Marlin Fishing in Costa Rica

When it comes to big-time fishing, there’s nothing more exhilarating than catching a marlin.

This is one of the most challenging types of fish to catch in the open water. As a result, it’s time to head over to Costa Rica to try your hand at catching this fish and seeing how you hold up when it’s time to reel them in.

Here’s what makes marlin fishing in Costa Rica such a special adventure and one worthy of your time.

Types of Marlin Fish in Costa Rica

There are three types of marlin found along Costa Rica’s Pacific coast – Blue, Black, and Striped Marlin. In general, the most common type of marlin fish found in Costa Rica would be none other than the blue marlin as it’s commonly spotted around the area. However, there are various sightings of the other types as well such as the black and striped marlin. It’s important to note these are appreciated for being the largest game fish in the ocean, which makes them one of the more appealing catches too.

If you manage to visit Costa Rica at the right time of the year, it’s possible to end up with a “grander,” which is a large-sized marlin that can end up weighing over 1,000 lbs at its peak. Otherwise, you are still going to have the opportunity to go after a marlin that is going to come in at approximately 400 lbs. or so. In some cases, you are going to get the chance to go after the striped marlin, which is smaller in stature and ends up weighing around 200 lbs. at its peak.

The best way to catch this fish is to use slow trolling techniques and/or dead skipping baits. These tend to attract the marlin as you hope to reel them in.

Best Time for Marlin Fishing in Costa Rica

The best part about visiting Costa Rica for a fishing adventure has to do with its extended peak seasons.

You are going to have the opportunity to go out into the water and catch a marlin at any time of the year. However, it’s still better to time your visit to extract the full value of the fishing season in this part of the world. Experts state marlin fish tend to bite more on live bait between mid-November and March as that is when they are most active in the area. This is when you are going to spot a considerable amount of blue and black marlin in Costa Rican waters.

If you are going to spending time along the Central Pacific coast then you can wait around a bit longer and take a shot in April. The goal is to maximize your chances and the best way to do this is to see when the marlin fish are easier to spot. This is why most people visit between November and March/April depending on where they are going along the coast.

Get started by booking a fun adventure to Costa Rica’s Pacific coast.