Costa Rica Fly Fishing Packages

Inshore Fly Fishing

It’s not all big game offshore fishing that attracts fly anglers to Costa Rica as roosterfish are high on the wish list of many – if not all of us. In addition to roosterfish, on our Pacific Coast we can catch over 20 species of fish including three kinds of jacks, mackerel, barracuda, grouper, several species of snapper, sea bass, and large Pacific snook in the river mouths.

How to for Fly Fish Inshore: First and foremost, it’s important to keep in mind that inshore fly fishing is not usually a numbers game. If you want to catch as many fish as possible there is no doubt that slow trolling live bait with conventional tackle is the most effective way to catch large numbers of fish inshore. Inshore fly fishing is as much about the opportunity to land a dream fish as it is the fish in hand. The hunt to find fish, perfect cast, the turn, the follow, the strike – all those should be as exciting as boating the fish itself. Inshore fly fishing along the Pacific Coast of Costa Rica involves a lot of blind casting. Unlike the saltwater flats of the Caribbean, inshore fly fishing on the Pacific typically means very little sight casting to fish you or your guide have picked out. There will be days with large schools of fish, boiling bait balls, or even your guide teasing a fish up with a hookless popper or live bait – but you need to be prepared to blind cast the majority of the day. You should be prepared that either your boat and/or the fish you are casting to will be moving 100% of the time. Quick, long, and accurate casts are important to present your fly into the small window the fish gives you. It’s very important that you know how to double haul, and even better if you are able to water haul. Practicing these before you arrive is always a good idea!

Inshore Fly Tackle: Most inshore fly fishing outfits will use a 9-11 wt rod with matching reel. The casts needed for inshore fishing need to be long, accurate, and fast so using your own rod that you are familiar with is always recommended. You will want a large arbor saltwater reel with a strong drag that can hold several hundred yards of 50 lb backing. Most often you’ll want a intermediate sinking fly line to get your fly a bit deeper into the water column, although popper flies lead to plenty of strikes as well. Leaders will vary by target species, but a good idea is to have 20 lb, 30 lb, 40 lb, even 50 lb fluorocarbon with you so you can easily build and taper your own leader based on conditions. A few select boats will provide fly tackle for you if you do not bring your own.

Freshwater Fly Fishing

Last but not least, if you enjoy freshwater fly fishing we have several different options for you here as well. The most popular freshwater fishing destination in Costa Rica is also the biggest, Lake Arenal. This 33 sq mile lake reflects the iconic Arenal Volcano like a mirror on calm mornings and offers endless habitat and structure for tilapia, machaca, and the prized rainbow bass. On the Caribbean Coast the huge tarpon and snook grab all the headlines, but the fly fishing in the freshwater lagoons offers beautiful scenery and a variety of exotic species like rainbow bass, machaca, mojarra, and tropical gar. Our personal favorite are the float trips down our jungle rivers where the main target is the hard hitting and high flying machaca’, which has earned it the nickname ‘mini tarpon.’ Costa Rica is so diverse we even have rainbow trout in our cold mountain streams, though the wild ones don’t typically get bigger than six inches.

How to for Freshwater Fly Fish in Costa Rica: There are numerous species to target on Costa Rica’s rivers and lake and techniques vary based on location and target species. On Lake Arenal the trophy-sized rainbow bass are often found in deeper water while the big machacas will hit on the surface. This type of fly fishing involves identifying structure and making blind casts to it, varying your strips based on the fly you are using. Many of the jungle rivers, especially during our green season, don’t have a lot of clarity so making your fly “splat!” on the surface works wonders for aggressive machaca while brighter minnow patters can elicit bites from rainbow bass (as well as small snook and snapper).

Freshwater Fly Tackle: Most of our freshwater fly fishing can be done on 6 wt – 8 wt rods. While the flora and fauna is probably vastly different than your home waters, freshwater fly fishing in Costa Rica has many similarities to fishing for bass and panfish. On Lake Arenal the fish tend to be bigger so an 7 wt – 8 wt rod with intermediate sinking and/or full sink tip fly line are recommended. On our river float trips, a lighter 6 wt – 7 wt rod gets the job done. Machaca tend to hit your fly once it hits the water or after the first strip, so a floating line is best on our float trips. Leaders vary based on location and target species, but a good idea is to have 12, 15 lb, 20 lb, and 30 lb material with you to be able to taper your own leaders on the spot.

Whether you are a seasoned fly angler or a novice, we will gladly custom design the perfect Costa Rica fly fishing package for you. From big game offshore fishing to huge tarpon to exotic light tackle freshwater species, Costa Rica is a fly fishing paradise.

Costa Rica Fishing Lodges & Accommodations

Costa Rica has been attracting anglers for decades so there is no shortage of quality accommodations for your fly fishing vacation. Your choices include exclusive boutique hotels, luxury beach resorts, exotic eco-lodges, all inclusive fishing lodges, and even fully furnished private condos & villas for larger groups or families. As a luxury vacation outfitter, we only work with the nicest 3, 4, and 5-star properties that meet our expectations for quality, reliability, and service. Being local experts in Costa Rica, we have personally visited every single property we represent so we’ll use our personal experience to hand pick the perfect fit for your group.