A FECOP Guide

A Guide to the Common Fish Species of Costa Rica

Common Fish of Costa Rica

Costa Rica Common Fish Species

Overview

At least 16 fish species have been identified in connection with tourist and sport fishing in the country. These include billfish, tuna, mahi-mahi, tarpon, and snook (Ross Salazar et al., 2017). Costa Rica has implemented certain measures to protect some of these species. For instance, in 2005, the sailfish (I. platypterus), the blue marlin (M. nigricans), the black marlin (I. indica), the striped marlin (K. audax), and the tarpon (Megalops atlanticus) were declared species of interest to tourist and sport fishing in Costa Rica (Section 76 of Law No. 8436, 2005). Later, the roosterfish was included through Incopesca’s Board of Directors Agreement (Section 69 of AJDIP 086, 2014). The following section includes a guide to recognize the species of greater interest, focusing on their most relevant ecological features. Except where otherwise indicated, all the information is from (Ross Salazar et al., 2017).

Offshore Species (click for more information)

Featured Fish

Striped Marlin

Striped marlin are a highly migratory fish living at the top of the food chain in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Pacific and Indian Oceans. It is a member of a larger family known as billfish, which get their name from their upper jaw that extends to form a spear.

How to tell the difference between blue and striped marlin

Dorsal Fin

The dorsal fin: This is the most definitive way to tell the difference. A blue marlin’s dorsal fin is no taller than roughly half of the depth of its body, whereas a striped marlin’s dorsal fin is much taller, nearly as tall as the depth of the body. So, if your marlin has a very tall dorsal, it’s a striped marlin.

Body Shape

It’s a characteristic that takes a little more practice to discern, but a blue marlin is rounder in shape, whereas a striped marlin has a more flattened shape. In other words, if you sawed a blue marlin in half, the cross section would be nearly round, whereas the striped marlin would be egg-shaped.

Learn More about Striped Marlin

Lower jaw

The lower jaw of a striped marlin is thin, narrow and pointed; in blues it’s shorter and fatter. Don’t rely on the fish’s coloration or whether or not it has stripes. Blues can display very vivid stripes, and striped marlin don’t always have their flanks lit up.

Offshore Fish Species

Blue Marlin

Blue marlin can be released on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast year round but peak at different times of the year depending on what part of the country in. They average around 300lbs in Costa Rica but can grow much larger.

Striped Marin

Striped marlin peaks in the summer months in Costa Rica but can be released year round. Smaller than blue and black marlin this fish can be identified by its vibrant stripes. They don’t get nearly is big as blue or black marlin but none the less are a top release species in Costa Rica.

Black Marlin

Black marlin can be most easily identified by their rigid pectoral fins that do not fold back against their body like a blue marlin. Black Marlin have thicker heads and shorter bills that are often downturned slightly.

Pacific Sailfish

Costa Rica enjoys two peak sailfish seasons. From the Gulf of Nicoya south, the peak is January through April. The Guanacaste region to the north begins to peak in May after the winds die down. Learn more about how to catch sailfish in Costa Rica here.

Dorado

The Dorado is a fierce fighter and can be found and caught year round on Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. Also called Mahi Mahi, this fish is famous for it’s beautiful colors and makes for excellent table fare. It peaks in the summer months and again in November and December and can usually be found around any kind of floating debris offshore.

Yellowfin Tuna

Once hard to find in Costa Rica, new fishing laws limiting purse seine boats in the country has propelled Costa Rica to a top destination to target these strong and delicious fish. Read more about Costa Rica’s Tuna comeback here!

Inshore Species

Roosterfish

Roosterfish are one Costa Rica’s main attractions inshore. They average 15-20lbs with anglers seeing individuals to 60+lbs. They are available year round and are a release only species. Their defining characterstic is the fantastic 7 spine dorsal fin for which they are named. Read more about catching roosterfish in Costa Rica here!

Cubera Snapper

Where there’s rocky structure and holes there is bound to be cubera snapper. This is one of Costa Rica’s most sought after inshore species and is one tough customer. Although bottom fishing is the primary way to catch these fish, they can also be caught on the popper if the angler can create a big enough splash.

Snook

A prize fish for visiting anglers, snook is an inshore favorite. Several varieties of snook can be found in Costa Rica on the Pacific and Caribbean Coast. Snook is also probably one of the best table fish you will find in Costa Rica. Learn more about catching snook in Costa Rica here!

A Guide to Costa Rica Fish Species