I am headed to Costa Rica in a couple of weeks and am hoping to do some fishing on the Pacific side, possibly in Manuel Antonio. Is it possible to go fishing in Manuel Antonio or are most of the guides and boats based in Quepos?

Is it possible to hire a guide with a panga boat instead of the $400+ charters made for 4+ people? I've been to Cabo several times and used a panga guide (for about $200-$250)instead of going the charter route. Given that it's not great fishing in Costa Rica this time of year, I figure this might be a better bet. Does anyone know of some good fishing guides that have smaller boats/pangas that you would reccommend? Do reservations need to be made in advance or is it possible to secure a fishing guide the day before going out?

I've seen great pictures online, but am curious to hear from someone first hand that has perhaps gone fishing in this area. Any help, suggestions, or information is greatly appreciated.

Thank you!

-ttrain

I'm sorry i can't help you. First time in Costa Rica. I am looking for Tarpon fishing, I guess in rivers or Carribean side. Also interested in Pacific side but it did look expensive. Still looking. I'll post what I find out. Good luck.

Thanks. I am getting a little concerned as it doesn't appear very many people go fishing out of Quepos. I know there are several charters in the area but wondering if I need to book these in advance or if it is possible to book them the day before? Has anyone been fishing in the Quepos / Manuel Antonio before that can share their experiences?

Thanks,
ttrain

Manuel Antonio and Quepos are the same area. MA is the national park, Quepos is the town. They are only four miles apart, or ten minutes by taxi.

All the boats are in the marina in Quepos, and there is LOTS of fishing in this area. It is world renowned, and you are going at the height of sailfish season!

If you are looking to fish inshore, you can probably find a ponga style boat at the marina or through the front desk.

If you wish to fish offshore, my advice is to bite the bullet and go with one of the larger boats. There are two reasons for this. There are lots of rivers and estuaries that drain into the ocean here, plus the heavy surf kicks up a lot of sediment. So sometimes you have to run a distance to get out to blue water. You need something fairly fast so that you don't spend half your day coming and going. The other reason is the size of the waves. You will be in larger waves, and will be more comfortable in a larger boat. Especially if you have to run a distance to the trash line.

If you are a serious fisherman, don't miss this opportunity to fish this area. Someone told me once that there were more world records caught here than anywhere on the planet. That statement was probably hype. But look at all the species, different line tests, fly or troll, etc. There are hundreds of ways to calculate fishing records. I am sure that Quepos owns quite a few of them.

Hope this helps! Let me know if I can offer more advice.

Warm Regards,
Pat Hewitt
(Travel professional)

Great - thank you, Pat! We will give the charter a try.

-ttrain

Dear ttrain:

We were in MA in November. I checked on the web and we also checked at several tour kiosks in MA: all were pretty expensive, around $700.

The manager at our hotel, Costa Verde, said to go down to reception at about 7 am and they would call for a fishing charter. My husband did so and was picked up by 8 for a full day of fishing - $500. Not cheap, but he had a great time, caught 4 tuna & 2 dorado. We had them for dinner that night.

Check at your hotel. They may be able to help you out.

Good luck,

MY

You can also look at Los Suenos Marina for a charter boat. They are a bit expensive, but first class. I think it should be around $1200 - $1500 for a full day offshore. Inshore for roosterfish is about $400.