Surf Fishing

The coastline from the East of San Jose up to Los Barilles is mostly undeveloped with dirt roads and some required 4x4 trails.

Playa Pina - This beach fishing spot features underwater rock structure and a steep drop off into deeper water relatively close to shore. This is where I’ve had the most action fishing. I’ve landed Dorado, Sierra, Houndfish, Roosterfish, and others from the sand here. The Houndfish are always biting, so I recommend using a heavy monofilament leader to prevent losing too many lures. Access is via a dirt road by Buzzards grill and only about 20 minutes outside of downtown San Jose.

The East Cape has many beaches you can explore and fish. Look for underwater structure, bait fish, feeding activity, and wave behavior typical for the presence of troughs and cuts to increase your chances of hooking up.

This beach is in front of the hotel zone in San Jose and during the slow season is quiet in the mornings. The productivity of fishing here depends greatly on bait fish movement and water temperature. When I caught the Jack Crevalle pictured, I could see schools of them cruising through the waves occasionally chasing down mullet. This one missed a mullet but slammed my lure.

During the spring, this area attracts baitfish along the rocky coves in front of the hotels. This area is also good to pop for snapper as the deeper, rocky areas provide cover for ambush predators. When you park on the beach, walk to the far left and go along the rocks until you find a spot you like. Use caution during high tide as the rocks reduce your path of retreat in the event of a big wave.

Migriño Beach is a large beach accessible by all vehicles. If you have 4x4 you can explore all the way to the end by the rocks where you’ll have the chance to catch some Snapper. This is a popular beach for fishing competitions throughout the year.

This spot between the Hilton and the Marquis hotels is a good spot to catch some larger fish as the drop off to deeper water is close to shore. The currents bring larger predator fish along the coast in search of food and within casting distance.

Arguably one of the best spots to catch fish onshore, the marina has options for every fisherman. You can bait fish towards the back of the marina, surf fish from one of the surrounding beaches, or fish from the rocks at the end of the jetty. The potential to catch a variety of fish here is high since the jetty brings you out into deeper water and the currents bring fish of all sizes. If you’re going to walk out to the end of the jetty and fish, travel light as you’ll have to hop across the rocks to get there. I’ve had just as much luck at the end as I have had in the middle.