Costa Rica's waters are home to an abundance of big fish, which lure fisherman from around the world.

Just a few of the species caught in large numbers off the Pacific Coast are sailfish, blue marlin, striped marlin, roosterfish, tuna, and snapper; while in the Caribbean coast tarpon and snook fishing is unexcelled.

Because Costa Rica's two oceans are so close, you can actually fish both during your vacation.

According to the International Game Fish Association, Costa Rica holds 44 line class records, 17 fly rod records, and 18 all-tackle records for a total of 79 records!!

Out in the sea, Costa Rica's Pacific Coast offers outstanding saltwater action, from the Papagayo Gulf and Flamingo in the north, to Quepos-Manuel Antonio in the mid-Pacific, down to Golfo Dulce in the south. On the other hand, the canals and rivers of the northern Atlantic coast feature world-class snook and tarpon fishing. Billfish are the country's biggest attractions, with abundant sailfish and marlin off the Pacific coast, but the fishermen also hook plenty of other feisty fighters, such as wahoo and roosterfish.

Though deep sea fishing is the country's forte, there is also has great fresh water fishing in Lake Arenal and the larger rivers in the Northern Zone, where anglers can fight with the small but ornery guapote, a hump-backed fish also known as the rainbow bass.

Consistent annual water temperatures between 80 and 83 degrees insure that inshore fishing along the coastline and flats boat fishing the estuaries is good all year. Offshore fishing is available all year, with the months of December through May being best.

From most areas mentioned above, it's no more than a 12 to 20 mile run to the blue water where most of the billfish action is encountered. Inshore sport includes tuna, roosterfish, wahoo, dorado, jacks, mackerel, cubera, a variety of small snapper species and even snook. The snook can be taken trolling just ouside the breaker line of the river months in the area, but are more often fished from shore

Sailfish are best from the middle of December to the end of April when they begin moving north, but the big schools move in October. A few sails always show from June through September.

Tuna are easily found throughout the yea along the Pacific coast, but are more abundant from June to September. Most are 8- to 12- pounders but you can make catches in the 100- to 200-pound range as well.

Wahoo are not common around Quepos, but in late summer you can find them on Drake's Bay and Caño Island, from late June to early August.

Dorado begins with the winter rains late in May that wash debris from the river mouths creating the inshore trash lines that dolphins favor.

Roosterfish are better in the mouths of the Parrita river, outside Damas, and Palo Seco river. Also around Dominical and Drake's Bay. Best fishing is from June through early September.

Snook are found in many river mouths along the coast, like the Sierpe River and lagoon. Best months are from July through November during the heavy rains season.