Costa Rica Marlin Hotspot

Osa Peninsula Captain Mark Corn going long range.

I checked in with my friend Capt. Mark Corn, originally from Florida, who's been down in Costa Rica for many years, fishing. He's been putting together some incredible marlin fishing at a spot 65 miles offshore. He and his crew make an overnight trip that affords 16 full hours of fishing, and they're tallying very impressive numbers of blues, stripies, sails and yellowfin and dolphin, too.

“I am teaming up with my good buddy Bobby MacGuinness who just got captain of the year from I.G.F.A. I have been fishing with Bobby for 15 years.

“We are in the process of setting up a small mother ship operation to our new spot. It is a hump in 6000 ft. that goes up to 1400 flat on top for 3-square miles. One of our associates has put out 3 buoys that draw fish in like crazy. Now the baits schools are living in this area.

“One of the buoys is on the surface and we moor to it. Keep in mind we are 65 miles offshore. I was there last week with a friend of mine. We fished a total of 16 hours in a day and a half.”

“We leave the harbor here at 3 a.m., get there at 7:30. Lines in the water. Last week, we started with lures, bait and switch. Fifteen minutes into the troll we had a 300+ blue on short teaser I pitched a big mullet with circle hook and burnt my thumb on the first fish...Released it in 15 min...By 9 a.m. we had 4 releases—200 to 400 lbs. All in all that trip we were 15 for 29 on marlin. Biggest was 500 plus and we had a few big stripies up to 300 plus. This is by far the best marlin fishery I've seen in the world.....We have been there 8 times and this was a slow trip...



“At night we turn on the lights and get big squid everywhere. They show up and the skipjacks and small yellow fins go crazy....That night a sea turtle swam up behind the boat the mate reached over and picked it up into the boat....I caught 2 flying fish by hand out of the water.....This is a very special place...Longest wait for a bite 25 minutes, 2 doubles and 2 triples on marlin. It doesn't matter the method of fishing....bait and switch, skip baits, live bait 10 lb. tunas.....We caught marlin off the cat in the morning having coffee.....No joke.”

You can contact Capt. Mark Corn at osacapt@hotmail.com