Diablo Sportfishing

Part of our complete guide: Fishing the Southern Pacific: the complete guide

Who runs it

Diablo Sportfishing is a long-standing fishing crew in Uvita, a small town on the Costa Ballena coast about 20 minutes south of Dominical. Its captain, Javier Guzmán Chinchilla, is a licensed Costa Rican captain who grew up fishing for sport and for the table and has lived around Uvita for more than 30 years. His wife, Nele, handles bookings and scheduling.

Craig Jervis, who settled in Uvita with his wife Marcia in 2000, has fished with Javier for more than 20 years and often works as mate. When he isn't aboard, Javier's cousin Michael Chevez, a licensed biologist and guide, takes his place. The website also introduces a newer owner from Canada, Illar Tenno, with Craig still fishing alongside the crew.

The website itself hasn't been updated in a few years, but the charter is busy: TripAdvisor reviews run through August and October 2026.

The boat

The Been There is a 21-foot Aquasport center console with a 140 hp Suzuki outboard, a T-top for shade and outriggers. It takes up to 4 guests. The crew provides the tackle and electronics, plus licences, drinks, snacks and ice, so check with Nele what's covered for your trip.

It's a small boat for offshore work, so it's at its best on calmer days. If you get seasick easily, an inshore trip is the safer bet.

Where it leaves from

The boat is moored in the sheltered harbor at the north end of Marino Ballena National Park, at Uvita. You meet the crew at the park entrance, which has secure parking, and the boat motors out of the park before any lines go in, since fishing isn't allowed inside it. There's no hotel pickup. One review mentions a half-day trip leaving from the beach at Dominicalito instead, so confirm the spot.

What you'll fish for

Offshore, the crew goes for Pacific sailfish, blue and black marlin, tuna, wahoo and dorado. The full offshore day runs to the banks around 1 hour 15 minutes out; there's also a 6-hour offshore option, and in November and December a half day close offshore, when the fish come in nearer.

Inshore, it's roosterfish, Sierra mackerel, snapper including cubera, needlefish, barracuda and jack crevalle along the coast.

Sailfish are best on this coast from about December to April, and roosterfish peak from about January to April. The Southern Pacific guide has the full calendar, and our Central Pacific guide covers Quepos, the other choice for anglers based around Dominical.

Release practice

Diablo releases all billfish and sharks, along with roosterfish and needlefish. Legal-size dorado, tuna and wahoo can be kept, you decide what to take, and the crew cleans it on board. The crew doesn't sell any of the catch. Our guide to releasing a billfish explains good handling.

Trips and booking

Trips run all year: full-day offshore, 6-hour offshore, inshore half or full days, and the November-December half day close offshore. Book on the charter's own booking calendar (linked from its website) or through the contact form on the site. There's no phone number published, so allow time for a reply.