OFF SHORE FISHING ON THE NICOYA PENINSULA

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Fishing as an leisure activity is a big industry. From the outside looking in, it can all seem the same. But, in reality, there are a lot of types and categories when it comes to fishing. With each subset differing in equipment, area, and catch.

When you start looking into the fishing industry, you’ll hear people throw around words like offshore and inshore fishing, deep-sea fishing, or even “big game.” For someone starting out, it can get pretty confusing. But, there’s no need to get caught up in the technicalities.

For most people, offshore fishing just means taking a boat out into the water far enough that land is out of sight. If you want to get technical about it, this usually means a water depth of around 30 meters. The main difference between offshore and inshore fishing is that offshore fishing requires a lot more commitment. 

You’ll need to hire a boat and take out anywhere between 4 to 8 hours to enjoy the experience properly. It also means heavier equipment, for example, sonar. The experience is very different from inland fishing, where you’re in sight of beaches or piers. With offshore fishing, you are surrounded by the deep, blue sea, fully immersed in the experience, with nothing to distract you.

Offshore fishing also comes with an increased range of delicious catches. In Costa Rica, you can expect to catch four main types of fish. The most common of these is the Pacific sailfish. You can find them year-round, but they flood the waters between December and April. Next, you have the blue marlin, one of the main attractions when it comes to Costa Rica’s offshore fishing scene.

Then, there’s the dorado or mahi-mahi. These fish are pretty standard catch year-round, have a good size, and are actually easier to catch in the off-season. Finally, you have the yellowfin tuna. This isn’t a type of fish you would have seen a lot of in past years. But recent restrictions on Tuna Boats have allowed their population to flourish.

In addition to all these great catches, you also get a chance at catching the Striped Marlin, Black Marlin, and Wahoo. What type of fish you get to catch depends a lot on where you go fishing and the guides you hire. At Orca Fishing Club, we can help you catch your dream fish by planning your trip around what you want. You can visit our page to check out our deals and details. 

There are a number of methods when it comes to offshore fishing. 

1. Trolling

The first and most popular technique is trolling. This method depends more on the boat than the individual fisherman. You start by attaching bait to the end of your boat and dangling it in the water.

You would want to space out your lines, the trick here is in driving your boat at the optimum speed with the best line placement. The bait added to the noise from your boat’s engine will attract the fish straight into your traps. You can catch Sailfish, Mahi Mahi, and Marlin this way.

1. Kite fishing

Kite fishing is similar to trolling in that you put out one or multiple kites from your boat into the water. The difference is that the kites carry your bait further out into the water. When you drive the boat, this bait will sort of bob on the surface of the water, immediately attracting Sailfish and Marlin. 

You can easily catch numerous hookups. In fact, this method is so successful it’s actually against the rules of most fishing competitions.

1. Fly fishing

Arguably among the harder offshore fishing techniques, fly fishing takes great skill and practice. But, also the most superior according to a number of fishermen. In this method, you add weight to your rod by purchasing a heavy line. There are no additional weights. So, ideally, if you want to catch a bigger game, you’ll want a heavier rod. 

Then comes the task of drawing fish to your boat. You can do this by chumming the water. Chumming just means throwing fish entrails, bones, and other bits into the water to attract your target. But, you can also use an easier approach by trolling the water before fly fishing. Trolling will bring the fish to the surface, making them easier to catch.

1. Deep dropping

The final technique is called deep dropping. This is when you use an electric reel. You also use additional weights that are anywhere between three and 15 pounds heavy. The rigs have attached hooks and wire leaders. This method really draws out fish from the depths of the water.