Half Day Inshore and Offshore Guanacaste Fishing
Private Trip
Offshore Fishing
Fivehour charter targeting Roosterfish, Mahi Mahi, and Yellowfin TunaProfessional crew with decades of local Guanacaste fishing expertisePrivate boat for four guests with all gear and meals included
Marina Flamingo serves as your launching point for one of Guanacaste's most productive fishing adventures. This five-hour charter strikes the perfect balance between inshore and offshore fishing, giving you shots at everything from hard-fighting Roosterfish in the shallows to fast-moving Yellowfin Tuna in deeper Pacific waters. With decades of local knowledge backing every trip, our crew knows exactly where the fish are biting and how to put you on them quickly. The small group size—just four anglers max—means personalized attention and more time with a rod in your hands instead of waiting your turn.
Your day starts early at Marina Flamingo, where you'll meet a crew that's been working these waters longer than most people have been fishing. We're talking about captains who know every reef, drop-off, and current that holds fish along this coastline. The boat's rigged with top-shelf Penn and Shimano gear, so you're not dealing with department store tackle that'll let you down when a big fish hits. We kick things off with breakfast burritos and coffee while running to the first spot—usually a productive inshore area where Roosterfish patrol the rocky points and Snapper stack up around structure. The beauty of this trip is its flexibility. If the inshore bite is slow, we're already positioned to make the run offshore where the blue water species cruise. Your crew reads the conditions and adjusts the game plan accordingly, which is exactly how you want it when you're only out for five hours.
We run a mixed bag of techniques depending on what's showing up on the fish finder and what the conditions are telling us. Inshore, we're working live bait around rocky structure and drop-offs where Roosterfish and Grouper hang out. These fish are ambush predators, so presentation matters—we're using circle hooks and letting the bait work naturally in the current. When we move offshore, the game changes completely. We're trolling lures and rigged baits at different depths to cover water and locate schools of Mahi Mahi, Tuna, and Wahoo. The crew sets up a spread that covers everything from surface poppers to deeper-running lures, maximizing your chances of hooking up. All the tackle is matched to the target species, so you're using 30-50 pound test for the offshore stuff and lighter gear when finesse fishing inshore. The rods are rigged and ready before lines hit the water, because when you find a school of Mahi or locate a Tuna bite, you want to capitalize on it immediately.
Roosterfish are the crown jewel of Guanacaste inshore fishing, and these Pacific coast bruisers fight like nothing else you've hooked. They average 20-40 pounds but can push 60-plus, and when one takes off with that distinctive dorsal fin cutting through the water, you know you're in for a battle. Peak season runs from May through September when water temperatures climb and baitfish concentrate along the rocky shorelines. What makes Roosters special is their acrobatic fight—they'll jump, tail-walk, and make blistering runs that test your drag system and your arms.
Mahi Mahi show up year-round in Guanacaste waters, but the best action happens during the rainy season from May to November when blue water pushes closer to shore. These fish are pure adrenaline—they hit lures hard, jump repeatedly, and their electric colors make for incredible photos. Most Mahi here run 15-30 pounds, perfect table fare that many guests choose for the catch-and-cook option. They school up around floating debris and weed lines, so when you find one, you've usually found several.
Yellowfin Tuna in these waters are typically smaller "football" tuna in the 15-40 pound range, but don't let the size fool you—they pull like freight trains and make searing runs that'll burn your drag. Best fishing happens early morning and late afternoon when they're feeding near the surface. These fish are built for speed and endurance, so expect a workout when you hook one.
Red Snapper are the bread-and-butter bottom fish around Guanacaste's rocky reefs and drop-offs. They're not flashy fighters, but they're consistent biters and excellent eating. Most run 5-15 pounds, and they're available year-round around structure in 80-200 feet of water. The crew knows every productive snapper hole along this coast.
Gag Grouper lurk around the same rocky structure as Snapper but put up a much more determined fight. These fish use their bulk and the bottom structure to their advantage, trying to cut you off in the rocks. They're ambush predators that hit hard and head straight for cover, so you need to turn them quickly after the hookup.
This half-day charter delivers maximum fishing action in a focused timeframe, perfect for anglers who want to experience both inshore and offshore fishing without committing to a full day. The crew's local expertise and quality equipment mean you're fishing effectively from the moment lines hit the water until you head back to the marina. With only four spots available per trip, you get personalized instruction and prime fishing time without the crowds you'd find on larger boats. The included food and drinks, professional tackle, and fishing licenses make this a turnkey fishing adventure where all you need to bring is sunscreen and enthusiasm. Book early, especially during peak season—word travels fast among anglers when they find a charter operation that consistently puts fish in the boat.
This comfortable motorboat cuts through Guanacaste's Pacific waters with ease, built for serious fishing and all-day comfort. Perfect for small groups of up to 4 anglers, the vessel features everything you need for productive offshore fishing - a refrigerator to keep your catch fresh, onboard toilet, and kitchen facilities. The spacious design gives you plenty of room to fight those big Roosterfish and Yellowfin Tuna without feeling cramped. Whether you're casting lines for Mahi Mahi near the surface or dropping deep for Snapper and Grouper, this boat handles both inshore and offshore conditions smoothly. The reliable engine gets you to the hot spots quickly, while the thoughtful layout keeps gear organized and accessible. With professional-grade fishing equipment included and room to move around during those epic battles, this vessel delivers the perfect platform for targeting Guanacaste's legendary fish populations.
Mycteroperca MicrolepisGag grouper are the bullies of the bottom - stocky, powerful fish that'll try to drag you into the rocks. They average 10-25 pounds, with larger specimens pushing 40+ pounds lurking around deeper structure. Look for them on rocky bottoms, ledges, and wrecks in 60-200 feet, especially where there's good current flow. Spring through fall gives you the best shot, when they're feeding heavily before winter. What makes them special is that bone-jarring strike followed by a bulldozing fight straight for cover. The meat is top-shelf too - thick, white fillets perfect for grilling or frying. They're ambush predators that'll inhale anything that looks like an easy meal. Pro tip: once you hook one, lock that drag and horse them up fast - give them an inch and they'll find a hole to wrap you around. Heavy tackle and no mercy is the only way to win this fight.
Coryphaena HippurusMahi are the rainbow warriors of offshore fishing - brilliant gold, blue, and green that light up when they're fighting mad. Most run 15-30 pounds, but we see bulls pushing 50+ pounds during peak season. They love floating debris, weed lines, and current breaks in 100-500 feet of water. Best fishing happens April through September when they're thick out there chasing flying fish. What makes them special? Fast runs, acrobatic jumps, and some of the best table fare in the ocean - sweet, firm white meat that's perfect grilled or blackened. They travel in schools, so when you hook one, get ready for doubles and triples. Here's a tip from years out here: when trolling, make your baits skip and dance on the surface - mahi can't resist anything that looks like a panicked flying fish.
Lutjanus CampechanusRed snapper are the prize of bottom fishing - gorgeous red fish that put up a serious scrap. They typically run 5-15 pounds in our area, with the occasional 20+ pounder coming from deeper structure. You'll find them hugging hard bottom, rocky ledges, and artificial reefs in 80-200 feet of water. They bite year-round, but summer months are prime time when they're most active. What guests love is the solid thump when they hit, followed by a bulldogging fight straight down. The meat is phenomenal too - sweet, flaky white fillets that are worth every bit of effort. They're smart fish that'll test your patience, often picking at bait before committing. Key trick: use circle hooks with live pinfish or cut squid, and when you feel that tick-tick-tick, don't set the hook - just start reeling steady and let the circle do its work.
Nematistius PectoralisThese iconic Pacific fish are pure excitement on the line. Named for their dramatic dorsal fin that flares like a rooster's comb when hooked, they average 30-60 pounds but can push over 100. You'll find them in the surf zone and around sandy bottoms near rocky structure, usually within a few miles of shore. They're year-round residents here, but the best action comes during our rainy season from May through November when baitfish are abundant. Guests love the powerful runs and aerial shows - these fish will test your arms and your drag. Most folks release them since the meat's a bit tough, but the photos are priceless. Pro tip: when you see that fin come up, resist the urge to set the hook hard - let them turn away with the bait first, then lean into them steady.
Thunnus AlbacaresYellowfin are the sports cars of the deep - built for speed and endurance. These torpedo-shaped fighters typically run 40-80 pounds in our waters, though we've had guests hook monsters over 200. They roam the blue water beyond the continental shelf, usually 20-50 miles offshore in 1,000+ feet. Peak season runs December through April when water temps are right and bait concentrates along thermal breaks. What sets them apart is their stamina - they'll make long, powerful runs that'll test your back and your tackle. Plus, yellowfin sashimi is restaurant-quality right off the boat. They're warm-blooded, which gives them that relentless fight. My go-to method is chunking with live sardines when the trolling slows down - nothing brings hungry yellowfin up from the depths like a steady chum line.
Guanacaste, Guanacaste