Gladiator Sportfishing
Private Boats off the Beach in Sámara
Gladiator Sportfishing is a small private-charter outfit on Playa Sámara, on the Nicoya Peninsula's Pacific coast, owned by Simone Passarelli, who moved there from Rome, with local captain Jonathan at the helm. It runs 2 boats, the 28-foot center console Sol de Oro for offshore days and the 24-foot panga Acuarelas for inshore fishing, plus guided shore fishing and fly trips. It suits beginners, families and anglers who want an honest briefing and a strict release policy.
At a glance
- Location
- Sámara, Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica
- Boats
- Sol de Oro, a 28-foot center console (2021) with a 250 hp Suzuki; Acuarelas, a 24-foot panga
- Crew
- owner and captain Simone Passarelli, captain Jonathan, mate Justin; Arianna handles bookings with Simone
- Fishing
- offshore 14 to 25 miles out, inshore along the rocks and river mouths, shore fishing, fly fishing
- Release
- roosterfish, sailfish, marlin and jacks always go back
- Group size
- up to 6 on Sol de Oro, up to 5 on Acuarelas
- Season
- usually November to August
- Leaves from
- the far end of Playa Sámara, by shuttle boat from the sand
Contact
- Website
- gladiatorsportfishing.com
- Phone
- +506 8456 7100
- +506 8456 7100
- [email protected]
Contact details checked 15 November 2026
Part of our complete guide: Fishing the Nicoya Peninsula: the complete guide
Who runs it
Gladiator Sportfishing is a 2-boat charter business on Playa Sámara, the relaxed beach town in the middle of the Nicoya Peninsula's Pacific coast. Its owner, Simone Passarelli, came to Costa Rica from Rome and lists 14 years of experience on his FishingBooker profile. On the water, most trips are run by captain Jonathan, who grew up on this coast, with Justin as mate. Simone and Arianna answer messages and bookings themselves, in English, Spanish or Italian.
The company's website is refreshingly blunt. It tells you there's no toilet on either boat, that you'll wade to a shuttle boat to get aboard, that the crew speaks Spanish and "fishing English" on the water, and that nobody can promise you a fish. That kind of honesty is handy when you're choosing between operators. Its FishingBooker listing has reviews from December 2025 to June 2026, and its TripAdvisor page is active too.
The boats
Sol de Oro is the offshore boat, a 28-foot center console built in Costa Rica in 2021 and powered by a single 250 hp Suzuki outboard. It carries outriggers, tuna tubes, a live well, GPS, a fish finder and a shade cover, and it takes up to 6 people. Every offshore trip runs on Sol de Oro.
Acuarelas is a 24-foot panga with a live well, a fish finder and partial shade, taking up to 5. It's the boat the crew recommends for first-timers: a short run, plenty of action and time for the mate to teach you.
Neither boat has a dock. You meet at the far end of Playa Sámara, on the road toward Hotel Hideaway, wade to a small shuttle boat and step across to your charter. If anyone in your group would struggle with that, message the crew before booking.
What you'll fish for, and when
Offshore trips head 14 to 25 miles out to the drop-offs, trolling ballyhoo and lures for sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin, yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi and wahoo, switching to poppers or a fly rod when fish come up. Inshore trips work the rocks, beaches and river mouths for roosterfish, snapper, grouper and jacks, using trolling, popping and vertical jigging.
The company says its season usually runs from November to August, with December to May its strongest and busiest stretch. That fits the wider pattern for the zone: roosterfish are best from January to April, and on this northern stretch of the peninsula sailfish, yellowfin and wahoo peak from about May to August. See our Nicoya Peninsula guide for a month-by-month table.
The release policy is strict and clearly stated: roosterfish, sailfish, marlin and jacks always go back. Other fish follow the law and the captain's call, and anything you keep is filleted on board. Several restaurants in Sámara will cook it for you.
Trip types
Offshore trips run as a 4.5-hour half day, a three-quarter day (6 hours) or a full day (8 hours). Inshore trips run from 4 to 8 hours on either boat. Morning trips leave at 7:30 and afternoon half days at 1:00. There's also a 4-hour fishing and dolphin-watching trip for families, a 4-hour guided shore-fishing walk for roosterfish and jacks off the rocks (for anglers with some experience), and fly fishing from the boat or the shore.
Further afield, the company arranges fly fishing for tarpon at Caño Negro in the northern lowlands, with meals and lodging, which you can pair with a few days at sea in Sámara.
Drinks, snacks, rods, reels, tackle, bait, fuel and the shuttle boat are included, with lunch on full days. Your INCOPESCA fishing licence isn't, and the crew will help you buy it online after you book.
How to book
Book through the website's booking calendar, by WhatsApp on +506 8456 7100 (the fastest way) or by email at [email protected]. It's also listed on FishingBooker. For more on the town, see our Sámara guide, and for the wade-out routine, our guide to panga fishing from a beach launch.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Gladiator Sportfishing leave from?
From the far end of Playa Sámara, on the road toward Hotel Hideaway. A shuttle boat takes you from the sand to the charter boat.
Is there a toilet on board?
No, not on either boat, so plan accordingly, especially on longer trips.
What fish do they always release?
Roosterfish, sailfish, marlin and jacks. Other fish follow the law and the captain's decision.
Which trip is best for beginners?
The crew suggests an inshore half day on the panga Acuarelas, or the fishing and dolphin-watching trip for families.
Is the fishing licence included?
No. Each angler buys an INCOPESCA licence online, and the crew will walk you through it after booking.
