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If you're a fisherman, we recommend tarpon fishing in Costa Rica at Tortuguero, nearby Barra del Colorado, or the rivers, streams, and freshwater lagoons of the San Juan or Cano Negro Rivers. Nicknamed Silver-Kings, tarpon (aptly in the genus megalops) can reach 8 feet and 300+ pounds (most run between 60-100 pounds) and, though not considered desirable for eating, their extraordinary fighting and jumping ability put them at the top of many fishermen's lists. When tarpon are in the area, it's pretty easy to find them because they are air breathers that have to come to the surface to breathe. One of their unique features is the existence of swim bladders used for both respiration and buoyancy. These fish are incredibly adaptable, found in both saltwater and freshwater from the ocean to salt marshes, tidal pools to freshwater lagoons, creeks and rivers. Large schools of Costa Rica tarpon commonly travel up the San Juan River that borders Nicaragua and swim all the way to Lake Nicaragua. At certain times of the year, the remote, little-fished freshwater of the Cano Negro lagoon are filled with huge tarpon. The entire Tortuguero region is famous for its sea turtles and wildlife and, fact is for knowledgeable anglers, its Costa Rica tarpon fishing. The Barra del Colorado, Parismina, and Tortuguero are world famous and have many wonderful fishing lodges, great boats, and some of the best guides in the business. Tarpon aren't the only game fish you might encounter. Most operators on the Caribbean have 23-foot center consoles that can get out of the river mouths when surf is up and often connect with tuna 100 pounds or more, barracuda, jacks, kingfish, sierra, tripletail, cubera, grouper, jewfish, wahoo, not to mention the occasional Atlantic sailfish and blue marlin. And, don't forget to bring your light-tackle fishing gear. The fishing in the nearby backwaters and lagoons is unsurpassed, especially when the fat snook (calba) are running. From September through November (sometimes add a month on either end), these small snook swarm the Río Colorado area. They average about five pounds, with eight and nine pounders fairly common. You'll also come across rainbow bass (guapote), vieja, mojarra, machaca, catfish, drum, alligator gar... and other light-tackle species. Some say that the best tarpon fishing in Costa Rica is March through June and October through November but they're caught every month. Though there aren't any roads to Tortuguero, the Barra del Colorado or San Juan River, you can either drive or take a bus (the express buses are very cheap, comfortable, and as quick as driving yourself) to Limon (on the Caribbean) and catch a boat to the Barra del Corcovado or Tortuguero or hop a charter out of San Jose and fly across. Of course, most of the lodges will provide transportation or make arrangements for you. How good is the fishing? Consider this: the one-day Silver King record for a single boat stands at 60 (doesn't seem fair does it?). While you're at it, why not head over to the magnificent Drake Bay and Osa Peninsula for great inshore and deep water fishing, too!
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