Species of Fish

Best action starts with the rains, beginning in late May – October when the debris and drift wood flow from the river mouths and creates an inshore trash line that Mahi love. This fish is exciting to catch on light tackle and distinguished by their brilliant colors ranging from greens to blues with brilliant iridescent

These billfish put up a powerful fight that can last for hours, so be prepared to be tired when you’re done reeling one in. Sailfish “light up” when excited and become brilliant iridescent blue, purple with a silver belly. It is thought that their ability to change colors serves as a form of communication with other sailfish.

The gorgeous dorsal fin on the Rooster Fish is distinctive with its fanlike fin when it is excited which gives the fish its name. Rooster fish are found inshore, rock formation, along the surf and over sandy bottoms and prefer moderate depths, feeding on small fish.

The wahoo travel in small schools, found inshore and occassionally offshore, they prefer rocky points and islands to open ocean. Wahoo are in the area during the months May – August which is during our rainy season. Wahoo are sleek, dark-blue, elongated fish with an iridescent green-blue back and a pattern of blue vertical bars.

Fished for in shallow, rough waters 3-10 ft., and inhabit tidal estuaries and river mouths flowing into the ocean. They are another bass type fish, ambush predators which lay in wait for a bait fish to swim by. They can be caught on poppers, jigs, rapallas, and live bait such as sardines and mullet. They make for excellent eating.

Most snappers reside in the first 200 feet of water, caught by bottom fishing or casting into shallow, rocky shoreline waters. Several varieties of Snapper (also known as pargo) are found around the Papagayo Gulf.

These fish are generally found in areas with rocky bottoms, shoreline and at depths of 100 feet. Grouper can be caught on live bait, sardines or Ballyhoo, or jigs round rock formations at the depths of 50 to over 400 ft deep. Excellent eating.

They are strong fighters especially on light tackle, live bait, jigs, poppers, or lures. Amberjacks are the largest of the jacks weighing around 40 lbs. These fish are vicious predators and are caught in 25 feet of water, near floating objects. Not good for eating.