Sport Fishing in Costa Rica North Atlantic, Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero and Parismina

Sport fishing in Costa Rica ‘s north Atlantic coast is a very different fishing experience than anywhere else in the country. A very straight coastline is the main feature throughout the landscape, with few reef outcroppings extending deep inshore. Tide changes are not as noticeable here as much as when fishing of the pacific, however the climate changes abruptly and rains in the afternoons during Costa Rica ‘s “green” season. Up north/east, a few miles away from the Rio San Juan’s delta, Barra del Colorado has been a renowned sport fishing destination for more than 25 years. Sails and Marlins are not unheard of, but the main sport fishing business moves around the “Silver King” or Tarpon. Big – humongous tarpon patrol these waters, and bull sharks continuously swim inland through rivers and canals.

Moving to the south these sport fishing grounds are accessible only by boat or plane. Tortuguero Canals are a system of inter twining rivers and lagoons filled with snook, snapper, tarpon, rainbow-bass, “machacas” and other tropical sport fishing species like alligator gar and the elusive “Pez Sierra”, or pristis pristis. Down the shore line due south, the Parismina and Matina river systems, accessible through the beach, might yield sport fishing fanatics a tarpon or two, and even catch a giant snook as they franticly feed on baitfish near the shore.

Inshore fishing a couple of miles from the beach gives sport fishing anglers a chance to catch pompano, wahoo, king mackerel, snapper a variety of jacks, and of course the ever present possibility of a silver king engulfing your lure.