Sailfish
Costa Rica’s Central Pacific coast is called the billfish capital of the world, primarily for its world-class sailfish bite. Every year, thousands of anglers from the four corners of the Earth fish Costa Rica to experience the thrill of hooking these beautiful, elegant sea creatures and watching their majestic leaps of sheer magic.
See Which Charters Target Sailfish in Costa Rica
Sailfish can be caught all year round on offshore sportfishing charters along the entire Pacific coast, from Golfito in the South to Papagayo in the North. They range in size from 80lbs to 150lbs and more, although Sailfish of 90-125lbs are most common, and can usually be caught between 12 and 30 miles out. This short distance alone should lure Sailfish enthusiasts to enjoy sportfishing in Costa Rica, as you don’t have to spend time traveling instead of actually fishing, and you don’t need huge boats to get out to Blue Water.
How Sailfish are caught
In Costa Rica, Sailfish are usually caught trolling in a spread of teasers and dead bait on circle hooks, and even with live bait around reefs and reed lines. Of course, Sailfish are a catch-and-release only species.
The Sailfish bite on the Costa Rica sportfishing calendar peaks at different times of the year. In the South Pacific (Golfito, Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay), anglers fishing offshore from mid-November through March should experience significant numbers of Sailfish releases, either going south, outside of Golfo Dulce, or moving just north up the coast in the Drake Bay/Furuno Bank area.
Peak Sailfish seasons
Costa Rica’s biggest Sailfish bite is off the Central Pacific coast between the beginning of January and the end of April. On any given day during this period, anglers fishing out of Los Sueños Marina (Jacó) or Pez Vela Marina (Quepos) might see over 50 Sailfish, raise 35, and release 20 and more.
Because of this incredible bite during this time, the Central Pacific coast is home to two of the world’s most prestigious international billfish tournaments: the Triple Crown Signature Series hosted at Los Sueños Marina; and the Offshore World Championship at Pez Vela. The tournament numbers are astounding, and unequalled anywhere else. At the latest Triple Crown event, 44 boats released well over 5,000 billfish, almost all of them Sailfish, in nine full days of fishing.
On any given day, you can catch a Sailfish
Once Easter comes and goes, the peak Costa Rica Sailfish bite moves north, to Guanacaste in the North Pacific: Tamarindo, Flamingo and the Gulf of Papagayo from June through September. The Sailfish bite isn’t quite as spectacular, but anglers coming to enjoy Costa Rica sport fishing specifically for Sailfish will not be disappointed if they charter boats in the North Pacific during this period, as 10-15 Sailfish releases are not uncommon. No matter what your Costa Rican sportfishing destination on the Pacific coast may be, and no matter when or how you fish, you have a great chance of hooking, fishing and releasing a magnificent Sailfish on any given offshore fishing day.
Costa Rica Charters for Sailfish
- 26ft Custom McKee Craft for Puerto Jiménez Golfo Dulce fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing
- Price: 26ff Custom McKee Craft
- 32FT CUSTOM SPORTFISHER FOR PLAYAS COCO AND GUANACASTE FISHING
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 26FT ROBALO FOR PLAYAS DEL COCO AND PLAYA HERMOSA FISHING
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Price: 26ft Robalo
- 31ft DENNIS GARRETT GAMEFISHER FOR QUEPOS AND PEZ VELA FISHING
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Display Address: Quepos, Provincia de Puntarenas
- 36ft Marcam Express for Jacó and Los Sueños Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 30ft Shamrock Walkaround for Flamingo Costa Rica fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 30ft Island Hopper Express for South Pacific coast fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 23ft Panga Center Console for Puerto Jiménez fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36ft Hatteras for Quepos Central Pacific fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Display Address: Quepos
- 57ft Island Boatworks for Quepos Pez Vela Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 48ft Ocean Yacht for Guanacaste Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 35ft Cabo Express for Quepos Pez Vela Pacific fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 41ft Ronin Sportfisher for Quepos Pez Vela Marina fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 32ft Rampage for Jaco Herradura Bay fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 29ft Hydra Sport Fisher for Puerto Jimenez South Pacific Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 37ft Hatteras for Los Sueños and Jacó Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Contender for Nicoya Peninsula Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 25ft Open Fisherman for Gulf of Nicoya Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- New 26ft Center Console for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Display Address: Quepos
- 25ft Towered Bertram for Carillo Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 28ft Carolina Classic for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 46ft Guthrie Flybridge Sportfisher for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 60ft Loa Luxury Custom for Golfito overnighters
- Phone Number: Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36ft Sunny Briggs Sportfisher for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 45ft ‘Omie Tillet’ for Herradura Bay fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 47ft Riviera Yacht for Papagayo Marina fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Display Address: Guanacaste Province
- 28ft Custom Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 38ft Custom Sportfisher for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Carolina Custom for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Shamrock Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 30ft Panga for Gulf of Nicoya fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 38ft Topaz Express for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Bertram for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 26ft Regulator for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Stapleton Day Boat for Herradura Fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Flybridge Yacht for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 52ft Hatteras for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Escapade for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 35ft Classic Bertram for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 26ft Center Console for Drake Bay fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 35ft Cabo Sport Fishing Yacht for Drake Bay fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 22ft Boston Whaler for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Center Console for Puerto Jiménez fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Gamefisher for Flamingo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Dusky for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Carolina Custom Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 44ft Luxury Luhrs Convertible for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Display Address: Quepos, Puntarenas Province
- 31ft Bertram Classic for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36ft Luhrs Express for Puerto Jiménez fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 38ft Custom Sportfisher for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 28ft Carolina Classic for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Palm Beach for Carillo/Guanamar fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36ft Topaz Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 30ft Flybridge Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 27ft Ocean Runner for Puerto Jiménez fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36ft Hatteras for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Custom Sportfisher for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Luhrs Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Sportfishing yacht for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 31ft Palm Beach for Flamingo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Custom Sport Fisherman for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 35ft Cabo Convertible for Papagayo Marina fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 26ft Fish Nautique for Herradura Bay fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 43ft Maverick for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 34ft Walkaround Express for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 42ft Sportfishing Yacht for Los Sueños fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- Crocodile Bay Resort for Puerto Jiménez fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 58ft Viking for Playa Herradura fishing and overnighters
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- The 37ft Cazador for Golfito fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 36-foot Topaz Sportfisher for Tamarindo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 26ft Apex Center Console for Playa Herradura fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 42ft Bertram for Flamingo fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
- 60ft Sportfishing Catamaran for Quepos fishing
- Phone Number: Inshore Fishing, Offshore Fishing, Deep Sea Fishing, Saltwater Fishing, Pacific Ocean Fishing
