Species guide · Los Sueños, Costa Rica
Sailfish
pez vela · Istiophorus platypterus
- 17,490Logged by our fleet since 2022
- 60–100 lbTypical size
- 120+ lbTrophy fish
- Release onlyOur rule
At a glance
- WhereOffshore
- Typical size60–100 lb
- Trophy size120+ lb
- Tackle20–30 lb class
- DifficultySome experience helps
- Keep or releaseRelease onlyCosta Rica requires billfish to be released. We use circle hooks and keep fish in the water whenever possible.
How we fish for them
- Teasers with bait-and-switchCircle hooks on rigged ballyhoo
- Light-tackle and flyPopular once teased up
Gallery
From the deck
From our catch logs
When they bite
Fish per boat per day, by month. Darker means a better month. Hover a cell for the full count.
Sailfish per day on the water
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 2.1 | 3.2 | 2.0 | 3.7 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.2 | 0.0 | – |
| 2023 | 4.1▲2.0 | 1.5▼1.7 | 1.2▼0.8 | 3.2▼0.5 | 1.5▼1.0 | 0.9▲0.1 | 1.0▲0.1 | 0.5▼0.2 | 0.2▼0.2 | 0.5▲0.4 | 2.6▲2.6 | 2.9 |
| 2024 | 4.8▲0.7 | 5.0▲3.5 | 5.7▲4.5 | – | 1.7▲0.3 | 1.0▲0.1 | 2.2▲1.2 | 1.9▲1.5 | 0.9▲0.7 | 2.8▲2.3 | 1.6▼1.0 | 1.7▼1.1 |
| 2025 | 7.9▲3.0 | 5.1▲0.2 | 4.9▼0.7 | 3.8 | 2.4▲0.7 | 1.3▲0.4 | 1.5▼0.7 | 1.6▼0.4 | 3.1▲2.2 | 0.5▼2.3 | 1.0▼0.6 | 1.7▼0.1 |
| 2026 | 3.3▼4.6 | 2.6▼2.5 | 7.2▲2.3 | 535* | 181* | 196* | 32* | 76* | 1.3▼1.8 | 2.1▲1.6 | – | – |
ColdHotSailfish per day on the water. ▲▼ more or fewer per day than the same month a year earlier. * Monthly total only, no day count.
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