Bahamas
Custom 27ft · single 180hp Yamaha
Inshore fishing · Roosterfish
From
$650 / 4hrs
Capacity
Papagayo Fishing Charters
Sportfishing the whole Gulf of Papagayo, wherever you are staying. The peninsula shelters its bays from the open gulf, so your day starts in protected water.
Some of our boats at Papagayo
More of our boats can come here too. Ask us about any of them. Prices are for the whole boat.
- Request this boat
El Patron
Grady White 31ft · twin Suzuki engines
Offshore · Big groups
Request this boatFrom $1500 / 5hrsCapacityLuhrs 34ft
Luhrs 34ft · twin engines
Serious offshore · Marlin
Request this boatFrom $1700 / 4hrsCapacityA day on the beaches
- Beach DaySnorkel, caves and a beach BBQ.
- Fishing + Beach BBQFish the morning, lunch on the sand.
Pick-up anywhere in Papagayo
Papagayo is not one beach. It is the whole gulf and the peninsula inside it, with resorts such as the Four Seasons, Andaz, Ritz-Carlton and Secrets along its beaches. Wherever you stay, the boat waits in the bay off your beach or the nearest one, and a dinghy brings you out to it.
- Meeting point
- The beach at your resort. We agree which one with you.
- Start time
- Usually 7:30 a.m., and we fit it to your plans.
- By road
- Not staying on a beach? We arrange ground transport to one a boat can reach.
- Fishing license
- Every angler needs one by law. We can guide you through getting it before the day.
How long to fish the gulf
4 hours
A half day inshore, good for families and first-timers: Palmares and the rocky points, for roosterfish, snapper and dorado.
6 hours
More time on the water: a longer day inshore, or a run out past the gulf.
8 hours
Offshore all day, past the gulf: sailfish, marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna.
- Not sure which?
- Tell us who is coming and what you want to catch. The crew fits the day to your group, first-timers or seasoned anglers.
Every boat, with its own rates for each length, is on the Fleet page.
Gulf of Papagayo fishing, inshore and offshore
Inshore
Rocky points, reefs and islands inside the gulf, like Palmares. Plenty of action close to shore, and in a good season sailfish come in close there too.
What you can catch
- Roosterfish · catch and release
- Snapper
- Amberjack
- Grouper
Offshore
Deep Pacific water past the mouth of the gulf, for billfish, dorado and tuna, all year round.
What you can catch
- Sailfish · catch and release
- Marlin · catch and release
- Dorado
- Yellowfin tuna
What bites changes month by month. See the species page.
Questions
Where does the boat pick me up in Papagayo?
On the beach at your resort. The boat waits in the bay, and a dinghy brings you out to it. We agree the beach and the time with you.
Is the water rough in Papagayo?
The bays inside the peninsula are sheltered, so the ride out starts in protected water. Out in the open gulf, it depends on the wind.
Why is the fishing good in the Gulf of Papagayo?
The Papagayo wind pushes the warm surface water out to sea, and cold, rich water rises in its place. That feeds the bait, and the bait brings the fish.
What happens on a windy day in Papagayo?
The captain decides if it is safe to go offshore. If it is not, a full day offshore can become a half day inshore, in the sheltered water.
What if the weather is bad on my fishing day?
If it rains hard or the sea is too rough, the trip is usually moved to another day. If no other day works for you, you get your money back.
What can I catch in the Gulf of Papagayo?
Close to shore: roosterfish, snapper, amberjack and grouper. Offshore: sailfish, marlin, dorado and yellowfin tuna. It depends on the season and the day. The world record dorado, 87 lb, was caught in the Papagayo Gulf in 1976.
Can I fish at the Bat Islands?
No. The Bat Islands (Islas Murciélago) are inside Santa Rosa National Park, and all fishing there is banned.
Staying on the Papagayo Peninsula?
Tell us your dates, how many of you there are, where you are staying and what you would like to catch. We come back with the boats that fit, the beach, and the price.