Fishing In Costa Rica

I may have the opportunity to head down to Costa Rica for Christmas. I would be spending a couple days about 25 minutes south of Tamarindo. It looks like a promising fishing opportunity. Does anybody have any experience or recommendations for this area? Deep sea bill fishing looks fairly slow this time of year, so I was thinking inshore. Panga, surf, kayak or...? Feel free to correct me if I am mistaken. Thanks to anybody who can give me a little advice!

If you can get to near shore waters around the Oso Peninsula you should find lots of roosters, and Cubera. Poppers are great fun but trolled live bait is best. I know there are several sport fishing operations around Tamnarindo, and many more around Quepos.

I was down at Playa Grande a couple years back in Feb/Mar and fished the surf just north of the river. (Tamarindo is separated from Playa grande by the river.) Bought some cheap chrome spoons to toss from ebay. Pretty slow but fun to be out there. The locals toss small 3" anchovy replicas (think Rapala's) off the shore or the rocks just before the low tide. The river flushes north at low tide and the snook come in to hunt. Bunch of charters in Tamarindo to chose from. Big modern grocery store and everything else you could need in tamarindo. However I would bring my own tackle things aren't real cheap in Coasta Rica.

If you rent a car make sure you deny the rental insurance and use your visa. There is a mandatory insurance they have that doubles the cost of the rental but its mandatory and sometimes needed.

I was staring at a boat while driving along in Playa Grande. A Local was watering the lawn and looked at me and looked right a couple times. Thought that was kinda funny. Next thing I know I am rodeo-ing the little car. Almost ripped the oil filter off mashed the under carriage. Forgot about the unmarked drainage ditch they have for the rainy season. Watch the unmarked speed bumps as well.

Needless to say VISA covered the whole thing. Didn't cost me a dime. Easy to drive there but get a gps. Helped a lot.

Lots of petty theft, we took all the valuables with us everywhere and lost nothing. Trusting tourists we met lost big dollar cameras, passports, you name it.

In Liberia there is a restaurant called casa verde. Very good by US standards. Not too pricey. Behind a gas station but great. Food was great everywhere.

Alright I am off track. Beach fishing think small. Have fun it's nice down there. Damn hot at times.

Thanks for the tips!

I am also going to Costa Rica in February and will be staying at RIU Guanacaste on Playa Matapalo. I am guessing the same fishing techniques would apply, it is North of Playa Grande.

I might need to buy a Ron Popeil pocket fisherman.

Joe