 90 pounds.
Red Snapper
INSHORE & OFFSHORE - This is a bottom dwelling fish that is a favorite among locals and visitors alike for good eating. Red Snapper are abundant in these waters and are generally caught with hook and line bated with mackerel, sardine or bonito.
Jack Jurel
INSHORE - This is also a very popular fish in these waters, particularly inshore. Caught mostly trolling with rap alas or live bait, these fish and grow rather large and put up a good fight.
Grouper
INSHORE & OFFSHORE - This is another bottom dweller and possibly even more coveted for it's tasty filets than the popular red snapper. It's caught much the same way with hook and line bated with mackerel, sardine or bonito. But the bonus is that they can get very big.