Fishing Seasons in Papagayo & Flamingo
Some facts about Costa Rica
Costa Rica is a world-class place when it comes to flora and fauna. Here are some facts about why Costa Rica is a paradise for adventurous people who want to have a good time outdoors.
Costa Rica is home to more than 500,000 species of flora and fauna, which is why it contains around 6% of the world’s biodiversity.
What is biodiversity?
Biodiversity is the diversity of life, the variety of living beings that exist on the planet and the relationships they establish with each other and with the environment that surrounds them.
Costa Rica has only 0.034% of the world’s land mass and is home to more than 3.25% of the world’s fish. That’s a lot of fish for a small country!
Considering that this country is known as the “Rich Coast”, it is not surprising to mention that it has some of the best inshore & offshore fishing in the world. In addition, it is worth mentioning that in Costa Rica there are more than 80 IGFA world records for fishing.
Types of fish in Papagayo, Guanacaste
There is not much more to say to convey that this country represents a paradise for fishermen. The Gulf of Papagayo is the icing on the cake, here you can find the following species of fish:
- If you want to battle the heavier and larger billfish, there are marlin and sailfish.
- If you want to enjoy light tackle, there are roosterfish, wahoo, and jacks.
- If you want an excellent dinner, there are tuna, snapper, mahi mahi, mackerel, and grouper, among others.
Fishing Seasons in Guanacaste
The year can be divided into 3 main seasons:
- Dry season: from December to April it is dry. There is more tourism in coastal areas because the weather is special for outdoor activities and enjoying the beautiful beaches that Costa Rica has to offer.
- High season: December and New Year. Normally there are more tourists and the prices of the tourist areas increase in the same way.
- Rainy season: from May to November it is rainy. This is characterized by being sunny early and rainy in the afternoon and by being filled with green throughout the country. There is more tourism in wetlands because the climate is special for hiking and enjoying the beautiful tropical forests, flora, and fauna that Costa Rica has to offer.
This chart is a summary of the fishing for the most common types of fish in Guanacaste for each of the months of the year as well as the dry and rainy seasons.
Sustainable Fishing in Costa Rica
In order to protect the marine ecosystem, Costa Rica has a strict catch-and-release policy!
Costa Rica announced in 2018 a plan to make subsistence and tourist fishing more sustainable for the benefit of the biodiversity of our waters. If the authorities observe that you are taking the fish out of the water for a photo, you risk hefty fines.
There are some fish that, due to the large number in the area, can be taken out of the water for a photo or for dinner, such as tuna, snapper, mahi mahi, mackerel, and grouper. However, there are other fish that are returned to the sea to preserve the species, such as marlin, roosterfish, or sailfish.