Remember last winter when it was too cold and nasty to go out? And last spring when it was too wet and nasty to go out? And summer when it's way too hot and nasty to go out? Maybe it's time for a great getaway and one of those famous Costa Rica fishing vacations.
Blue water fishing is a big part of this country's tourism industry. New research shows that North Americans traveling there in 2008 to fish generated $599 million or about 2 percent of Costa Rica's gross domestic product.
Unquestionably, sportsmen and sportswomen play an important part in wildlife conservation. From preservation of American wetlands to growing awareness in Africa that animals are worth more alive than dead---and around the globe---the planet is slowly, painfully learning that sustainability is more valuable than exploitation.
In many ways, this small Latin American country has long been at the forefront of conservation.
While countries from Brazil to Malaysia have been decimating their forests, Costa Rica has set aside a quarter of its lands for parks and preserves and today has nearly 25% more forested areas than 30 years ago.
It created the world's largest Atlantic green sea turtle preserve at magnificent Tortuguero National Park where more than 130,000 vacationers now contribute to the national economy. Indeed, ecotourism is now the fastest growing segment of the country's tourism business, at the same time preserving species endangered around the globe and lifting communities out of poverty. The village of Tortuguero, for example, describes its savior the "turtle that lays the golden egg."
As millions of Americans sit riveted in front of their TVs, horrified at the environmental disaster in its Gulf, that'll never happen in this tropical paradise because it has never allowed offshore oil exploration.
Which leads us back to Costa Rica fishing vacations.
The research described above was conducted by The Billfish Foundation, Southwick Associates, and the University of Costa Rica. It revealed than in 2008 nearly 284,000 fishermen visited this fishing mecca. Indeed, it estimated that more than one in five tourists visited the country expressly to fish.
Their economic impact overshadowed commercial fishing. Some 73,000 jobs resulted from sport fishermen compared to 67,000 jobs from commercial fishing pursuing the same species as sportsmen. Since Costa Rica is a catch and release billfish country, sport fishing, like ecotourism, is sustainable development.
How important is sport fishing to the country's economy? Consider the effect if people couldn't fish for marlin, sails, and other species. 40 percent of folks who fished in Costa Rica reported that they would not have visited the country if they could not fish. Those anglers, some 116,000 visitors per year, contribute about $135 million to it'seconomy.
For those considering Costa Rica vacations that include fishing, there are two oceans from which to choose and year-round angling opportunities.
By far the most popular coast for fishing is the Pacific. Tropical weather, azure waters, steeped in history.
Along the southern coast, not far from the Panama border, lies the tiny wilderness of the Osa Peninsula, described by National Geographic as "the most biologically diverse" place on the planet. Bounded to its north is beautiful Drake Bay, named after Sir Frances Drake, who landed in it about a decade before he saved England and sank the mighty Spanish Armada.
About an hour or so north of Drake Bay lie Manuel Antonio National Park, one of the nation's Seven Natural Wonders, and Quepos, with perhaps the best blue water fishing in this fish-rich country, reportedly discovered by Ponce de Leon in 1519. Remember him? He's the fellow famous for searching for the Fountain of Youth.
Marlin and sailfish are the main attraction here but the waters have lots of other fish from which to choose: mahi mahi (dolphin), giant yellowfin tuna, wahoo, cubera, roosterfish, snapper, grouper, blue and rainbow runners, snook, jacks, and mackerel.
On the other side of Costa Rica lies its Caribbean coast, far less traveled and fished. There, close to where Christopher Columbus came ashore in 1503 and settled on the name "Costa Rica" you'll find extraordinary snook and Costa Rica tarpon fishing in its rivers and estuaries as well as deep water fishing.
Now, of course, you may not give a whit for Columbus, de Leon, or Drake. In that case, think of yourself as "Kilroy" when you drop your line in the deep blue waters: "Kilroy was here!" And so you will be, too, but only if you take that long awaited Costa Rica fishing vacation. Pura Vida!
About the writer: Vic Krumm lives in sunny Costa Rica. Visit his acclaimed website about Costa Rica Vacations and make plans for one of the great tropical Costa Rica Fishing Vacations
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