When it comes to sport fishing, Los Sueños, Costa Rica has earned quite a reputation as a world-class destination for dedicated anglers. It is located off La Playa Herradura (i.e., Horseshoe Bay) on the Pacific Coast and offers stunning scenery, rich biodiversity, and some of the best fishing experiences you can find anywhere.
Why Los Sueños?
You know how challenging and satisfying it is to catch a marlin or a sailfish because of these fishes’ strength and speed as well as the fight they can put up when hooked. Well, you can improve your chances of making this dream catch come true by fishing in Los Sueños.
The billfish in Los Sueños is no weaker, slower or tamer than those in other parts of the world. However, they are abundant in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Los Sueños, which gives you a better chance of hooking one for the ‘gram. In fact, Los Sueños is deemed the billfish capital of the world and home to the annual three-leg Signature Triple Crown Billfish Tournament.
Indeed, Los Sueños is celebrated for its unrivaled fishing opportunities, especially for deep-sea enthusiasts targeting (as earlier mentioned) Pacific sailfish, black marlin, blue marlin, and striped marlin. There’s also tuna and dorado (mahi-mahi). The area’s biodiversity and rich ocean currents attract large schools of fish year-round, with prime seasons that cater to different species.
Beyond the fishing, Los Sueños is a luxury destination. The marina at Los Sueños is an excellent starting point for yacht tours. Combine this with top-tier amenities and accommodation options, including a beach club and a championship golf course, and you’ll understand why Los Sueños has become part of every angler’s bucket list of fishing destinations.
Your Options in Los Sueños
A fishing trip in Los Sueños can go any way you want. You can get a fishing package (the most convenient) or separately arrange your accommodation and fishing expeditions.
Sport Fishing Package
A sport fishing package is the best option if you want to focus on fishing instead of making arrangements for every little thing. It’s set-and-forget and involves the least amount of hassle.
Sports fishing packages typically include:
- luxury accommodation in a condo or villa;
- roundtrip airport transfers in a luxury van; and
- one or more days of offshore fishing in a well-appointed yacht, accompanied and guided by an experienced crew, complete with bait, license, fishing equipment, food, beverages, and an itinerary customized for the season and your fishing goals.
A fishing package will have everything arranged and waiting for you, so you can rest easy knowing you’ll get the best fishing experience in Los Sueños.
Fishing Charters Only
Already in Costa Rica and looking to spend a day or two fishing? Maybe you’ve met other anglers in Los Sueños and decided to go fishing on the spot. A fishing charter is the answer in this case.
Fishing charters include a fully equipped yacht that will be available to you for a half-day or full day of fishing, a captain and crew, bait, tackle, food, and beverages. You may have to obtain a fishing license yourself.
Yachts available for fishing charters are crewed by experts who will take you to the best fishing spots based on your target catch. You’ll see these boats in the marina, but it’s better to make arrangements beforehand, even if it’s just one day ahead of your target fishing schedule.
Accommodation Only
Maybe you plan to fish from the shore or the rocks, close to where the sea meets a river somewhere in Los Sueños. Perhaps you are content to live vicariously through the tales told by other anglers or intend to take each day as it comes, booking a fish charter if you feel like fishing at any time during your stay. It could also be that you’re in Los Sueños not for fishing but for the La Iguana Golf Course.
In any of these situations, you’ll need a place to stay in Los Sueños. It’s a good thing there are many luxury vacation rentals in Costa Rica. In Los Sueños, your options include beautiful villas and condominiums, including some ultra-luxe ones.
Things to Know for Your Los Sueños Fishing Trip
For efficiency and to ensure you can have the best time when you visit Los Sueños to fish, remember the following tips:
- License: To go out on the water to fish, you must have a license from INCOPESCA. It’s easy to get one, and it costs only $15. You don’t need a permit if you’re fishing from the shore.
- Types of fish: Los Sueños is known for both inshore and offshore fishing. Fishing near the shore, reefs, and bays will yield snapper, grouper, jack, mackerel, snook, and roosterfish. Offshore fishing is the way to go if you want to catch billfish (marlin and sailfish), yellowfin tuna, and dorado.
- Fishing schedule: Offshore trips generally last a full day, as the best fishing spots are further out. However, it’s worth it, as the potential payoff (a tussle with a sailfish or a marlin) is incredible.
- Best months to fish: If your goal is to catch a marlin, the best time to go is November and December. You have the best chances to catch sailfish and mahi-mahi from November to April, while yellowfin tuna is abundant from January to June. For inshore fishing, go in July and August, as these are the best months for roosterfish and snapper fishing (note: snapper is also abundant in November and December).
- Rules: Some fish are strictly catch-and-release in Costa Rica. This is the case for sailfish and all types of marlin. You can, however, catch and eat yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo, or snook.
Knowing the above details can help you plan a successful fishing trip. You can minimize downtime, avoid issues and make the most of your vacation.
Angling at Its Finest in Los Sueños
The feeling of catching a Pacific sailfish or a feisty marlin is indescribable, and it’s a thrill you can experience in Los Sueños, the billfish capital of the world.
Los Sueños, Costa Rica is a remarkable place for sports fishing, offering world-class deep-sea and inshore fishing action as well as luxury accommodation, fishing charters, a championship golf course, a beach club, and resort amenities.