Central Pacific Region

Quepos is the center of fishing in this region, with 20 or more professionally equipped boats in the 27-feet and up range, and smaller boats well-suited to the excellent inshore angling in the area. There are other charters available out of Puntarenas, the resorts at the southern end of the Nicoya Peninsula, Jaco Beach, Punta Leona, Dominical and at Drake Bay.

Billfish are the favored target of most visiting anglers, and they are seldom disappointed from around December through April. In 1995 it appeared the sailfish had taken permanent residency as the area enjoyed its best season in history with the sails holding in solid well into June. There are some sails taken throughout the entire year.

The area is well protected from the prevailing northerly winds and enjoys pretty close to ideal weather although you can expect rain most anytime from May through December, especially in the afternoons.

From any of the areas mentioned above, it's seldom 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 outside the breaker line off the river mouths in the area, but are more often fished from shore.

Boats out of Quepos also offer multi-day trips to the Drake Bay and Caños Island area, overnighting at one of the several lodges centered around Drake Bay. This region is best known for its wahoo, big cubera and roosterfish, but there are also tuna, dorado, sails and the occasional marlin.

Seasons

MARLIN -- October is normally the top month for marlin in this area, but action is also good in September and November and occasional blues and a rare black are likely to be found anytime of year although they are usually out further than the boats hunting for sailfish are likely to be fishing.

SAILFISH -- Mid December to the end of April -- when they begin moving north -- is rated the best season, but the big schools often move in about October and occasionally stay longer. A few sails always show among the catch from June through September, mixed with the other species that are found inshore during those months.

TUNA -- Found throughout the year as they are all along the Pacific coast, but most abundant from about June through September. Most are the eight to 12 pounders, but a dozen or more over 200 pounds and maybe another two dozen in the 100 to 200 pound range are taken every year.

WAHOO -- Pretty rare in the area around Quepos, but more abundant in the late summer further south, especially the Drake Bay and Caños Island area from late Jane to early August.

DORADO -- Once thick enough to walk on, dorado have been depleted over the past five years by commercial long line fishermen. They are still taken on a regular basis, however, with best action beginning with the winter rains that start in late May and wash debris from the river mouths creating the inshore trash lines that the dolphin like to lie under.

ROOSTERFISH -- Fishing for this hard-hitting inshore species is little short of incredible with the best spots off the river mouths and the rocky drop-offs. Exceptional at the mouth of the Parrita; Seco Palo between Parrita and Damas; just outside Damas; off the mouth of the Naranjo; around the points at Dominical and throughout the Drake Bay area. Best fishing is during the summer months, from June through early September.

SNOOK -- Just coming into its own as a fishery targeted by local operators. Best spots are just off the many river mouths all along the coast, up the Sierpe river and in the big lagoon on the Sierpe. The world record Pacific black snook was taken a couple years ago in July just off the mouth of the Rio Naranjo on a charter with Capt. Jim Geary, and although it is a new fishery, the best months seem to be from July through November during the heavy rainy season. fishspac