Fishing the North Pacific: Tamarindo, Flamingo

Tamarindo and Flamingo are the major sportfishing centers in the North Pacific. Boats with excellent local and some American captains also charter out of nearby Coco Beach, Ocotal, Potrero, Brasilito and elsewhere. The area further south – Nosara, Garza, Guanamar and Carillo – get more protection from the winds that normally blow through Guanacaste from late December though March and April, so many Costa Rica fishing captains from Flamingo will fish out of Guanamar/Carrillo from mid-December to the end of March/mid April. For anglers fishing out of the Four Seasons Papagayo and other Gulf of Papagayo hotels, there are excellent boats and captains who will come north from Flamingo.

Marlin
Caught every month of the year, with mid-November to early March exceptional, then slowing a bit from April into early June when the fishing picks up again, peaking in August and September.
Sailfish
Caught throughout the year, with May through August normally the top season. They may begin to thin out in September; the slowest months are from late August through November.
Roosterfish
They are around all year, but more are caught in the Bay of Papagayo area from November through March. Roosters like the structure of the shoreline and islands where they’re found in 50 to 60 feet of water.
Dorado
More properly known as dolphin, these colorful gamefish are most abundant from late May through October when the seasonal rains flood the rivers, carrying out debris that forms weed lines close to shore where they like to lie. Troll past a floating log and you’ll likely hook a dorado.
Tuna
Peak months are probably August through October, but there are always tuna throughout the year. Yellowfin and some big-eye tuna are often found well inside the Catalina Islands, 30 minutes or less running time from the beach, while schools of 12 to 20lbs are usually abundant farther out. There are often schools of 40 to 60 pound tuna, and there are plenty of the 200 to 400lbs caught every year.
Wahoo
They first appear when the rains start in mid-May, peaking in July and August. Most are caught around the rocky points and islands, but you will pick one up occasionally fishing offshore.