Fishing opportunities in Tamarindo, Costa Rica

cohochinook

cohochinook

Well-Known Member
The wife has booked a trip for us to Tamarindo in Costa Rica for the second week of January. It's more a trip for us to get away, but she's telling me I should go fishing. I'm not sure if she's testing me?😂

Anyways, I'm planning to pack a fly rod. Has anyone had any fishing experience down there or any recommendations. Being that I'm only one person, I probably wouldn't do a charter unless there's some reasonable options or a chance to join up on a group trip.

Looking for any advice or recommendations? Thanks in advance!
 
I was in the area last spring and its amazing. Mostly down around samara but the fishing is great, reasonable and lots of opportunities from the dudes who simply hustle off the beach to the guys with sport fish boats out of the marinas. I did the dudes off the beach option and had a blast bucktailing of sorts on the small stinky 2 stoke powered open boat with tons of pilsen on board. Either way, you'll have a blast.
 
I stayed there last spring as well. Beautiful. I did a kayak charter out of Potrero, which is about 30min north. It was such a blast. Just me and the guide in separate kayaks. Beached launch before dawn, next to the local casting hand lines on the beach. Fished along the beach for a couple of hours cashing feeding fish. As the morning wore on he headed out deeper looking for Tuna and Rooster fish. Had to cut the trip short as I lodged a treble into my finger releasing a small tuna. The worst part was paddling back to shore with a hook in the finger and then trying to beach a kayak.

I would totally recommend a kayak charter. Epic!!
IMG_6361.jpeg
IMG_6359.jpegIMG_6358.jpeg
 
I worked as a mate on a couple of charter boats down there in 97-98. Mainly hunting for billfish quite a ways offshore, the action was mostly Sailfish with the odd blue or striped Marlin. But, on the days the billfish were tougher to find there was almost always some mahi mahi/ Dorado to be had, and sometimesa school of large Tuna (especially when we were amongst the spinner dolphins and of course birds going crazy).
Like you say not cheap, back then we were $1400US a day. Can’t imagine what it is now, but with a known top rod it could be the trip of a lifetime, how do you put a dollar value on that?!
Just be aware you’ll likely release all billfish, and take home enough Mahi or Tuna for your dinner but no more than that, the crew gets the rest.
Playa Flamingo is just North of Tamarindo and there are some serious boats there again. You’ll find some cheaper inshore fishing boats around Tamarindo (mainly anchored outside the breaks) that will help you find rooster fish and such for hundreds instead of thousands. You’ll definitely find some serious opportunities out of Puntarenus but that’s quite a bit further South from Tamarindo.
Or like the post above try the kayak thing! My buddy got towed around on a kayak by a Marlin but a bit further South closer to Panama.
As for the fly fishing rod, sure, you’ll probably catch some of the fish that hang in the surf. The locals use hand lines to snag little guys, put the hook through them properly and then toss them out for bigger guys.
Hope you have a blast.
 
Wow guys! You got me counting the days until you I go. Thanks for all the info and I'll be sure to share how it goes. Keep any intel coming please! 👍
 
My son went with a group of 3 couples. One of them had a family member offer a huge home up in the hills. It was awesome, but one afternoon they went out and left a light on and window open. They came back in the dark to that room filled with millions of non-stinging bugs. That's all I got.
 
bryce said:
Have you been there?
Any charters you recommend
Click to expand...
Haven’t personally fished there but several friends/clients have been there multiple times.
It’s well known as one of the top pelagic spots along with Tropic star lodge in Panama. Guatemala produces lot of sailfish
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Chummer
Winter fishing bachelor party
Replies
27
Views
5K
N2013
N2013
D
Jigging/trolling for salmon/ cod/rockfish in a kayak Hornby Island
Replies
6
Views
2K
amashinga
A
Canyon Slayer 749
Advice on Where to Anchor for Halibut in Port Renfrew
Replies
8
Views
2K
CVmike
C
kaelc
Shipping fishing rods/ good casting rods
Replies
1
Views
452
Aces
Aces
YTproV
fishing on Haida Gwaii
Replies
4
Views
1K
YTproV
YTproV
Back
Top