Marlin Fishing at the Southern Pacific Coast
(Puerto Jimenez)
Marlin or Sailfish (Istiophoridae) – family of fish from the order Perciformes – they belong to the pelagic fish – these are the predators that live and hunt in the upper waters of the oceans. Some of them spends parts of their lives far from the coast, only returning back for the spawning. Pelagic fishes are great swimmers, which are capable of swimming for great distances. Some of the pelagic fishes are holding speed records – sailfishes, marlins and tunas. Most of the pelagic fishes are having daily vertical migrations, made for the food search in the most productive water layers. Main trophies which attract sea fishers belong to the pelagic fishes. Marlin fishing – is one of the most exciting activities in the world, and can serve as the source to strongest emotions.
The biggest species in the family is the Atlantic Blue Marlin (Makaira nigricans), which can be up to 5 meters long and have weight of 800 kg – and a Black Marlin (Makaira indica), which might be longer than 5 meters, and weight 670 kg. Also you can meet Striped Marlin (Kajikia audax) in Costa Rica
Marlin characteristics:
Genus: Marlins
Family: Istiophoridae
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Type: Chordates
Life length: Males up to 18 years, females up to 27 years. Marlins belong to the so called “blue water” fishes, because they spend most of their lives at the open waters far from the coast, they prefer to stay in the warm upper water layers, their ration consist of scombridae (mackerel, tuna); calamari, close to the islands and corral reefs they can eat young coastal fishes. There were some lasting arguments on how marlins use their spear. As it were found out, marlins, use their spear-like head to charge schools of fish to stun, wound or kill fishes, and then they return to eat them.
Sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) — sea fish from the istiophoridae family perciformes order, the only kind in the Istiophorus genus, the fastest fish in the world. It lives in the subtropical temperate waters in all oceans.
Sailfish characteristics:
Genus: Marlins
Family: Istiophoridae
Order: Perciformes
Class: Actinopterygii
Type: Chordates
Life length: up to 13 years.
A distinctive feature of the sailfish is the long first dorsal fin that looks similar to the a sail. Sailfish eats small fishes from the upper water layers, such as sardines, anchovies, bonito, mackerel, as well as crustaceans and cephalopods . Young individuals reach length of 1.5 – 2 meters during the first year of life. Grown ups can jump up to 3,5 meters while having a weight of 100 kg. Sailfish is an active predator, which can reach speed up to 100 km/h. During series of tests made in the fishing camp Long-Ki, Florida, USA, sailfish have swam 93m in 3 seconds, which gives us speed 109 km/h.
Day 1 – San Jose, Costa Rica
Meeting with Bilingual-speaking guide at the airport, transfer and accommodation at the boutique-hotel Alta. (no meals).
Day 2 – Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula.
Early in the morning you will have transfer to the airport and a regular flight to the Puerto Jimenez. Transfer to the Crocodile Bay Resort. Free recreation day that can be used for optional tours close to the hotel. Lunch and dinner at the hotel. (Full Board).
Day 3 – Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula.
Early in the morning you will leave hotel for 8-hours full day fishing tour, boat size 24” / 32”.
Fish species:
Offshore fishing: three types of Marlins, sailfish, dorado, tuna, wahoo.
Inshore fishing: roosterfish, snapper, grouper, barracuda, jack, snook, bonito, mackerel, pompano, bluefin trevally, elagat, sharks and others.
Lunch during fishing(box-lunch). Dinner and accommodation in the evening. (full board).
Hotel offers different types of fishing:
Live baiting, trolling, casting and fly fishing.
Day 4 – Puerto Jimenez, Osa Peninsula.
Full fishing day. Accommodation at the hotel. (Full Board).
Day 5 – Puerto Jimenez – San Jose
Transfer to the airport and a regular fight to San Jose. (Breakfast).
Marlin – «Mistress in blue» or Blue Marlin is the one of the most widely spread type of marlins, which are crossing our waters for the whole year. The best time is November and December, and also March and April. Black Marlin best time is July and August, also you can meet Striped Marlin at the same time.
Sailfish – Appears during the whole year, as a common thing, -you can catch about six sailfishes. From November to May you can catch 12 and more per day.
Dorado – Appears during the whole year, regular season is from January to May, and the best time is November and December.
Tuna – Yellow fin Tuna is the main type of tuna in these waters. Big boys, up to 100kg can test your back during the whole year.
Wahoo – can surprise you during the year, although it is not common in this zone.