Fishing the South Pacific: Golfito, Puerto Jiemenez, Drake Bay

Costa Rica Fishing – The South Pacific Coast: Golfito, Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay

Golfito (on the east side of Golfo Dulce), the largest town in Costa Rica’s southern area, along with Puerto Jiménez on the other side of Golfo Dulce, and Drake Bay at the top of the Osa Peninsula on the Pacific Coast are the main fishing centers of this region. There are sails and marlin offshore during peak season, and plenty of exciting roosters, mackerel, amberjack, wahoo and big snapper closer inshore.

Inside Golfo Dulce, with its profusion of small coves and rocky islets, small barracuda and snapper, mackerel, sea bass and the occasional snook can be caught on light tackle. Off Cabo Matapalo in the Pacific, anglers will encounter sails, marlin, tuna and other blue water species. This area is generally considered to have the best all-round inshore fishing in Costa Rica, and there are roosters that average over 30 pounds, wahoo, grouper, jack, barracuda and trophy-size Pacific cubera snapper.

There is also excellent snook fishing inside the Zancudo peninsula, and farther north, at the mouth of the Esquinas river.

Marlin
August through December is the peak season, but striped, blue or black are caught most any month when the water is warm.
Sailfish
All year, but best from mid or late May through July and in January and February before they move north.
Roosterfish
The region is very famous for its big roosters which can be caught virtually any month of the year.
Dorado
Best time is traditionally from late May through October along the weed lines, when the rivers are running full
Tuna
Best fishing for yellowfin of over 100 pounds is during the marlin and sailfish season, but tuna of up to 30 pounds can be found year-round.
Wahoo
Wahoo can be caught most any time of the year when you are trolling offshore for billfish or around the reefs off Cabo Matapalo.
Snook
Big snook generally peak from March through May and again September through the end of November.