Tarpon - Costa Rica Silver King - Your ultimate fishing adventure!
Tarpon fishing in Costa Rica!
Tarpon have a legendary reputation as one of the world’s most spectacular sport fish – and it’s easy to see why they’re known as the “Silver King”. For anglers passionate about tarpon fishing, we’ve found something truly special: the world’s finest tarpon fishing grounds, right here in Costa Rica. This trip brings you face to face with their extraordinary power.
You’ll spend eight full days fishing one of the world’s best tarpon rivers, using spinning tackle, fly tackle or natural bait. We’ve deliberately timed the trip to coincide with peak season, when tarpon are most abundant in the river and delta.
With a maximum of six anglers, the group stays small and personal, giving our professional guides plenty of time to support each guest and help them make the most of their fishing.
Sample Itinerary
Your group fishing trip begins with a flight from your home airport to San José, usually arriving the same day. After landing, you’ll check into an airport hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening.
The following morning, after a hearty breakfast, you’ll transfer to the lodge by road, a journey of around five hours. Along the way, take in Costa Rica’s spectacular scenery and look forward to the tarpon fishing ahead. Once you arrive, there’ll be plenty of time to prepare your spinning tackle. A delicious dinner and a few drinks at the lodge bar will round off the day.
The next eight days are devoted to targeting tarpon with spinning tackle, fly tackle and natural bait. Fishing days usually begin at the jetty at 6.00 am, with the morning session running until 11.30 am, when you’ll return to the lodge for lunch. The boat journey to the fishing spots takes just 10–20 minutes.
After a short break, you’ll head out again at 1.00 pm and fish until 5.00 pm, when all boats must legally be back at the jetty. This gives you roughly nine hours of fishing each day.
After your final fishing day, you’ll spend one more night at the lodge before transferring back to San José. Depending on your flight connection, you’ll fly home that day or the following day.
Spinfishing for Tarpon
For many anglers, the highlight is targeting tarpon with spinning tackle. Few experiences rival the thrill of spotting a tarpon rolling at the surface and placing a precise cast beside it. It’s pure adrenaline – and a true test of skill and patience!
Lure fishing for tarpon takes perseverance. During a feeding frenzy, you may get several bites in quick succession. However, their hard, bony mouths make setting the hook difficult, and many fish are lost during the fight. That challenge is part of what makes tarpon fishing so exciting.
A wide range of lures can be effective, from plugs and soft plastics to tarpon jigs. Your guide will help you choose the right lure for the water clarity and tides. Soft plastics and shallow-running plugs are generally reliable choices, while Hoggy Lures have long been popular for tarpon fishing in Florida. Bring a varied selection so you’re ready to adapt to the conditions.
Fly Fishing for Tarpon
Fly fishing for tarpon is extremely popular, particularly among anglers targeting larger Silver Kings. Tarpon in Costa Rica are significantly larger on average than those in many other destinations, so fly anglers should bring at least a 14-weight rod to handle the biggest fish.
Effective flies include red, black and yellow-and-white streamers tied on hooks in sizes 3/0–6/0. We recommend a 100 lb leader and an intermediate fly line with a 40 lb breaking strain to help you land large tarpon.
Bait Fishing for Tarpon
Natural bait fishing is one of the most effective ways to target tarpon, using the fish they naturally feed on as bait. From an anchored or drifting boat, you’ll either cast towards tarpon or position your bait in sandy channels where they pass through. Float rigs are often used to let the bait drift away from an anchored boat. When a tarpon takes the bait, allow it a short run before steadily tightening the line to let the circle hook take hold.
Fishing with natural bait offers a welcome change from spinning or fly fishing and can produce extra catches between feeding frenzies. It often outperforms other methods, giving you an excellent chance of landing a tarpon.
Spin Fishing in Costa Rica Rivers
Costa Rica’s rivers also offer excellent opportunities for light lure fishing. Using PE2–3 rods, small plugs, soft plastics and spinners, you can target jacks, snook and various bass species.
With eight days on the water, this offers a welcome change from targeting tarpon with heavier tackle.
Your accommodation in Costa Rica
Accommodation
San Jose
Hampton by Hilton
You’ll spend your first night at the Hampton by Hilton, a four-star hotel conveniently located by the airport. The hotel offers spacious rooms, a swimming pool, several restaurants and a bar. Breakfast is included.
Catering
Meals: B&B
Beverages: Drinks can be paid on site according to consumption
Costa Rica
Tarpon Lodge
During your fishing holiday in Costa Rica, you’ll stay at Tarpon Lodge, right on the river. The lodge has six bungalows, each with a private bathroom and air conditioning.
The main area features a dining space, a bar and a small swimming pool. Run by a local couple, the lodge works closely with the surrounding community. Its location beside a national park makes it an ideal base for your tarpon fishing trip.
Catering
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Beverages: Drinks during fishing are provided (normal consumption) additional drinks can be paid on site according to consumption
Your fishing boats in Costa Rica
The Boats
You’ll fish from 25-foot boats powered by 150 hp engines, with two anglers per boat. Your experienced captains will plan each day’s fishing with you, tailoring the programme to your preferences.
Boat Fishing for Tarpon
2 anglers per boat
Your fishing boats in Costa Rica are 25 feet long and adequately motorized with 150HP. During your fishing trip in Costa Rica, two anglers share one boat. The boats have experienced captains and will determine the fishing program for the day in consultation with you.
This tarpon tackle you will need in Costa Rica!
Tackle Talk
For tarpon fishing in Costa Rica, you’ll need high-quality rods and reels. As large tarpon are always a possibility, it’s best to bring rods rated PE6–8. We recommend having both a PE6 and a PE8 setup. Reels in sizes 14000–18000 are ideal, such as the Shimano Stella 14000 or Daiwa Saltiga 14000. Bringing an 18000-size reel is also a good idea, as tarpon often make long, powerful runs.
If you plan to target tarpon with natural bait, we recommend a strong boat rod, such as a Zeck Boat rod or a similar model, paired with a Penn Spinfisher VI 8500 LL baitrunner reel. The free-spool function lets the fish take line before you engage the drag and allow the circle hook to take hold.
For lure fishing in the rivers, use rods with a casting weight of up to 120 g. A medium-heavy spinning rod is ideal for casting medium-heavy lures. A 5000–6000-size reel loaded with 30 lb braid is usually sufficient.
- Tarpon Spinning Rod: PE6-8; 2,4m - 2,7m
- Tarpon Spinning Reel: 14-18k size, 80lbs braided line, min. 200m
- Bait Fishing: PE 6-8
- Bait Fishing: Baitrunner, 80lbs braided line, min. 300m
- Light Spinning Rods: PE2-3; 30lbs Braided Line
- Light Spinning Reels: 5000-6000 size, saltwater proof
- Tarpon Fly Rods: #14-#16
- Tarpon Fly Reels: #14-#16, 40lbs intermediate line, 100lbs leader
You will need this lures for Tarpon!
Spinning for Tarpon
Tarpon can be caught on a wide variety of artificial lures. The most common and straightforward options are plugs with diving depths of 1.5–5 metres. Rapala Shad Raps are particularly effective, although slimmer plugs can also produce excellent results.
Soft plastics measuring 12–20 cm are another excellent choice. Depending on how the tarpon are feeding, these can be paired with different jig heads, making them highly versatile. Soft-plastic worms, such as those from Hogy Lures, have also proved very effective in the USA.
Both floating and sinking stickbaits work well, although these should generally be no longer than 15 cm, as tarpon often favour smaller lures. Orion plugs are known for their effectiveness in Gabon and are expected to work equally well in Costa Rica. The same applies to the Tackle House Britt and Flitz.
Specially tied tarpon jigs are another excellent option. These can be bought locally for around $20 each. Poppers and GT Icecream lures can also work, but are mainly useful for targeting jack crevalle. Don’t forget jerkbaits such as the Hybrida J1, which should always have a place in your tarpon tackle box.
Fly Fishing for Tarpon!
Tarpon on fly
For tarpon fly fishing in Costa Rica, you’ll need at least a 14-weight rod. Tarpon can grow very large, so your rod must have enough backbone to handle these powerful Silver Kings. An intermediate fly line with a 40 lb breaking strain is standard for fishing trips in Costa Rica.
Common tarpon flies include the Tarpon Toad, EP’s Peanut Butter/Everglades Special, McKnight’s Homeslice and surface flies such as the Everglades Gurgler. Popular colours include black, purple/black, orange/black, white/yellow and red.
Whether you’re planning a dedicated tarpon fly fishing trip or combining it with other fishing adventures in Costa Rica, these flies are essential additions to your fly box.
The best lines and leaders for Tarpon!
Leader & Main Line
For heavy tarpon lure fishing, we recommend leaders rated at 100–200 lb. Choose high-quality brands such as Fisherman, Varivas, Nomad or Climax.
Your main line should be a high-performance PE braid: PE8 (80 lb) for heavy setups and PE6 (65 lb) for medium rods. For river fishing, 30 lb braid is sufficient. Recommended options include Gosen Diver X8, Daiwa J-Braid X8 and JB Line One.
Terminal Tackle
Hooks & Terminal Tackle
Treble hooks are prohibited in your fishing area, so all artificial lures must be fitted with single hooks. Recommended brands include BKK (Lone Diablo and Lonesniper), VMC and Owner. Match the hook size to your lure.
For natural bait fishing, only circle hooks are permitted. Reliable options include Gamakatsu Octopus Circle Hooks in size 8/0 4X, BKK Monster Circle hooks and Owner Reef and Rig Circle Hooks.
We recommend Zeck catfish floats, with running weights matched to the float’s buoyancy. You’ll also need high-quality split rings rated at 180–220 lb and heavy-duty snap swivels with a minimum breaking strain of 250 lb.
Helpful tools for your fishing trip!
Other Fishing Equipment
Split-ring pliers are essential. The hPa Game Plier is ideal for opening even heavy-duty rings. A good waterproof boat bag, such as Zeck’s Tackle Container Pro or Tackle Container Pro Catfish, is also highly recommended.
As you’ll be fishing for several hours at a time, bring a good pair of gloves for protection. Costa Rica can get very hot, so UV-protective shirts, a sun hat and SPF 50 sunscreen are essential. Our Expeditions UV shirts are available to order directly from us.
Good polarised sunglasses are essential for fishing. We recommend gloryfy unbreakable sunglasses, which combine polarised lenses with exceptionally durable frames.
Take a closer look at the gloryfy unbreakable range of polarised fishing sunglasses here: Polarized Sunglasses for Anglers!
How much does a fishing trip to Costa Rica cost?
Price
Included
- english speaking tour leader**
- 1 night in a Hotel, DBL, B&B
- 9 nights in the Tarpon Lodge, DBL, FB
- 8 days fishing with guide
- Airport Transfers
- Fishing Licenses
- Photo- & Videodocumentary**
Not included
- Tips (appx. 250€)
- international flights & Visa
- Travel Insurance*
- extra luggage fees*
- additonal meals & drinks*
- * optional/exempt **only if the minimum number of participants is reached
- Minimum number of participants: 6
Price per person
3999,-€
Extras
On request
Booking statuses
Costa Rica - Tarpon Fishing
2027
2028
Tarpon Fishing in Costa Rica!
The best catches!
