Papagayo Sportfishing
FAQ's
We have compiled a varity of questions and answer people most often have fast and easy to be shure about your next fishing charter.
Q - Can I take the fish i catch with me or ship it back to my home (out of Costa Rica)?
A - You may not ship your fish from Costa Rica, however you can take frozen fillets home with you in your checked baggage, however it is a very cumbersome process. Regulations state that your fillets must be frozen, and cannot be included in your carry-on luggage, but checked baggage only. Furthermore, you cannot pack your frozen fillets with any other type of ice, or foreign substance.
Some new regulations say the fish must be inspected at the airport for the police; it is a rutinary process, just tell them the truth and all will be fine, you will be back home with fresh fish from Costa Rica.
When in any of our fishing charters, you just tell the crew you want to keep some fish and he/they will clean, fillet and bag it; so, you can bring back to the hotel or restaurant (they will cook it for you) or prepare it for bringing it back home with you.
Q. Do I need a fishing license?
A. Sometimes it is not necessary; however, we recommend you buy the licenses in advance. You can do it online
Q - Where do you fish from or where are you located?
A - We fish from the area of Papagayo, Flamingo, Playa Conchal, and many other places not close to the shore such as Liberia. Fishing from Dreams Las Mareas is also an option too.
Q - What kind of fish you catch?
A - We go after sails, mahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo or marlin when deep sea fishing, and roosterfish, cubera snapper, mackerel, red snapper (bottom fishing) and other smaller species when coastal fishing.
Q - What time your fishing charter departs and come back?
A - Ussually, on full day (8 hours), our fishing trips starts around 7:30 am and comeback at 4 pm. You can change at the departure time if necessary.
Q - What happens if there is unsafe weather and boating conditions?
A - Our cancelation policy says we will cancel the charter if weahter is too bad. If possible, you can reschedule; but if not then we will refund your deposit. I will check the weather forecast for the fishing date and let you know about it.
Q. Do you have both half day and full day fishing charters?
A. Yes, we do both full day and half day charters, also, we could customize your trip for the time just you need. Our half-day charters are 4 hours, our � of days are 6 hours and our full day charters are 9 hours.
Q. What do I need to bring on our Fishing Charter?
A. We suggest you dress accordingly to the fishing conditions. Our charters include all necessary for a fishing charter and scuba when booked, however we have a few hints of what to bring & wear. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, shoes are optional, sensible clothing.
Q. How long does it take to get to the fishing grounds?
A. It takes about 20-30 minutes to get to inshore fishing Papagayo grounds and about 60 minutes to get to offshore papagayo fishing or tamarindo deep sea fishing.
Q. Do I have to be experienced?
A. No, we cater to both experienced anglers and novices. We assist you in learning techniques of fishing and our friendly crew can answer any of your questions and are on hand to help throughout the day.
Q. How many people can you accommodate?
A. We could accommodate a maximum of 6 on one boat. Groups and large parties are accommodated by the means of multiple boats.
Q. Do we pay a deposit?
A. Yes, to secure a booking we require a deposit of $250 for each booked day. Payable by credit card (Visa, MasterCArd, AmericaExpress) or money transfer using Wester Union.
Q. How far do you go offshore?
A. On the half-day charters (inshore fishing) we fish approx 10km from the shore. For Papagayo offshore fishing or Tamarindo deep sea fishing (on full day charters) we fish between 30km-60km from the shore in depths to 50 - 1200 fathoms.
Q. Do I get to keep my catch?
A. Yes, you get to keep your catch. We will clean and fillet the fish you will keep and release all the rest.
Q. Do you supply rods and reels?
A. Yes we supply all your fishing equipment and bait needed for fishing.
Q. Can I bring my own rod & reel?
A. Yes, you can bring your own rod & reel.