Their economic impact overshadowed commercial fishing. Some 73,000 jobs resulted from sport fishermen compared to 67,000 jobs from commercial fishing pursuing the same species as sportsmen. Since Costa Rica is a catch and releases billfish country, sport fishing, like ecotourism, is sustainable development. You can also hire fishing charters in Costa Rica online.

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How important is sport fishing to the country's economy? Consider the effect if people couldn't fish for marlin, sails, and other species. 40 percent of folks who fished in Costa Rica reported that they would not have visited the country if they could not fish. Those anglers, some 116,000 visitors per year, contribute about $135 million to its economy.

For those considering Costa Rica vacations that include fishing, there are two oceans from which to choose and year-round angling opportunities. By far the most popular coast for fishing is the Pacific. Tropical weather, azure waters, steeped in history.

Marlin and sailfish are the main attraction here but the waters have lots of other fish from which to choose: mahi mahi (dolphin), giant yellowfin tuna, wahoo, cubera, roosterfish, snapper, grouper, blue and rainbow runners, snook, jacks, and mackerel.

On the other side of Costa Rica lies its Caribbean coast, far less traveled and fished. There, close to where Christopher Columbus came ashore in 1503 and settled on the name "Costa Rica" you'll find extraordinary snook and Costa Rica tarpon fishing in its rivers and estuaries as well as deep water fishing.