For many, tarpon fishing is the epitome of fly fishing. Giant fish in shallow water, and abundant sight fishing opportunities. But in Costa Rica, a unique tarpon fishery exists hundreds of miles inland, in the chocolate-stained waters of the jungle. This fishery is different from any other tarpon fishery in the world. Close-quarters fishing and giant tarpon are enough to get any angler’s blood pumping, but how did they get there? Follow along as we explore Costa Rica’s jungle tarpon fishing and why a saltwater species is found 300 miles upriver.
Tarpon Biology
Tarpon fall into a category of fish known as euryhaline. While this is not a specific family of fish, it is a term for species with specialized features to navigate between saltwater, brackish water, and freshwater. Tarpon achieve this with specialized gills and kidneys, allowing them to maintain the proper internal salt balance. As a result, they can freely come and go between different water salinities at any point in their life.
The Silver King, known for its distinctive rolling, is actually a method of breathing. Due to a specialized swim bladder, tarpon can “gulp” air and survive in water with otherwise poor oxygen. In the jungles of Costa Rica, this allows them to swim upriver and into lagoons and other areas with low oxygen content. Combine this with their ability to survive in freshwater, and practically nothing is off-limits for tarpon.
The Rainy Season Buffett
Like all predatory fish, tarpon are focused on one thing, and that is food. Every year, from July through November, the Atlantic side of Costa Rica experiences its rainy season. During this time, immense rains cause the river to swell and shallow water lagoons to form. With these rains comes an influx of bait. The turbulent and stained waters provide an excellent feeding ground for tarpon waiting for an easy meal.
Tarpon Migration
As if on cue, when the rainy season begins, the tarpon arrive. They will make their way from the ocean up Costa Rica’s various rivers and creeks until they reach their hunting grounds. Depending on the river system, this can be up to 300 miles inland. Once they arrive, the swollen rivers become a conveyor belt, sweeping disoriented bait right into a waiting tarpon’s mouth.
Jungle Tarpon Fishing
For anglers wanting to see this migration for themselves, they are in for a unique experience. Unlike Stateside tarpon fishing, where fish practically have a PhD in spotting and refusing flies, these fish are much more aggressive. The lack of angling pressure and dark, stained water work in tandem to produce consistent action. The fishing is often as close quarters as it can get—throwing flies along banks, creek mouths, and under trees. Here, the tarpon lie often in small schools, waiting for an unsuspecting baitfish to get swept down.
To find the tarpon, look for rolling fish. This is a dead giveaway that fish are around and signals you where to cast. If you don’t see rolling fish, however, there’s still a chance they are around. Target drop-offs and current seams like you would in a trout stream. These areas act as ambush points where tarpon can expend little energy while waiting for food to come to them. Another hotspot is small creek mouths, where bait is consolidated and washed down towards eager fish. Since these fish are here to eat, anglers don’t have to be too selective with their flies. An assortment of large baitfish flies will do the trick.
Jungle Tarpon Madness
When everything comes together and you hook into the Silver King, hold on. Tarpon pull hard regardless, but add in river current and tight areas, and it’s an all-out battle. Like any tarpon fishing, you’ll lose a few fish trying to keep them out of structure. The good thing is there are plenty of eager fish around, so expect multiple hookups a day. For those wanting to experience a unique and untouched tarpon fishery, the rivers deep in the jungles of Costa Rica are the place for you.
