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Look for yellowfin tuna accompanying spinner and spotted dolphin that come to these waters to dine and dash. Although you can encounter 15- to 30-pound schoolies all year, the tuna run all sizes and can get big here, commonly to 200 pounds and more. (January 2004)
By: William Boyce - Sport Fishing Mag

Privilegio Sport Fishing Costa Rica - Reserve Online
Costa Rica Fishing World Records

As listed in International Game Fish Association's world  Record Game Fishes

All Tackle Records 21

  • Barracuda, Mexican Sphyraena ensis; 21 lb; Drake Bay; 3/27/87; E. Greg Kent.
  • Bass, splittall Hemanthias signifer, 1 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 6/10/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead.
  • Dolphin (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 87 lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/76; Manuel Salazar.
  • Gar, Tropical Lepisostius tropicus; 6 lb 6 Os; Rio Frio;11/22/94; John A. Corry.
  • Grunt, burro Pomadasys crocro; 4 lb 1 oz; Rio Frio; 12/4/95; John A. Corry.
  • Grunt, Pacific roncador Pomadasys baysnus; 3 lb 8 Os; Rio Grande de Terraba;1/28/90; Dr. Craig Whitehead.
  • Guapote (Rainbow Bass) Cichiasoma dovi; 12 lb 9 oz; Lago Hule (also known as Lago Echandi); 4/13/91; Rick Killgore.
  • Guapote, jaguar Cichiasoma managuense; 1 lb 10 oz; Barra delColorado; 9/9/97; John C. Taylor.
  • Jack, Pacific crevalle Caranx can/nus; 29 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 1/1/94, Ronald C. Snody.
  • Leatherjack, long/sw Oligoplifes altus; 3 lb 8 oz; Rio Coto; 2/6/90; Dr. Craig Whifehead. (Same angler tied his own record for species at Playa Zancudo, 5/27/95).
  • Machaca Brycon guatemalensis; 9 lb. 8 Os; Barra del Colorado; 11/24/91; Barbara Ann Fields.
  • Mullet, hog Joturus ~ichard/; 7 lb 2 oz; Rio Sarapiqui; 8/9/95; Carlos M. Barrantes R.
    Seabass, leather Dermatolepsis dermafolepis; 4 lb 8 Os; Playa Zancudo; 1/23/93; Dr. Craig Whitehead.
  • Snapper, colorado Lutlanus colorado; 20 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 3/19/93; Dr. Craig Whitehead.
  • Snapper, mullet Lutjanus aratus; 33 lb; Drake Bay; 9/23/97; Jose F Reyes Astorga.
  • Snapper, Pacific cubera Lu(/anus novemfasciatus; 78 lb 12oz; Bahia Paz Vela; 3/23/88; Steven C. Paull.
  • Snapper, yellow Lu/anus argentiventris; 11 lb; Playa Zancudo; 3/12/93; Roy Venlura Roig.
  • Snook, common Centropomus undecimalis; Rio Parismina; 10/18/78; Gilbert Ponsi.
  • Snook, Pacific black Centropomus nigrescens; 57 b 12 oz; Rio Naranjo; 8/23/91; George Beck.
  • Snook, Pacific blacklin Centropomus med/us; 5 lb 8 Os; Playa Zancudo; 9/10/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead.
  • Tilapia Oreochromis n/lot/ca; 6 lb 5 oz; Lake Arenal; 2/10/95; Marvin C. Smith.
  • Tilefish, golden-eyed Caulolatilus affinus; 1 lb 8 Os; Playa Zancudo; 3/10/93; Dr. Craig Whilehead.

Line Test Records 41

  • Bonito, Pacific Sarda spp.; 8 lb; Golf/to; 2/13/78; Jean A. Lovetang, W-6.
  • Dolphin (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 87lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/78; Manuel Sa/azar, M-50 (also holds all tackle record).
  • Jack, crave/te Caranx hippos; 42 lb; Barra Colorado; 10/1/78; Marilyn Mattson; W-20.
  • Jack, Pacific crave/te Caranx caninus: (1) 7 lb; Playa Zancudo; 12/20/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead, M-2. (2)18 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 9/2/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead, M-8. (3) 28 lb
    12 oz; Golf/to; 8/2/92; Dr. Jerome N Matthews M-20; (4) 29 lb. 8 oz.; Plays Zancudo; 1/1/94; Ronald C Snody M-50 (also holds all tackle record). (5) 23 lb 8 oz Plays Zancudo; 12/23/92; Judy M. Sypniecki, W-50.
  • Marlin, blue (Pacific) Maka/ra nigricans (1)182 lb 8 oz; Quepos; 3/15/89; Marg Love; W-4. (2) 303/b Flamingo Bay; 8/15/91; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W 12
  • Roosterfish Nematistius pectoralis (1) 42 lb Golfito; 5/19/90; Dr. Jerome N. Matthews; M 8 (2) 88 lb 12 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 10/9/92; John Porr; M 18 (3) 28 lb Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/98; Beth Klane; W 4 (4) 80 lb' Flamingo Bay; 10/1/93; Virgins Jane Penley; W 8 (5) 43 lb FlamingoBay; 7/18/92; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W 130
  • Runner, rainbow Elagatis bipinnulata (1) 24 lb Tamarindo; 11/23/86; Anthony V Spezzano; M-12 (2)14/b 7 oz Isla del Coco; 3/26/84; Nors C. Schofield;
  • Sailfish, Pacific latiophotus platypterus (1)111 lb Flamingo Bay; 7/5/93; Jerry Dunaway; M-2. (2)102 lb Flamingo Bay; 7/19/92; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W 2 (3)109 lb 12 oz;
    Deborah Maddox Dunaway; W-4.
  • Snapper cubera Lutjanus cyanopterus' 88 lb 5 oz; Tortuguero 8/27
    Snapper Pacific cubera Lufianus novemfasciatus (1) 2 lb; Playa Zancudo 12/18/95 Dr Craig Whitehead M 2 (2)12/b Matthews M 4 (3) 6 lb; Playa Zancudo 9/8/95 Dr Craig Whitehead (4) 48 lb 3 oz; Drake a Bay 6/6/97 Bill Kirby M 8 (5) 51 lb Drake a Bay; ve M 12 (6) 78 I z Vela;
    C Paull M 30 (s/s cord). (7) 71 lb 9 oz Drake a Bay 3/26/8. (8) 8lb 8 os Go/fito 7/30/92 Cheri Ann Matthews' W 4; (9) 38 lb stthews W 8; (10) 21/b; a W12 (11) 35/b 12oz; anhews W 16)
  • Snook Centropomus app (1) 55 lb 8 oz Rio Parr/ta; 12 (2) 49 lb 13 oz; Rio Tulin 5/20/90 Gerardo Cespedes M 16 (3) 53 lb 10 oz; Rio M 20 (also holds all-tackle record) (4) 5 arsnio 8/23/91 George Beck, M 30 (5) 27 lb 8 oz Barr 0/2/89; onna . avenport; -Trevally, bigeye Caranx sexfasciatus; 6 lb. 13 oz; Bahis Paz Va/s; 4/14/83;Yvas FM. Hentic; M-2. Trevally, bluefin Carnx malampygus; (1) 18 lb; Quepos 4/5/97; Michael R. C/ark; M-6. (2) 20 lb; Tamarindo; 5/28/89;
    Lawrence A. Gordich; M-12. (3(17 lb; Drake's Bay. Cocos Is/and; 5/5/97; Mar/i Manser; W-6.

Fly Fishing Records 18

  • Bonito, Pacific Sarda app.; 12 lb; Plays Flamingo; 5/24/94; Robert Rein; 8 lb.
  • Dolphin (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 53lb; Quepos; 1/14/97; Dr. Bill Mooney; 20 lb.
  • Jack, crave/te Caranx hippos; 44 lb; Tortuguero; 2/20/79; RI Mi//er; 16 lb.
  • Marlin, blue (Pacific) Make/ra nigricans; (1) 203 lb 8 oz; Playa Carrillo; 2/12/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 16 lb. (2( 260 lb; Flamingo; 8/6/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 20 lb. (NOTE: These are
    the only two Pacific blue mar/in records recorded by /GFA on fly rod. All other tippet classes are opan).
  • Marlin, striped Tetrapturus audax; (1) 105 lb; Cocos Island;6/28;Char/es Owen, Jr.; 8 lb. (2) 185 lb; Cocos Island; 8/30/95; Char/as Tombras; 20 lb.
  • Roostertish Namatistius pectorals /1( 33 lb 4 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 8/22/90; Eizo Maruhashi; 12 lb. (2) 31/b 12 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 8/20/88; Jack Samson; 16 lb. (3) 40 lb; 6/5/94; Flamingo; Robert Rein; 20 lb.
  • Sailfish, Pacific Istiophorus platypterus; (1/ 94 lb 8 oz; Quepos; 1/9/91; Jim (Harry(Grsy; 4 lb. (2)103 lb; 2/16/95; Tony Hedley; 6 lb. (3(106 lb 8 oz; Quepos; 1/2/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 8 lb. (4)124 lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 7/21/89; Eizo Maruhashi; 16 lb. (5)128 lb 8 oz; Quepos; 1/10/93; Lee J. Dixon, II; 20 lb.
  • Snapper, Pacific cubera Lutjanus novemfasciatus; (1) 20 lb; Drake's Bay; 5/28/97; Collin Huff; 16 lb. (2) 31 lb 12 oz; Drake's Bay; 4/21/97; Kevin Keith Ross Winter; 20 lb.
  • Snook Centropomus Undecimals; 26 lb; Barra de Colorado; 10/19/80; Bill Barnes; 16 lb.
  • Trevally, bigaye Caranx seafascistus; 8 lb 1 oz; Drake's Bay; 5/29/97; Collin Huff.
  • Tripletail Lobotes surinamenses; 16 lb 6 oz; Barra Colorado; 10/1/95; Jim (Harry) Gray; 20 lb.
  • Wahoo Ancanthocybium solanderi; 57 lb; Gulf of Papagayo: 6/13/95; Harmano Fehringer; 12 lb.