COSTA RICA FISHING WORLD RECORDS

Every year, many of the largest fish landed for a species in the whole world comes from this tiny country---and most of are caught by people taking a Costa Rica vacation.

And, incredibly, there are 80 all-time world records (as recorded by the International Game Fish Association) held by Costa Rica.

Costa Rica Fishing: 21 All Tackle Records

BONITO Pacific Sarda; 8 lb; Golfito; 2/13/78; Jean A. Lovetang, W-6.

BASS Split tail; Hemanthias signifer, 1 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 6/10/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

DOLPHIN (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 87 lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/76; Manuel Salazar.

GAR Tropical Lepisostius tropicus; 6 lb 6 oz; Rio Frio; 11/22/94; John A. Corry.

GRUNT Burro Pomadasys crocro; 4 lb 1 oz; Rio Frio; 12/4/95; John A. Corry.

GRUNT Pacific roncador Pomadasys baysnus; 3 lb 8 oz; Rio Grande de Terraba- 1/28/90; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

GUAPOTE (Rainbow Bass) Cichiasoma dovi; 12 lb 9 oz; Lago Hule (also known as Lago Echandi); 4/13/91; Rick Killgore.

GUAPOTE Jaguar Cichiasoma managuense; 1 lb 10 oz; Barra Colorado; 9/9/97; John C. Taylor.

JACK Pacific crevalle Caranx cannus; 29 lb 8 oz; Plays Zancudo; 1/1/94, Ronald C. Snody.


ex 4/15


LEATHERJACKET Oligoplifes altus; 3 lb 8 oz; Rio Cofo; 2/6/90; Dr. Craig Whitehead. (Same angler tied his own record for species at Playa Zancudo, 5/27/95).

MACHACA Brycon guatemalensis; 9 lb. 8 Os; Barra del Colorado; 11/24/91; Barbara Ann Fields.

MULLET Hog Joturus ichard; 7 lb 2 oz; Rio Sarapiqui; 8/9/95; Carlos M. Barrantes.

SEABASS Leather Dermatolepsis dermafolepis; 4 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 1/23/93; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

SNAPPER Lutlanus colorado; 20 lb 8 oz; Plays Zancudo; 3/19/93; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

SNAPPER Mullet Lutjanus aratus; 33 lb; Drake Bay; 9/23/97; Jose Reyes Astorga.

SNAPPER Pacific cubera Luanus novemfasciatus; 78 lb 12 oz; Bahia Paz Vela; 3/23/88; Steven C. Paull.

SNAPPER Yellow Luanus argentiventris; 11 lb; Playa Zancudo; 3/12/93; Roy Venlura Roig.

SNOOK Common Centropomus undecimalis; Rio Parisma; 10/18/78; Gilbert Ponsi.

SNOOK Pacific black Centropomus nigrescens; 57 b 12 oz; Rio Naranjo; 8/23/91; George Beck.

SNOOK Pacific blacklin Centropomus med/us; 5 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 9/10/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

TILAPIA Oreochromis n/lot/ca; 6 lb 5 oz; Lake Arenal; 2/10/95; Marvin C. Smith.

TILEFISH Golden-eyed Caulolatilus affinus; 1 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 3/10/93; Dr. Craig Whitehead.

WAHOO Ancanthocybium solanderi; 57 lb; Gulf of Papagayo: 6/13/95; Harmano Fehringer; 12 lb.

Surprised at the number of world record Costa Rica fish species?

Wait.

There's more!

Costa Rica Fishing: 41 Line Test Records

Some take their sport so seriously, they're up to their neck in it!

BONITO Pacific Sarda; 8 lb; Golfito; 2/13/78; Jean A. Lovetang, W-6.

DOLPHIN - (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 87lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/78; Manuel Salazar, M-50 (also holds all tackle record).

JACK Cravelle Caranx hippos; 42 lb; Barra Colorado; 10/1/78; Marilyn Mattson; W-20.

JACK Pacific cravelle Caranx caninus: (1) 7 lb; Playa Zancudo; 12/20/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead, M-2. (2)18 lb 8 oz; Playa Zancudo; 9/2/95; Dr. Craig Whitehead, M-8. (3) 28 lb 12 oz; Golfito; 8/2/92; Dr. Jerome N. Matthews M-20; (4) 29 lb. 8 oz.; Playa Zancudo; 1/1/94; Ronald C. Snody M-50 (also holds all tackle record); (5) 23 lb 8 oz Playa Zancudo; 12/23/92; Judy M. Sypniecki, W-50.

MARLIN BLUE (Pacific) Makara nigricans (1)182 lb 8 oz; Quepos; 3/15/89; Marg Love; W-4. (2) 303lb Flamingo Bay; 8/15/91; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W 12.

ROOSTERFISH Nematistius pectoralis (1) 42 lb Golfito; 5/19/90; Dr. Jerome N. Matthews; M-8 (2) 88 lb 12 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 10/9/92; John Porr; M-18 (3) 28 lb Gulf of Papagayo; 9/25/98; Beth Klaine; W 4 (4) 80 lb' Flamingo Bay; 10/1/93; Jane Penley; W-8 (5) 43 lb Flamingo Bay; 7/18/92; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W-130.

RUNNER Rainbow Elagatis bipinnulata (1) 24 lb Tamarindo; 11/23/86; Anthony V Spezzano; M-12 (2)14 lb 7 oz Islada Coco; 3/26/84; Nors C. Schofield.

SAILFISH Pacific latiophotus platypterus (1)111 lb Flamingo Bay; 7/5/93; Jerry Dunaway; M-2. (2)102 lb Flamingo Bay; 7/19/92; Deborah Maddox Dunaway W-2 (3)109 lb 12 oz; Deborah Maddox Dunaway; W-4.

SNAPPER Cubera Lutjanus cyanopterus' 88 lb 5 oz; Tortuguero 8/27.

SNAPPER Pacific cubera Lufianus novemfasciatus (1) 12 lb; Playa Zancudo 12/18/95 Dr Craig Whitehead M-2; (2)12 lb Matthews M- 4 (3) 6 lb; Playa Zancudo 9/8/95 (3) Dr. Craig Whitehead (4) 48 lb 3 oz; Drake a Bay 6/6/97; (5) Bill Kirby; 51 lb Drake Bay.

SNOOK Centropomus app (1) 55 lb 8 oz Rio Parrita; 12 (2) 49 lb 13 oz; Rio Tulin 5/20/90; Gerardo Cespedes M-16 (3) 53 lb 10 oz; Rio M 20 (also holds all-tackle record) (4) 8/23/91 George Beck,M-30 (5) 27 lb 8 oz; 0/2/89; Donna Davenport.

TREVALLY Bigeye Caranx sexfasciatus; 6 lb. 13 oz; Bahia Paz Vals; 4/14/83;Yvas FM. Hentic; M-2.

SNOOK Bluefin Carnx malampygus; (1) 18 lb; Quepos 4/5/97; Michael R. Clark; M-6 (2) 20 lb; Tamarindo; 5/28/89; Lawrence A. Gordich; M-12 (3)17 lb; Drake's Bay; Cocos Island; 5/5/97; Marilyn Manser; W-6.

BONITO Pacific Sarda app.; 12 lb; Playa Flamingo; 5/24/94; Robert Rein; 8 lb.

DOLPHIN (Dorado or Mahi Mahi) Coryphaena hippurus; 53 lb; Quepos; 1/14/97; Dr. Bill Mooney; 20 lb.

JACK Cravelle Caranx hippos; 44 lb; Tortuguero; 2/20/79; RI Miller; 16 lb.

MARLIN BLUE (Pacific) Makeira nigricans; (1) 203 lb 8 oz; Playa Carrillo; 2/12/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 16 lb. (2) 260 lb; Flamingo; 8/6/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 20 lb.

MARLIN Striped Tetrapturus audax; (1) 105 lb; Cocos Island; 6/28;Charles Owen, Jr.; 8 lb. (2)185 lb; Cocos Island; 8/30/95; Charlas Tombras; 20 lb.

ROOSTERFISH Namatistius pectorals (1) 33 lb 4 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 8/22/90; Eizo Maruhashi; 12 lb. (2) 31 lb 12 oz; Gulf of Papagayo; 8/20/88; Jack Samson; 16 lb. (3) 40 lb; 6/5/94; Flamingo; Robert Rein; 20 lb.

SAILFISH Pacific Istiophorus platypterus; (1)94 lb 8 oz; Duapos; 1/9/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 4 lb. (2)103 lb; 2/16/95; Tony Hedley; 6 lb. (3)106 lb 8 oz; Guapos; 1/2/91; Jim (Harry) Gray; 8 lb. (4)124 lb; Gulf of Papagayo; 7/21/89; Eizo Maruhashi; 16 lb. (5) 128 lb 8 oz; Guapos; 1/10/93; Lee J. Dixon, II; 20 lb.

SNAPPER Pacific cubera Lutjanus novemfasciatus; (1) 20 lb; Drake's Bay; 5/28/97; Collin Huff; 16 lb. (2) 31 lb 12 oz; Drake's Bay; 4/21/97; Kevin Keith Ross Winter; 20 lb.

SNOOK Centropomus Undecimals; 26 lb; Barra de Colorado; 10/19/80; Bill Barnes; 16 lb.

TREVALLY Bigaye Caranx seafascistus; 8 lb 1 oz; Drake's Bay; 5/29/97; Collin Huff.

TRIPLETAIL Lobotes surinamenses; 16 lb 6 oz; Barra Colorado; 10/1/95; Jim (Harry) Gray; 20 lb.

WAHOO Ancanthocybium solanderi; 57 lb; Gulf ot Papagayo: 6/13/95; Harmano Fehringer; 12 lb.

Want a Costa Rica fishing record? You gotta come!

And, by the way, you'll love the Costa Rica beaches, too, but only if you get off your bottom and take that Costa Rica vacation!

To return from World Record Fish to Costa Rica Fishing click here

Click to go to Costa Rica Vacations homepage

New! Costa Rica Vacations SiteSearch!

Custom Search