Costa Rica is a country where you can fish for trout in the mountains, tarpon on the Caribbean coast, and a toothy jungle-river species in the lowlands, all in one week. In Episode 144 of the Fly Fishing Insider Podcast, we sit down with Jesse Males, who runs the Backwater Fly Fishing media channels and guides throughout the country with 506 Outdoors, to break down what makes this destination so special.
A country of many fisheries
Jesse, who grew up fishing in Florida before moving to Costa Rica, describes a landscape that stacks together mountains reaching around 12,000 feet, lowland jungle rivers, marshes, and two very different coasts. That variety means a traveling angler can target trout, tarpon, machaca and even sailfish within a single trip, depending on the plan and the season.
Machaca: surface fishing in the rainforest
One of Jesse's favorite fish to guide is the machaca, a relative of the piranha that lives in lowland jungle rivers. Fish in the eight to ten pound range are considered big, and they fight hard. The fishing is visual and happens on the surface, typically with fruit-style flies, from rafts with frames as you float through overhanging trees. Rain actually helps, since fruit falls and the fish become more active.
Casting here is less about distance and more about accuracy, since you are often weaving short casts through gaps in low branches. Jesse's preferred setup is an eight weight with a floating line, because the fish are strong and the river has logs and rocks they will use to break you off. He uses a short, heavy leader, with a running portion around 20 pound for roughly four feet, since the fish often hit the fly almost as it lands.
Caribbean tarpon and river mouths
On the Caribbean side, Jesse calls the tarpon fishing some of the best in the world, with river mouths holding huge numbers of fish. The fishing is seasonal and driven by weather windows, with the best periods he mentions falling in spring and early fall. In the setups he describes, fish are often schooled up like tuna, so you may be casting into a pot of tarpon with fish leaping around the boat. One practical tip is to strip strike aggressively, because you can feel very little weight when a fish eats a sardine-style fly.
Rooster fish and surf fishing
Jesse also covers rooster fish, which he describes as a stubborn species on the fly that responds to teasing and fast-moving offerings, much like a sailfish or marlin. Surf fishing in Costa Rica can also produce jacks, snook and small roosters, with more than a dozen species available from the beach. He notes that a simple rig with a loop connection to the fly line, a double surgeon's knot between leader sections, and a wide-gap hook covers a lot of situations.
Planning your trip
If Costa Rica is on your list, think about what you want to catch first, then match it to the right coast and time of year. Work with a guide service that knows each region, and ask about rod weights and leaders before you pack.
Gear
Tropical sun and glare are no joke on the water, so a good brimmed hat helps. Our Five Panel Cap is a solid on-the-water option, and a pair of Fin-Flank Tarpon Sun Gloves keeps your hands covered on long tropical days. For heavier rods and saltwater lines, your local fly shop can steer you toward the right setup.
