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Sportfishing Costa RicaN 9°56′ · W 84°05′

10.8° N · 83.6° W

Caribbean coast

Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero, Limón and Puerto Viejo: tarpon and snook in the rivers, lagoons and surf of the Caribbean side.

Start here: the complete guideFishing Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast: The Complete GuideCosta Rica's Caribbean coast is tarpon and snook water, fished from small boats in jungle rivers, lagoons and river mouths rather than from marinas. The heart of it is the roadless north, from Barra del Colorado through Tortuguero to Parismina, reached by small plane or boat; September and October, and about February to April, are usually the best months. South of Limón, fishing is a small-boat, half-day affair around Cahuita, Puerto Viejo and Manzanillo.

Charters, lodges and marinas

A row of brightly painted wooden casitas in green, turquoise and yellow with railed porches, along a garden path at Kawé Lodge
Barra del Colorado · fishing lodgeKawé LodgeKawé Lodge is a small family lodge of 6 air-conditioned casitas on the Río Colorado, about 1 km from Barra del Colorado Sur and a…
The pool at the Manatus Hotel lit up at night, with palm trees and the lodge's garden lights reflected in the water
Tortuguero · resortManatus HotelManatus Hotel is a small hotel on the canals of Tortuguero, on Costa Rica's northern Caribbean coast, reached only by boat or…
A Silver King Lodge center console with two anglers aboard running across choppy brown water at the mouth of the Río Colorado under a clear blue sky
Barra del Colorado · fishing lodgeSilver King LodgeSilver King Lodge is an all-inclusive fishing lodge on the Río Colorado, inside the Barra del Colorado Wildlife Refuge on Costa…
A white center console fishing boat with a T-top idling on the wide brown Río Colorado, with low green riverbank and a cloudy sky behind
Barra del Colorado · charterTarpon Sport FishingTarpon Sport Fishing is a small guide service in Barra del Colorado Sur, run by Capt. Daniel Solís, who has 14 years on the Río…

Guides

The calm, dark Parismina river in late afternoon light, with rainforest and tall trees reflected in the still water
Caribbean coastThe Fall Snook Run (Calba) on Costa Rica's CaribbeanCalba, or fat snook, gather at the Caribbean's river and lagoon mouths to spawn from about October to January, and anglers have…
A big Atlantic tarpon cruising through dark blue water, its huge silver scales catching the light
Caribbean coastTarpon Season on Costa Rica's Caribbean CoastTarpon live in Costa Rica's Caribbean rivers all year, but September and October are usually the best months, with calm seas that…
Palm trees framing calm Caribbean water and a small island off the coast of Limón
Caribbean coastFishing from Limón: The Caribbean's Port City and GatewayPuerto Limón is the Caribbean coast's port city and service hub rather than a fishing destination: there's no marina or charter…
A freshly caught common snook laid on a pale surface, showing the black lateral line and yellowish fins
Fish speciesSnook (róbalo) in Costa Rica: every species, both coasts, two world recordsCosta Rica has snook on both coasts: common snook and fat snook (calba) on the Caribbean, black and white snook on the Pacific…
The wrecked boat sitting in clear shallow water beyond the reef at Puerto Viejo de Talamanca
Caribbean coastFishing from Puerto Viejo, Cahuita and ManzanilloOn the southern Caribbean, from Cahuita through Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo, fishing is a half-day, small-boat affair you'd fit…
A large silver tarpon swimming, its big mirror-like scales and upturned mouth clearly visible
Fish speciesTarpon (sábalo) in Costa Rica: where, when, how and the release rulesTarpon, sábalo to Costa Rican guides, are the Caribbean's giant: fish of 75 to 150 lb and more that live in the river mouths…
Small tour boat on a jungle-lined canal in Tortuguero National Park
Caribbean coastFishing from Tortuguero: Tarpon, Snook and the Rules Around the ParkTortuguero is a roadless Caribbean village squeezed between a national park, where all fishing is banned, and the Barra del…
A calm jungle waterway near Barra del Colorado, lined with palms and broadleaf rainforest reflected in still water
Caribbean coastFishing Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast: The Complete GuideCosta Rica's Caribbean coast is tarpon and snook water, fished from small boats in jungle rivers, lagoons and river mouths rather…
Angler leaning over the side of a boat to release a sailfish caught in Costa Rica
Fishing chartersSportfishing in Costa Rica: Where and When to Fish, Licences and RulesCosta Rica has two very different fisheries: the Pacific, with sailfish, marlin, dorado, tuna and roosterfish, and the Caribbean…