How passionate are you about fishing? If you consider yourself to be a true angler, a fishing aficionado (novice) or an expert of sorts on the matter, then Costa Rica is just the Caribbean country you need to be at. Not only will you enjoy your favorite pastime in perfect conditions, but if you choose to rent any of the many beautiful Costa Rica villas available, your family and friends will also be able to enjoy utter luxury.

Meanwhile, as they are being pampered by some of the best accommodations in the Caribbean, feel free to explore your skills in sport fishing and deep sea fishing. Take note of the fact that no less than eighty nine world records in fishing have been set in Costa Rica. Angle away and, who knows? Maybe record number ninety will be set by you.

What to Expect

The most prized fish breed among Costa Rican anglers is the billfish, since there are plenty of sailfish and marlin by the Pacific coast. Don’t worry if you can’t catch them, though—there’s lots of wahoo and roosterfish to go around for you and all your fellow fishermen. Obviously, the best fishing experience you can get in Costa Rica is deep sea fishing. The most common breeds are the giant yellow fin tuna, the cubera, several varieties of snappers, the grouper, blue runners and rainbow runners. Those of you who are more into fresh water fishing, you can also try out the Lake Arenal or some of the major rivers located to the north of the country. The fish species there are not as large, but some are rather spectacular, such as the guapote—a fish with a humpback, also known as the rainbow bass. Other breeds include the giant marlin, the tarpon and the closs snook. Expect to release at least a dozen sailfish or even a marlin during the course of your fishing day. All fish that are not record contenders are thrown back in for sustainability and ethical reasons.

What You Get

Upon signing up for a fishing trip and the subsequent boarding, you will receive a rod and a set of reels, as well as lures and tackle. If the specific breed of fish you’re vying for requires it, you will even receive live bait. If not, artificial bait will be provided by most tour operators. The prices for most tours include all gear rental, as well as some snacks, fruit, soft drinks, ice and even beer or a full lunch menu, packed and boxed, prepared so as to give you energy for the entire day of fun. You will need a full day to truly experience the wild adventure that is fishing in Costa Rica waters. Some tour providers will even offer you complex packages, for which you can enlist the rest of your family. Ask them if they want to relax at home, in one of the many Costa Rica villas by the beach, or if they want to join you for ATV rides, surfing, whitewater rafting or horseback riding.

What to Bring

A cooler for food and drinks always comes in handy when on a fishing tour. More often than not, you will be bringing your own food and drink, although some boats and fishing tours do offer an assortment of snacks and beverages. Ask the captain of the boat about the largest size of cooler you can bring aboard prior to departure. Check for current weather conditions. Fishing in rainy or windy weather will require you to pack or wear the appropriate gear, such as overalls or rubber boots. Carry a sports bag for all your changes of clothes, hats, glasses or anything else you might want to bring along. Do check if you’re fishing off a covered boat—case in which you needn’t worry about bad weather conditions just as much. Sun glasses are also an important item, especially if you own a pair of polarized glasses, especially designed for fishing. The glare of the sun reflected off the surface of the water can often be unpleasant to experience. Wear sunscreen, as the sun in the Caribbean tends to get quite merciless, especially if the light is reflected off the surface of the water.

Author Bio: Paul is a seasoned fisherman in his native country, a worldwide traveler, an expert on great deals for Costa Rica villas, as well as a writer for the Internet with expertise on most things Caribbean tourism-related.

This entry was posted on Saturday, December 24th, 2011 at 12:16 pm and is filed under Services. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.