FLY FISHING IN COSTA RICA’S RAINY SEASON
Looking to get away during the summer months? Costa Rica isn’t just a wintertime destination! Great fly fishing and excellent deals on travel and lodging make Costa Rica a great place to visit between May and November. Check out the article below to learn about fly fishing Costa Rica’s rainy season, and give yourself a heads up on planning your trip.
WHY VISIT COSTA RICA IN THE RAINY SEASON?
Generally speaking, May to November is Costa Rica’s rainy season. The lush, tropical regions of Costa Rica are fueled by the rains that arrive in Central America’s winter. Often called the “Green Season”, this period of the year brings much-needed moisture to areas of the country that were dry and dusty mere weeks before. Rivers swell, pastures flood, and every plant in the country doubles in size. But rain isn’t something to worry about! Many regions of the country have beautiful weather all morning, with the rain only arriving in the late afternoon, ending at night. The Caribbean side of Costa Rica doesn’t always follow the rules of the rainy and dry seasons. Often times the Caribbean side has beautiful weather all day between May and November. The intrepid traveler can take advantage of lower rates that many hotels offer during this time. And of course, the change in water levels offers many amazing opportunities to the fly fishing angler! And some fishing – mainly tarpon – is ONLY available during these rainy months. This is the peak time to target these behemoths.
THE SILVER KING – COSTA RICA’S AMAZING TARPON FLY FISHING
THE RIO COLORADO TARPON CLUB
August to October is prime tarpon time in the ocean. Low winds, calm seas, and beautiful sunny days, allows fly fishermen on the Caribbean the chance to get out through the breakers in the river mouths, and fish for tarpon before they migrate inland. One of the best places to target trophy tarpon on the fly is at the Rio Colorado Tarpon Club.
Only accessible by boat, the Rio Colorado Tarpon Club is an excellent spot for the adventurous fly angler to grab onto many tarpon. When the bite is on, anglers can often jump in excess of ten tarpon per day. Twenty plus jumped fish days are not uncommon! And with sizes ranging from 60-150+ lbs, these are not small tarpon. In addition to the tarpon, marauding schools of giant jack crevalle are always a blast on topwater poppers. Other species lurk in the currents of the rivermouth, too. Cutlassfish, catfish, and the elusive tripletail can be brought to hand here.
Click here for more information on the Rio Colorado Tarpon Club
THE JUNGLE TARPON RESERVE
From August until December, the Jungle Tarpon Reserve is the best place in Costa Rica to fish for inland tarpon. These river tarpon migrate close to 250 km (150 miles) to reach the flooded lagoon and river system. They have one thing on their mind – food. Fly fishing anglers experience world-class lodging and dining in the midst of lowland rainforest paradise. Each day groups board simple but efficient motorized river pangas boats to travel up and down the rivers, searching for feeding fish, or stalking rolling tarpon in the flooded lagoons.
This area is also an amazing place to combine fly fishing with wildlife watching. Maybe you are chasing a dream “lifer” bird like the snowy cotinga or the agami heron? Or you want a chance to see an array of rainforest animals like monkeys, sloths, tapirs, and even big cats like jaguars? The Jungle Tarpon Reserve is unrivaled in this aspect. With so much to see and do, anglers are advised to book well in advance. Reservations at this fly fishing destination fill up fast!
Click here for more information on the Jungle Tarpon Reserve
FRESHWATER EXOTICS IN INLAND RIVERS
Inland rivers don’t just hold tarpon. In the lowland rainforests of Costa Rica’s Caribbean slope, just a short ride from the capitol of San José, the fruits of the chilamate and jobo trees are starting to ripen from July to September. Lurking beneath them are shoals of hungry machaca, just waiting for their next meal to fall from the trees. Machaca fly fishing trips are a great adventure for someone who’s visiting Costa Rica during the rainy season and just wants to fish for a day. These relatives of the piranha readily take topwater flies, and it’s a fantastic experience when fished from a drift boat!
And the end of the rainy season provides excellent conditions for targeting one of Costa Rica’s most beautiful fish- the guapote, or rainbow bass. Small streamers or poppers are the best way to get tight to one of these iridescent beauties.
Click here for more information on the Machaca Float Trips & click here for more information on Freshwater Exotics
RAINBOW TROUT FLY FISHING IN THE MOUNTAINS
The Pacific side of Costa Rica is a bit more unpredictable during the rainy season. But that doesn’t make it any less exciting! Another excellent option for a day trip from San José is rainbow trout fishing in the cloud forests. The waters are a little higher during this time, but as any seasoned trout angler knows, high waters concentrate fish! This is also a great time to fish for the true trophy trout in Costa Rica. July in particular has been an excellent month, with fish over 18” being brought to the net!
Click here for more information on the Rainbow Trout Fly Fishing in the Mountains
BIG GAME ON THE PACIFIC COAST
Both coasts of Costa Rica can have excellent saltwater fly fishing in the rainy season. The peak time to target Pacific blue marlin is from May to September. The fishing is chaotic – normally ten to thirty fish are raised per day when fishing the seamounts and FADs, and all are sized for the fly. The northern regions of Guanacaste get a break from the summertime winds, and fly anglers can have excellent inshore opportunities for targeting roosterfish, snapper, and jacks. Tuna can be caught year round on both coasts. New fishing regulations have led to an increase in both tuna size and numbers!
October can be amazing at times. Heavy rains send logs out of the river mouths, and pelagics swarm to them. Mahi mahi and wahoo cruise the perimeters of floating structure, and anglers can have shots at triggerfish and tripletail underneath.
Click here for more information on the Pacific Coast Trips & click here for more information on Blue Marlin Trips
WHY FLY FISH COSTA RICA IN THE RAINY SEASON?
Costa Rica’s rainy season is a misnomer. While it can definitely be a little wet at times, the advantages of visiting between May and November often outweigh the disadvantages. Lower prices throughout the country can greatly help with family friendly trips. Weather on the Caribbean side is often gorgeous. And for the fly fisherman who wants to go after tarpon, this is the time to do it! Don’t let the chance of rain discourage you. The off season in Costa Rica is an amazing time to plan your fly fishing adventure!
Contact us to learn more about any of these Rainy Season trips!
Click here for more information on the Jungle Tarpon Reserve!
For the adventure of a lifetime, check out our blue marlin trips!
Learn more about fishing at the Rio Colorado Tarpon Club!