Fishing Herradura
Capt. Randy Delgado's center console off the beach
Fishing Herradura is a small charter run by Capt. Randy Delgado, who grew up fishing the waters off Playa Herradura and has taken guests out for close to a decade. Trips leave from the beach by water taxi on a 31- to 32-foot boat for up to 5, with half days for roosterfish and full days offshore. Billfish and roosterfish are always released, and it suits small groups staying in Jacó or Los Sueños.
At a glance
- Location
- Playa Herradura, Central Pacific, Costa Rica
- Captain
- Randy Delgado, chartering off Herradura for close to a decade
- Boat
- Los Cielos, a 31- to 32-foot boat with twin 250 hp Yamaha outboards
- Group size
- up to 4 or 5, depending on the trip
- Trips
- inshore roosterfish and half day (5 hours), 3/4 day (6 hours), full day offshore (8 hours), all from 7 a.m.
- Release
- billfish and roosterfish always released
- Leaves from
- Playa Herradura, by water taxi
- Booking
- through FishingBooker, listed since 2017
Part of our complete guide: Fishing the Central Pacific: the complete guide
Who runs it
Capt. Randy Delgado has fished the water around Playa Herradura all his life and has run charters here for close to 10 years. He's been on FishingBooker since 2017, where his listing has about 300 reviews and more than 150 fishing reports, with trips logged through the summer of 2026. Reviewers also name other captains and mates from the same crew, such as Captain David and mate Bradly, so you may not always fish with Randy himself. There's no separate website, so the listing is the place to book.
He's one of the local captains we picked in our complete guide to fishing the Central Pacific.
The boat
The listing calls the boat Los Cielos and describes it as a 31-foot Aquasport center console, while its spec table says 32 feet with a cuddy cabin and a 2026 build year, so check which boat you'll get when you book. Twin 250 hp Yamaha outboards give it about 25 knots. It's well equipped for its size: a covered top, outriggers, tuna tubes, a live bait well, a fighting chair, GPS and a fish finder, an ice box and a toilet. Tackle covers both light inshore work and heavier offshore trolling, with downriggers as well.
It takes up to 5 people on most trips and 4 on some. Families are welcome: one July 2026 review describes a day out with a 7-year-old.
Where it leaves from
This is a beach departure, not a marina one. The boat sits on a mooring off Playa Herradura, just south of Los Sueños Marina. On the beach, look for the big water taxi sign and tell the operators you're fishing with Randy or Los Cielos. They'll run you out to the boat. Wear shoes you don't mind getting wet. Pickup can be arranged when you book, depending on where you're staying, and most Jacó hotels are about 10 minutes away.
What you'll fish for, and when
Inshore
The 5-hour roosterfish trip works the rocky points and beaches near Herradura for roosterfish, jack crevalle, amberjack, almaco jack and snook. Snapper and grouper come up on the bottom.
Offshore
The 3/4 and full days head out for sailfish, blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado and wahoo. Reviews from June and July 2026 describe mornings with half a dozen yellowfin, plus dorado and the odd sailfish. That fits the season: tuna, wahoo and marlin peak here from about May to August, dorado from July to December, and sailfish from December to April. See our Central Pacific sailfish season guide for the winter bite.
Release and keeping fish
The listing says catch and release is mandatory for billfish and roosterfish. Releasing billfish is also a legal requirement in Costa Rica. Other fish are yours to keep: the crew cleans and fillets them, and one June 2026 reviewer had the catch cooked for the group afterward. Our guide to releasing a billfish explains what good handling looks like.
How to book
Book through the Fishing Herradura FishingBooker page, which shows availability and the cancellation terms. Trips include tackle, lures, live bait when it's available, cleaning and filleting, snacks, a lunch of sandwiches or burritos, and drinks. The listing doesn't mention licences, so plan to buy your own INCOPESCA licence online before the trip. Every angler on a boat needs one.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I meet the boat?
On Playa Herradura, at the water taxi sign. A water taxi takes you out to the boat.
How many people can fish?
Up to 5 on most trips, and 4 on some. Check the trip you choose.
Do they release roosterfish?
Yes. The listing says billfish and roosterfish are always released.
What time do trips start?
All trips leave at 7 a.m.
Will Capt. Randy be on board?
Not always. Reviews mention other captains from the same crew, so ask when you book if it matters to you.
