Southern Pacific Region

Golfito is the center of activity on Costa Rica's southern coast, a region that is slowly developing as an important sport fishing center.

There are only a half dozen operators and not enough boats to scout such a large area of water and post the mind-boggling fish counts they record in more heavily fished areas further north. But it's a rare day during peak season that boats don't raise a dozen sails or a marlin or two, along with plenty of jacks, runners, mackerel and perhaps an amberjack, roosterfish or big snapper inshore.

Best months for sailfish is from December through March, with marlin peaking from August through December, although there are some around all year. Tuna are found in the area throughout the year, and they occasionally get those occasional back-breakers up to 300 pounds. Roosters to 50 pounds are plentiful around Matapalo and Carate Beach and some have gone over 80 pounds.

Dorado, which were super abundant until about 1991 have grown increasingly scarce, their demise generally attributed to the proliferation of long-liners. But they are still around with best fishing beginning with the winter rains in late May.

There are two modern marinas in Golfito itself, both offering fishing charters as well as facilities for transient yachts.

Paul Sanderson's Sanbar Marina now offers 800 feet of berthing with water and electricity connections, and four or five good sailboat anchorages. Just up the road from Sanbar Marina is Bob and Diane Hampton's Eagle's Roost Marina, offering berthing up to 65-feet, with water and electricity.

Light tackle fishing inside the bay off Golfito with its profusion of small coves and rocky islets and shoreline is also good for barracuda, small snapper, corbina and occasional snook to over 40 pounds.

South of Golfito itself, there are two charter operators at Playa Zancudo. It's a bone-jarring 90-minute drive by road, but only 15 minutes by boat from Golfito. You can arrange transport at either marina or one of the boats at the public docks. They offer day charters and three to five day packages including air fare between San Jose and Golfito, boat transport between Golfito and Zancudo, beach front accommodations, lunch and drinks on the boat and tackle.

Fishing the drop-off outside Matapalo they get sails, marlin, tuna and other blue water species, and inshore there are roosters that average about 30 pounds, trophy size Pacific cubera snapper.

The Zancudo operators also offer fishing trips for snook that have become increasingly popular in recent years, working the mouth of the Rio Coto near Zancudo, while some of the boats in Golfito fish snook north of there at the mouth of the Rio Esquinas.

They can be caught year around, but the peak snook seasons seems to be from about the time the rains start in May through July and again in January and February.

Seasons

MARLIN -- August through December is the peak season, but an occasional blue or black may be taken most any month if the water temperature is up.

SAILFISH -- A few taken off and on year around with the most exceptional fishing from December through March. It often slows from into April into early June, then picks up again and peaks in late August and September.

TUNA -- Best fishing for the bigger fish corresponds with marlin and sailfish season, but the schools of footballs can nearly always be found outside.

DORADO -- Best runs are traditionally from late May through October, but have been scarce in recent years.

WAHOO -- Not abundant, but occasional fish may be taken most any time of the year while trolling offshore for billfish or around the structure off Matapalo.

ROOSTERFISH -- The Golfito region is famous for its big roosters and they can be caught virtually any month of the year.

SNOOK -- Middle or late May through July and in January and February.