Your monthly roundup from Stay in Costa Rica
Why April Rocks in Los Sueños 🎣
April sits at the tail-end of Costa Rica’s dry season, bringing cobalt-blue seas, 84-87 °F surface temps, and barely an inch of weekly rainfall. Higher-than-normal “king tides” (April 28–30) pushed baitfish toward shore, sparking excellent inshore and offshore action.
Offshore Highlights
| Species | April catch trend | Where & How |
|---|---|---|
| Sailfish | 8 – 15 releases per boat on good days; the bite stayed hot all month. | Troll rigged ballyhoo plus teasers 15 – 30 mi offshore. |
| Blue & Striped Marlin | Regular raises of 200-300 lb blues; striped fish showed on temperature breaks. | Pitch live bonito on circle hooks behind dredges. |
| Yellowfin Tuna | Consistent pods of 20-50 lb fish; occasional 80-100 lb bruisers. | Work cedar plugs or poppers when birds mark spinner dolphins. |
| Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) | Scattered 15-30 lb acrobats along weed lines and driftwood. | Troll bright feathers or cast small jigs tight to debris. |
Tactic tip: Zig-zagging the mid-month weed lines produced mixed mahi-tuna hookups within minutes of each other.
Inshore Bite
- Roosterfish exploded on live blue runners along Playa Herradura’s rocky points at sunrise.
- Cubera & Rock Snapper hammered 4-6 oz jigs on 60-120 ft reef edges.
- Snook & Spanish Mackerel prowled river mouths during the late-month king-tide windows.
Conditions Snapshot
- Sea temps: 84 – 87 °F throughout April.
- Tides: Extreme highs April 28-30; plan departures around slack water for easier bait-making.
- Moon phase to watch: Full moon on April 23 often fires up the tuna bite the following morning.
What the Logbooks Show
Fleet catch logs list yellowfin, sailfish, and mahi as April’s top offshore species, with roosterfish the clear inshore leader. The consistency across multiple charter operations confirms a rock-solid bite throughout the month.
Recommended Los Sueños Charter Boats
| Boat | Size / Style | Ideal For | Quick Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dream Maker | 35′ Cabo Express | Families or first-timers wanting A/C comfort on a mid-size platform | Dream Maker 35′ Cabo Express |
| Dragin Fly | 42′ Custom Maverick | Tournament-level anglers chasing marlin multiples | Dragin Fly 42′ Maverick |
| Take It Easy | 27′ Morgan Center Console | Budget-friendly half-day rooster or snook trips | Take It Easy 27′ Morgan |
All three vessels depart directly from Los Sueños Marina and can be booked through Stay in Costa Rica’s on-site concierge team.
April Checklist Before You Go
- Reserve early – Easter and spring-break traffic fill prime dates quickly.
- Buy your fishing license online – Skip the dock line by purchasing with a credit card at Incopesca’s portal: https://www.incopesca.go.cr/tramites_servicios/carne-ESP-ENG.aspx.
- Pack long-sleeve UPF gear – UV index peaked above 11 on several afternoons.
- Charge the GoPro – April’s clear water delivers phenomenal release footage.
Ready to write your own fish story?
Stay in Costa Rica bundles luxury lodging with the right captain, tackle, and itinerary to put you on the hottest April bite in the Central Pacific. Reach out any time—our team will handle the details while you focus on fighting fish! Here are some Fishing Packages. Keep in mind, we can customize them.
