Four boats with their own captains, from the gulf points to the Matapalo drop-off, 10 minutes by boat from Golfito.
Golfito is one of the few places in Costa Rica where calm inshore water and open Pacific blue water sit side by side. Fewer boats than the northern ports, and fish that don’t see a lure every day.
Rocky points, river mouths and mangrove edges in the sheltered water of the gulf. Light tackle, poppers, live bait and fly, and a resident tarpon fishery that few anglers know about yet.
The Matapalo drop-off, seamounts and more than a dozen fish-aggregating devices. Bait on the way out, billfish and tuna in the spread. Every billfish is released.
Every photo taken on recent trips in Golfo Dulce.
Based on Golfito-area captains’ calendars. Seasons shift year to year, so your captain confirms the plan before every trip.
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue marlin | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Black marlin | Good | Occasional | Good | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Good |
| Sailfish | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Good |
| Yellowfin tuna | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Dorado | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
| Wahoo | Good | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Good |
| Roosterfish | Peak | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Cubera snapper | Occasional | Peak | Good | Peak | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Good |
| Tarpon | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Occasional | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Peak | Occasional |
| Snook | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak | Peak | Peak | Good |
Fully rigged sportfishing boats run by local captains and mates who know where the fish are this week, not last season.
The big-game boat. Flybridge, outriggers and a cockpit built for long runs to the seamounts and a marlin on stand-up gear.
The all-rounder. Fast enough for the blue water, nimble enough to work the points for roosterfish on the way home.
A shallow-running center console for the gulf: casting decks, poppers and fly rods for tarpon, snook and cubera along the mangroves.
A traditional Costa Rican panga: simple, stable and low to the water. It works the gulf points and runs out to the blue water.
Share when you’d like to come and what you’d like to chase. We’ll match you with the right boat and captain and send a full itinerary within [24 hours].