The dense rainforests of Costa Rica are home to a number of unknown species. While you may have heard of the rainbow trout living high up in cold mountain streams, that was not the focus of this trip. Curtis Ciszek and Heather Harkavy were in search of native jungle species in the lowland rainforest of Costa Rica. Amongst the twisting rivers, rocks, and submerged structures are several species that have evolved to this specific ecosystem. Their life history and feeding habits make floating the rainforest rivers a challenging and unique experience. Follow along in this jungle species guide to Costa Rica, as we explore the different species commonly caught.
Jungle Species of Costa Rica
Machaca
The machaca is a species of fish native to Central America. These aline-like fish are actually a cousin of the piranha and have the teeth to match. However, machaca are not using their teeth for flesh, opting for a diet of fruit and seeds. They use their impressive set of chompers to crack nuts and fruits for food. The most common way to target these fish is with large foam, berry-like flies. Anglers fish these flies on the surface, similar to the way you would dry fly fish a trout river.
Mojarra
Mojarra is used to describe a group of cichlid species found in the jungles of Costa Rica. Rather than a single species, this term describes a group of these panfish-sized fish. They are typically found in and around cover and will take small topwater flies like poppers. For the bigger fish, we recommend using 6 or 7-wt rods to pull them out of cover; with a 5-wt, good luck trying to stop them.
Guapote
Guapote lagunero, or rainbow bass, is a sought-after fish for anglers traveling to Costa Rica. These fish are part of the cichlid family and can reach sizes well over 10 pounds. Their close cousins, the jaguar guapote, are also found in parts of Costa Rica and have made their way to South Florida as an invasive species. For anglers targeting rainbow bass, it is a lot like traditional bass fishing. Throwing baitfish patterns and small poppers will often fool these fish into biting. They use their bucket-like mouths to suck down food, and can be found in lakes, rivers, and canals throughout Costa Rica.
Moga
Moga is one of the lesser-known fish in Costa Rica. They are also part of the cichlid family and are distinguishable by their brownish/green coloration and smaller mouths. Moga can be found in the lakes, rivers, and canals around Costa Rica and will eat small streamers and dry flies when conditions are right. While many anglers come to Costa Rica for machaca, these powerful fish are a welcome bycatch.
Roncador
Roncador is a species of grunt found in rivers and estuaries in Costa Rica. These fish resemble grunt species most Stateside anglers are familiar with, but with some slight differences. Their downwards-facing mouth, slender body, and yellow fins easily distinguish them from other jungle species. The record Roncador is 7 pounds, so they can definitely grow to impressive sizes, but most are in the 1-2 pound range.
