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Costa Rica · CR
Costa Rica
INCOPESCA — Costa Rican Institute of Fisheries and Aquaculture
Rules change by area and can change mid-season. We explain what the rules mean and always link you to the official source — we never copy a limit table and call it current.
Licences — what you need
- • A sport fishing licence from INCOPESCA is required, including for visitors; marinas and charter offices sell short-term tourist licences.
- • Billfish in the sport fishery must be released, and circle hooks are required when fishing for them with bait — the fleet standard from Flamingo to Golfito.
How the rules are organized
- • INCOPESCA runs both coasts under one national system; marine protected areas (Cocos Island, Marino Ballena and others) add their own zoning.
- • The Caribbean tarpon and snook fishery at Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado fishes under the same national licence, with local lodge rules on release.
Good to know — common mistakes
- • Roosterfish and cubera snapper are released by strong fleet custom even where a written limit exists — check your captain's house rules before the trip.
- • Freshwater fishing in the northern lakes and rivers (Lake Arenal, the Sarapiquí system) uses the same INCOPESCA licence.
Official links
Fishing locations covered in this guide
This page is a plain-language summary, not the law. Regulations change — including in-season by official notice — and if anything here disagrees with the official source, the official source governs.
AnglerPlan is an information service, not a regulator. If anything here disagrees with an official source, the official source wins — and please tell us so we can fix it.