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In Gorinsky's opinion, the freshwater lagoons of Caño Negro and Río Frío in the northern zone of Costa Rica offer some of the best tarpon fishing in the world. FFCR uses Pac 1200's, small two-man inflatable pontoon boats equipped with 3.5 h.p. outboards, to provide access to almost every nook and cranny of the many lagoons and canals within the area.
Inside these freshwater lagoons are tarpon (up to 200 pounds), snook, machaca, mojara, guapote, alligator gar, drum and other species. Tarpon in these shallow lagoons actively feed on the surface allowing the angler to sight-cast the monsters. Because the lagoons are shallow (20 feet at the deepest point) floating lines are used with a variety of streamers. Yellow, red, black, orange and white seem to work best. When hooked from the 13-foot boats, a tarpon feels more like a submarine than a fish. No less than a #10 rod is recommended and a high-density sinking line should be brought along for days when the fish are being a little fickle.
At Lake Arenal, fishing for guapote and machaca is done in the shadow of the active Arenal Volcano. FFCR uses a fully equipped, 20-foot aluminum bass boat named the "Tropic" when working the lake. Fishing is the same for guapote as for largemouth bass; the only difference is the fish. Guapote, also called rainbow bass, are cousins of the tropical fish found in many aquariums. They lurk in flooded brush and off the many points and drop-offs in the lake—and fight like two largemouths combined.
Flyfishing is most often with floating lines with large poppers (#8-6) or with white, silver, and yellow streamers (#6-4) for guapote, and smaller poppers and streamers for machaca (#12-6). Fishing in Arenal is best after January, when the rains stop and the water level drops. An angler equipped with a #6-8 rod and an extra sinking or sink tip line should be prepared for just about anything the lake has to offer.
Float fishing several of Costa Rica's smaller rivers also provides some excellent sport. Again, the two-man Pac 1200's and smaller one-man Pac 80's are used to fish the rivers, which resemble the rivers of the western United States. Gorinski calls this kind of fishing "tropical trout fishing," although the prey includes machaca, machín, bobo, guapote and other species rather than trout, which are only found in the higher elevations..
The Road to Manzanillo - The tarpon fishery along southeastern Costa Rica is off the radar of most fly fishers. But adventurous anglers can still find big
Fly fishing trips to Costa Rica, The Caribbean coast for tarpon and the Pacific Flyfishing both Coasts of Costa Rica, In Search of Fly Fishing Heaven
Browse this page to find a fly fishing trip. Ask our agents about a fly fishingFly fishing in costa rica is not limited to streams and rivers when you
