1/2 Day Inshore Amberjack - Playa Flamingo
Private Trip
Inshore Fishing
4+ hour private inshore charter aboard 28' Bertram yachtTarget Roosterfish, Snapper, Grouper with experienced local captainsAccommodates up to 6 guests with fresh fruit and snacks
Playa Flamingo's inshore waters are packed with action, and this 4+ hour private charter puts you right in the heart of it all. You'll fish aboard the Amberjack, a solid 28' Bertram Fly Bridge that's built for these Costa Rican waters. Whether you're new to saltwater fishing or you've been chasing fish for decades, our local captains know exactly where the roosterfish cruise the rocky points and where the snapper stack up on the reefs. We keep groups small – just four anglers max – so everyone gets plenty of rod time and personal attention from the crew.
Your morning starts early at Playa Flamingo's marina, where you'll meet your captain and get the rundown on tackle and techniques for the day. The Amberjack's fly bridge gives you excellent visibility to spot birds working baitfish or those telltale roosterfish fins cutting through the surface. We'll cruise the inshore waters, typically staying within a few miles of the beach where the structure and currents create perfect ambush spots for our target species. The boat comes stocked with fresh fruit, homemade hummus with veggies, and chips to keep your energy up between hookups. Your captain will adjust tactics throughout the trip based on what the fish are doing – some days they want live bait near the rocks, other days they're crushing lures over the sandy bottoms.
We fish with quality spinning and conventional gear sized perfectly for Costa Rica's inshore game fish. Depending on conditions and what's biting, you'll work everything from live sardines and ballyhoo to flashy jigs and poppers. The rocky points around Playa Flamingo hold roosterfish that love to smash surface baits, while the deeper patches are prime real estate for snappers and groupers. When we're targeting jacks, we'll often troll small lures along the current lines where they school up to feed. The beauty of inshore fishing here is the variety – you might catch a hard-fighting jack crevalle on a jig, then switch to live bait and hook into a monster cubera snapper twenty minutes later. Our captains carry a full selection of terminal tackle and know how to rig everything from circle hooks for live bait to assist hooks on metal jigs.
Red Grouper are the heavyweights of the rocky bottom areas, often weighing 15-30 pounds and fighting like bulldogs once hooked. They're year-round residents but tend to bite best in the early morning hours when they're actively hunting crabs and small fish around the structure. What makes them special is their incredible strength – a big grouper will head straight for the rocks the second it feels the hook, testing both your drag and your nerve. The meat is outstanding too, with firm white fillets that grill up perfectly.
Roosterfish are the poster children of Costa Rican inshore fishing, and for good reason. These silver rockets with their distinctive dorsal fins can reach 20-40 pounds in these waters and provide some of the most visual fishing you'll ever experience. Peak season runs from December through April, but we catch them year-round along the rocky shorelines. They're famous for their acrobatic fights and tendency to tail-walk across the surface when hooked. Many anglers consider catching their first rooster a bucket-list moment – the way they charge a surface bait with their fins cutting through the water is pure magic.
Greater Amberjack are the nomads of the inshore waters, moving through in schools and providing fast-paced action when you find them. These yellow-tinted bruisers typically run 15-25 pounds and are known for their long, powerful runs that can strip line off your reel in seconds. They're most active during the dry season months but show up year-round following bait schools. What sets them apart is their stamina – while other fish might give up after a few minutes, a big amberjack will keep pulling for the entire fight.
Crevalle Jack are the workhorses of the inshore scene, always ready to eat and always ready to fight. They school up in large numbers around current breaks and bait concentrations, creating opportunities for multiple hookups. These silver bulldogs typically weigh 10-20 pounds and are perfect for anglers who want consistent action. They're particularly aggressive during the early morning and late afternoon hours, often creating feeding frenzies that attract birds from miles around.
Cubera Snapper are the ultimate prize for serious anglers – these massive red snappers can exceed 40 pounds and are absolutely devastating fighters. They're primarily night feeders but we catch them during daylight hours around deep rocky areas and underwater pinnacles. The big cuberas are smart fish that have seen plenty of hooks, so catching one requires patience and skill. When you do connect with a trophy cubera, you'll understand why they're considered one of Costa Rica's premier game fish – the combination of size, strength, and table fare is hard to beat.
At $875 for up to four anglers, this half-day charter delivers serious value for groups looking to experience world-class inshore fishing. The Amberjack is perfectly suited for Playa Flamingo's waters, and our captains' local knowledge means you'll spend more time fighting fish and less time searching for them. We accept cash, Venmo, Zelle, or CashApp for easy payment, though keep in mind deposits are non-refundable. The boat's comfortable layout and quality tackle make this trip perfect for mixed groups where some folks might be new to saltwater fishing while others are seasoned anglers. Book your dates early, especially during peak season – the best fishing days fill up fast, and you don't want to miss your chance at that roosterfish of a lifetime.
The Amberjack puts you right where the fish are biting in Playa Flamingo's rich Pacific waters. This 28-foot Bertram flybridge yacht was completely rebuilt in 2023 and runs on twin 240 HP Yanmar engines that'll get you to the fishing grounds fast and smooth. The flybridge gives your captain perfect visibility to spot birds working and surface activity, while you stay comfortable in the shaded cockpit below. With fishing space designed for up to 4 anglers, there's plenty of room to work your lines without getting tangled up. The boat handles Costa Rica's Pacific swells like a dream, keeping you steady when you're fighting roosters, snappers, and jacks. Fresh fruit and snacks keep your energy up between strikes, and the experienced local crew knows exactly where to find the fish that day.
Seriola dumeriliGreater Amberjack are serious gamefish that'll give you a real workout on the rod. These silver-blue bruisers typically run 20-40 pounds around here, though they can push 60+ pounds and stretch over 5 feet. They're not picky eaters - live bait, jigs, even flies will work when they're feeding. You'll find them around structure like reefs and wrecks, usually in deeper water during the day. Spring months are prime time when they're spawning and more aggressive. What makes them special is that raw power - they fight like a freight train with long, punishing runs. The meat's excellent too, firm and white. My advice: use heavy tackle and keep your drag tight. Once they see the boat, they'll make one last desperate run to break you off.
Epinephelus MorioRed Grouper are some of the best eating fish we catch around here, with their firm, flaky meat that has a sweet, almost shellfish-like taste. Most run 5-10 pounds, though we've seen them hit 40+ on occasion. You'll find them hanging around rocky bottoms, ledges, and wrecks in 10-100 feet of water. They're aggressive feeders that love shrimp and crab - makes them pretty easy to hook. The fight's solid but not flashy; they just pull hard and steady. Best fishing is during the cooler months when they're more active. Here's a tip: once you hook one, keep steady pressure and don't give them slack. They'll try to get back into the rocks and cut you off if you're not careful.
Lutjanus CyanopterusCubera Snapper are the giants of the snapper family - true trophy fish that can exceed 100 pounds, though most we see run 15-40 pounds. They hang around rocky ledges, reefs, and structure in 30-150 feet of water. The bigger ones are usually deeper and more solitary. Peak season runs May through August when they're spawning in shallower water. What makes them special is that combination of size, fight, and excellent table fare - they're one of the best eating fish out here. They've got serious canine teeth and aren't afraid to use them. Use medium-sized live bait like skipjack, and fish it near the bottom around structure. Here's the key: once hooked, pull hard immediately. Give them time to think and they'll wrap you around the rocks.
Caranx HipposJack Crevalle are the bulldogs of our inshore waters - scrappy, aggressive, and always ready to fight. They average 3-5 pounds but can reach 30+ pounds when the big schools move through. Look for them around seagrass flats, sandy bays, and shallow reefs where they hunt in packs. The action's good year-round, but they really turn on when baitfish are thick. What guests love is that raw aggression - they hit hard and fight dirty with powerful runs. Watch for diving birds; that's your cue that jacks are pushing bait to the surface. Fast-moving lures work best - silver spoons, topwater plugs, or live bait. Quick tip: cast past the school and reel fast. They love the chase and won't hesitate to nail a lure moving at speed.
Nematistius PectoralisRoosterfish are the crown jewel of inshore fishing here in Costa Rica. These beauties can hit over 100 pounds and stretch past 5 feet, sporting that famous "rooster comb" of tall dorsal spines they flash when excited. You'll find them cruising sandy beaches, around rocky points, and near reefs in relatively shallow water. They're year-round residents, but the larger fish show up more during the warmer months. Most anglers go catch-and-release since the meat's pretty tough, but the fight and photo opportunity make it worthwhile. Try slow-trolling live bait like blue runners or mullet. Pro tip: when you see that comb pop up, get ready - they make long, powerful runs and will test your endurance.
Guanacaste Province, Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica