Fishing For Costa Rica’s Marlin – Striped, Blues and Blacks

Marlin fishing is considered by many game fishermen to be the pinnacle of big game fishing, due to the size and power, relative rareness and difficulty of capture. In Costa Rica, fishing for the striped, blue and black marlin fishing season is year round and why the country is becoming the hot place to fish for these big gamers.

Marlin has been billed as the battler of literature and legends. Author Ernest Hemingway, so loved the marlin that he wrote about it. The Old Man and the Sea, one of Hemingway’s most famous works, centers upon Santiago, an aging Cuban fisherman who struggles with a giant marlin.

In past years, it was a customary “trophy” carcass hung in offices and seen in fishing magazines and executive office-wall photographs. However, that has since change in Costa Rica. Costa Rica was the first country to practice the catch and release program, and other conservation programs, like the banning of billfish meat. And because of this, an angler’s bragging rights have been reduced to nothing but videos or photos. A Costa Rica marlin will rarely be hung on some wall or cut up into steaks. Only on rare occasions will the fish be brought in and that is usually when the fish is dying due to a tail hook up (causing drowning) or the hook has some how damage the fish.

Circle hooks are used in Costa Rica for their catch and release capabilities. After a fish takes the bait, they usually turn away to kill their meal. The circle hook slide back through the fish’s mouth to the jaw corner and then hooks the fish in the mouth. Circle hooks reduce the chance of a deeply hooked fish. Catching the fish by the jaw makes it easier to unhook and release.

Marlin are known for their amazing strength, which is only exceeded by the giant bluefin tuna. Once a marlin is hooked, the fight will be one you will remember for the rest of you days.


This 400lb marlin was caught and release by World- Record Captain Bobby McGuinness off the Southern Pacific coast
Marlin love Costa Rica’s year round tropically warm temperatures and are usually found in deep waters, anywhere from 10-30 miles off shore. They are easier to catch on clear days, when the water is clear as well. Since Costa Rica has a raining season (May through mid-Nov or “green season.”), so this is a time when fishing tends to be below average, when the water is murky.

The marlin prefers hooked bait to artificial lures, because it can smell a potential meal when the bait is natural. Costa Rica captains will either fish with frozen bait and/or fish for it, thus filling up their bait tanks before picking up their anglers. Once outside, big game teasers are use as an attraction because they mimic a bait fish with its flash, sound and water commotion. These teasers are placed in close proximity to your bait. Each captain has his own secret of what teaser to use. Many times, the teaser is changed doing the trolling stage.

Costa Rica is broken down into four sports fishing areas;

Caribbean Coast (Tortuguero, Barra del Colorado) – When you can get outside to blue water you can find the occasional Atlantic sailfish and equally occasional Atlantic blue marlin throughout the year. Best time is from February through September.

North Pacific Coast (Tamarindo, Flamingo, Guanamar/Carrillo) - Marlin are caught every month of the year, with mid-November to early March exceptional, then slowing a bit from April into early June when the fishing picks up again, peaking in August and September.

Central Pacific Coast (Los Sueños Marina and Quepos) - October is normally the top month for marlin in this area, but action is also good in September, October and November, and occasional blues and even blacks can be found any time of the year, although they are usually out farther than anglers targeting sailfish are likely to be.

South Pacific Coast (Golfito, Puerto Jiménez, Drake Bay) – August through December is the peak season, but striped, blue or black are caught most any month when the water is warm.

Sport Fishing charters tend to vary in costs; it all depends on the time of the year (the green season less expensive) where you are fishing from (Hotel/travel booking agent charter or local fishermen) and size and luxury of boat. For example, an air-condition boat will cost more than an open 32’ boat.

For a full day charter, you can expect to pay between 800-$2300US, which will include lunch, beer, soft drinks, tackle, cleaning of the fish (Dorado, tuna, and Wahoo which are normal caught also for your night’s meal) and fishing permits.

Please remember, it is customary to tip the captain, whether you catch any or not and that is why they call it, “fishing.”