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Costa Rica Snook Fishing

Snook is a prized game fish in Costa Rica for a couple of reasons. One, they are an intelligent fish and there is a knack to fooling them into taking a bait. Two, when they hit the frying pan they are a real treat to the taste buds. Snook move freely in and out of salt and fresh waters, making the angling possibilities for them almost endless.

Those who choose to fish the river mouths have a chance of catching record size snook, while those fishing the rivers in the traditional manner will tend to catch fish in greater numbers.

They are abundant at the river mouths that run into the ocean and also can be found far up the rivers and creeks, miles from the ocean. Their habits are similar to the striped bass and are easily identified by their distinct black lateral line. Costa Rica has 8 different varieties of snook, 4 on the Pacific side and 4 on the Caribbean side.

Caribbean Snook
Description: distinct lateral line; high, divided dorsal fin; sloping forehead; large mouth, protruding lower jaw; grows much larger than other snooks; pelvic fin yellow.

The common snook is the largest and most sought after of the Caribbean snook. The world record is 53 lbs 10 oz taken nearly 20 years ago by Gilbert Ponzi at the mouth of the Rio Parismina. Many 40 pound fish are landed every year, and several fish larger than Ponzi's have been taken by locals on handlines. The next all-tackle world record is definitely swimming in Costa Rican waters.

Nearly all fishing on the Caribbean side is done with artificial baits, bucktail and plastic tail jigs are the most popular. Some of the biggest snook have been taken by accident while fishing for tarpon.

Even famous fly fisherman Bill Barnes readily admits his target was tarpon on 16 pound tippet when his world record snook hit. Many of the locals have become experts at taking snook in the surf. The locals call them "robalo."

 

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