Sportfishing Costa Rica FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

“TIPS FOR TRAVELING TO COSTA RICA”.

AIRLINES. There are 2 major airports within Costa Rica that handles international flights. Liberia handles some airlines and some charter flight operators. Most airlines routes come into the capital city of San Jose. Great schedules are with Continental with direct flights from Houston (about 3-1/2 hours) and Phoenix as well as flight with several carriers from Miami.
PASSPORTS. You are required to have a passport that has at least 3 months left prior to the expiration date. Also, be sure your passport is in good physical condition with no tears or none of the seams are coming loose as Customs here have turned people away with the edges of the passport ragged.
CREDIT CARDS. Many credit card companies will DECLINE charges that you try to make using your credit card outside of the US if you haven’t traveled before (or recently). We would recommend you contact your credit card number using the customer service number located on the back of your card before traveling to Costa Rica. Advise them that you are planning a trip here and will be using your credit card. They will take any blocks off the card so you won’t have any problems using your card. Credit cards (as well as US cash) is readily accepted most anywhere within Costa Rica except for very small shops or restaurants. Most everyone will accept US cash but try and bring smaller bills ($20’s, 10’s, etc.) as some of the smaller vendors won’t cash a $100 bill.
CELL PHONES. Most US cell phone work within Costa Rica. HOWEVER, just like credit cards, you may have to call the company and have them remove any “blocks” they may have on the phone for international use. Many carriers (like AT&T) will have automatic blocks on the use of your phone outside of the US. You simply call them (or go to your account online) and have them authorize international use of your phone. There is usually no charge for this. Be careful of using too much data (emails, internet, etc) as the roaming fees are usually quite expensive. Most all hotels, condominiums and even restaurants here have wireless internet that you can use on smart phones such as your Blackberry or Iphones. Also, SKYPE is a free app you can put on your smart phone or computer and make free calls to other s on SKYPE or very about 2.3 cents per minute to any phone in the US (Landline OR cell) and it just requires an internet connection (wireless, 3g, etc.) Most all of Costa Rica now has 3G cellular service.

Fishing Costa Rica. Unlike most areas where you may have fished offshore before ….such as the east coast in the Atlantic or the Pacific coast of Mexico in Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan, or Ixtapta…….fishing Costa Rica is a unique experience where the waters are almost always relatively calm and the boat rides short! There are no 2 or 3 hour boat rides on rough waters here! If you are apprehensive about long, rough boat rides……that is seldom the case around Los Suenos and few passengers report getting seasick. The landmass of the country itself provides a blocking cover from windy conditions for our fishing grounds out of the central Pacific region of Costa Rica. We move around and fish where the fish are but most of the time this is from 20-30 miles from Los Suenos. In our boats that means it’s usually a short 1 to 1-1/2 hour boat ride to and from the bill fishing grounds. We normally leave the marina between 7:15 and 7:30 in the mornings and return around 4:30 in the afternoons. This means you have a full day of almost 6 hours of trolling for big sailfish and marlin on calm waters!
What is included in a daily fishing charter? Everything you would normally need is included in our charter fees except the cost of the one-month fishing license, which is required for all adults over 18. The cost is currently $13 and is paid in cash directly to the agent at the entrance to the dock (we can not sell the license directly).

Our charters include coffee and pastries at our “Reception Area” at the office before your charter as well as drinks during the charter such as bottled water, soft drinks (regular and diet coke, tea, etc.) and Imperial beer. On full day charters you also get your choice of 6 delicious lunches prepared by “THE HOOK UP” restaurant. Each meal consists of an entrée as well as your choice of pasta or potato salad; fresh cut fruit; fresh baked muffin and a cookie. All meals are served by one of your mates on plates with silverware. PLEASE MAKE YOUR LUNCH SELECTION WITH US BY STOPPING BY OUR MARINA OFFICE NO LATER THAN 5 PM THE DAY PRIOR TO YOUR CHARTER. If you don’t make a selection, we will choose a variety of meals to be on your charter. Half day charters run from 7:30 till 11:30 or 12:30-4:30 and include fresh sliced fruit and a fresh baked muffin and cookie.
Each boat comes with a Captain experienced in the local fishing areas and a bi-lingual 1st and 2nd mate. The 1st mate will assist the captain by setting all the rods and reels out with baits on the waters and will normally set the hook on the fish while you get your fighting belt on and get into the fighting chair. The 2nd Mate is there to assist the 1st Mate with the fishing duties but is also there as your personal waiter, butler or assistant and will attend to your every need. THE BOAT AND CREW IS AT YOUR DISPOSAL FOR THE DAY. You simply tell them what you want to do and they are there to get it done!

What to bring on your daily fishing charter. Like stated above, we provide most everything needed for your day on the azul Costa Rican waters. You should bring a good sunscreen, sunglasses, hat, camera and any other specialty beers, wines or liquors you may want. Bring enough cash for your fishing license and crew tips. (You may also charge crew tips on a credit card if you like but not the fishing license).
Tips. We recommend tipping the boat crew the same as you would at a nice restaurant. 15% plus or minus depending on how your feel your service was. All tips are split equally among the crew (Captain and mates). Simply leave one tip with the Captain and he will distribute it with the other crewmembers. Remember, you can also charge crew tips on your credit card if you like. Just advise the captain and make the payment in our office.
Fishing Seasons. Here in the protected waters of the Pacific Ocean in central Costa Rica, we get a great variety of fishing opportunities throughout the year. We get blue, black and striped marlin, sailfish, tuna, mahi mahi (dorado), rooster fish, cabera snapper, grouper, Wahoo and red snapper at varying times of the seasons. Marlin prefer the coolers waters that are normally in our area from October through January but many times are found here through February. There is always the odd marlin being caught year round. As the waters begin to warm, the marlin thin out but the sailfish move in in great numbers. The sailfish are caught here year round and very seldom is there a day of fishing without a billfish being caught on each and every boat! Tuna and mahi can be caught any day of the year and make for some great eating (ask us about the local restaurants that will prepare your catch for you!). Rooster sighing is great fun (though not good eating as they are a member of the “jack” family) inshore around the rocks as well as are the snapper and grouper. The best times for these are during the summer, fall and early winter months but they can be caught year round.
Fishing Procedures. A normal day of bill fishing will begin with your either meeting us at our “Reception Area” at our office in the morning around 7:15 and having some of our complimentary coffee and pastries before your charter or with us picking you up at the Los Suenos Marriott or condo around 7:10 and bringing you to the Reception Area. You will be met in the Reception Area by the captain of your boat and if you haven’t already done so, each passenger will first sign a Liability Waiver at the Reception Area. Your Captain will personally escort you to your boat where your crew will be waiting and you will shove off around 7:30. Depending on where the Captain feels is the best fishing area for the day, you will have an hour to a 1-1/2 hour ride to the fishing grounds. During the ride you can feel free to sit up top on the “flying bridge” or “tuna tower” with the Captain if you like…..or sit up on the bow and watch the porpoise, turtles and whales that are commonly seen ……or you may go into the air-conditioned cabin and relax before or after the fishing for a nap. All of our boats are air-conditioned, have flush toilets and fresh running water. Once in the fishing area, the mates will get all the lines and “teasers” (lures) in the water behind the boat and you will “troll” at around 6-7 knots while looking for billfish. Depending on the time of year, billfish such as marlin and sailfish can be seen “rising” on the baits. With luck they will “strike” the bait. You crew members will be alert watching for the rising fish and let you know (usually quite excitedly!) when they spot fish. Once the fish takes the bait, the mate will hook it for you while you are getting prepared to “fight” the fish by getting a rod holder belt on and getting to he fighting chair. In Costa Rica all billfish are catch and release and we also use “circle hooks”. These special hooks will normally only hook the fish in the mouth and takes some practice using them. Once hooked they will hand you the rod and help you by coaching you in the proper techniques of fighting and landing the fish. Once the fish is worn out and to the boat, the crew may offer you the opportunity to get into the water and “swim with the fish”! This is quite exciting and makes for a wonderful picture to send to friends back home! Many times while fishing for billfish, you will catch tuna and also Mahi Mahi (dorado), which are both excellent eating fish. All our boats have lighter spinning tackle that is great fun when catching tuna or mahi.
Inshore/Offshore fishing.. All of our boats are equipped to fished with “offshore” (out where the billfish, tuna and mahi are found) or “inshore” (in close to land where fish such as rooster fish, grouper, snapper, etc.) fishing. Inshore fishing is normally done around the shorelines around either submerged or out of water rock formations where these fish tend to stay. Most boats have live wells as some being rigged with “Tuna Tubes”…..where live bait is kept rigged and ready to go into the water. Inshore fishing rates generally run less than full day offshore trips due to the savings in fuel being used.
Transportation Services.

To The Marina. If you are staying inside the gates of Los Suenos, we offer free transportation services to our office every morning in either one of our golf carts or in our new luxury air-conditioned van. If you need a ride, please let us know at the office by 6 PM the day before your charter.
To Airports, Local Attractions, Restaurants or Jaco. If you need transportation from the airport to Los Suenos, we offer a van service that will take you to your door. We also offer transportation services for excursions or van & drivers for the day. They will also take you to town (Jaco, Hermosa Beach, etc) or just to a local restaurant. Just inquire at the office or check out our link.

Fish to Eat.. If you are fishing offshore and catch tuna or mahi mahi……or fishing inshore……the crew will filet your catch and have it ready for you to take with you by the time your arrive back at the marina. Several local restaurants will gladly prepare your “fresh catch” for you for dinner. Ask us at the office for information and directions.