Mangrove Fishing Tours
Calm-water fishing in the Damas estuary near Quepos
Mangrove Fishing Tours is a Quepos guide service that fishes the mangrove channels and river of the Isla Damas estuary, just north of town, instead of the open sea. Its local guides use hand lines and light spinning gear from a covered 25-foot boat, mostly for snapper, snook and corvina. It's a good choice for families, beginners and anyone who gets seasick.
At a glance
- Location
- Isla Damas, Quepos, Central Pacific, Costa Rica
- Where
- the Damas estuary, its mangrove channels and the river behind it, just north of Quepos
- Boat
- a 25-foot covered boat with twin 125 hp Johnson outboards, built 2016
- Group size
- up to 6 (the boat price covers 4; extra guests pay per person)
- Trips
- 5-hour morning trip from 5 a.m., 5-hour afternoon trip from 12:30 p.m.
- Methods
- hand lines and spinning gear, with live bait caught on the trip
- Fish
- snappers (mangrove, red and cubera), snook, corvina, small grouper
- Ages
- children 7 and up
- Booking
- through FishingBooker, listed since 2019
Contact
- Leaves from
- Damas, on the Isla Damas estuary just north of Quepos
Contact details checked 15 November 2026
Part of our complete guide: Fishing the Central Pacific: the complete guide
Who runs it
Mangrove Fishing Tours is a small team of local guides who have fished the brackish water around Quepos for more than 20 years. Reviews name Captain Andrés (spelled a few ways) and the mates Minor and Mono. They find fish the old way, by reading the tide and the water rather than relying on a fish finder, and much of the fishing is done with hand lines, the way many Costa Rican fishermen learn.
The company has been on FishingBooker since 2019, with about 40 reviews. The most recent ones we read were from April and July 2026. It has no website we could find, so the listing is the place to book. It's one of the outfits we picked in our complete guide to fishing the Central Pacific, as the calm-water option.
Where you fish
The trips run in the Isla Damas estuary, a maze of mangrove channels a few minutes north of Quepos, and up the river that feeds it. The water is brown with tannins from the mangroves, the banks are a tangle of roots, and it's flat calm, even on days when the open sea is rough. Reviewers mention seeing wildlife along the way, and herons and kingfishers are common in these mangroves.
The listing gives the meeting point only as Damas de Quepos, so confirm the exact dock when you book. Pickup isn't included, and the guides ask you to arrive 20 minutes early.
The boat
It's a 25-foot boat built in 2016 with twin 125 hp Johnson outboards, but speed hardly matters back here: it cruises the channels at about 10 knots. A roof covers most of the deck, which matters in the midday sun and the green-season showers, and there are bench seats along the sides. It carries life jackets and safety gear, and you're welcome to bring your own rods.
What you'll catch, and when
The main targets are snappers (mangrove, red and the occasional young cubera), snook, corvina and small grouper. Reviewers also report sea bass, catfish and plenty of smaller fish that keep children busy. On slow tides, the crew sometimes trolls to find the snapper.
The estuary fishes all year, since it isn't tied to the offshore seasons. Tides and moon phase matter more than the month: one reviewer found it tough on a full moon with bait everywhere, and another suggests morning trips between December and February. The morning trip starts early, at 5 a.m., to catch the cooler, quieter hours.
Release and keeping fish
You can keep what you catch within the legal limits, and the crew cleans and fillets it. Catch and release is welcome too. Our guide to Costa Rica's fishing rules covers size limits and closed seasons.
How to book
Book through the Mangrove Fishing Tours FishingBooker page, which takes a small deposit, with the balance paid to the captain in cash. Trips include rods, reels and tackle, live bait, cleaning and filleting, snacks and drinks. The boat is alcohol-free and non-smoking. The listing says no licence is needed, but the law asks every angler fishing from a boat to carry one, so we'd buy an INCOPESCA licence online to be safe. Families should read our guide to fishing with kids, and our Quepos fishing guide covers the town.
Frequently asked questions
Is this good for people who get seasick?
Yes. The estuary is sheltered and flat, so there's no ocean swell.
What's the youngest age allowed?
Children from 7 years old are welcome.
Do I need fishing experience?
No. The guides show you how to use a hand line or spinning rod, and the fish are close by.
Where do we meet?
At Damas, on the estuary just north of Quepos. The listing doesn't give a dock name, so confirm it when you book.
Can I go offshore with them?
The listing only offers mangrove and river trips. For sailfish or marlin, book a boat at Marina Pez Vela.
