Snook Sportfishing
Capt. Jorge Fernandez off Playa Herradura
Snook Sportfishing is a one-boat charter run by Capt. Jorge Fernandez, who was born near Herradura and has fished these waters for almost 20 years. His 28-foot Game Fisher center console anchors in Herradura Bay, a few minutes from Los Sueños, and takes up to 4 guests on half, 3/4 and full days. It's a good fit for small groups after roosterfish and snapper on a half day, or sailfish and dorado farther out.
At a glance
- Location
- Playa Herradura, Central Pacific, Costa Rica
- Captain
- Jorge Fernandez, a local guide with almost 20 years on these waters
- Boat
- Snook, a 28-foot Game Fisher center console built in 2008
- Engines
- twin 115 hp Yamaha outboards, about 30 knots
- Group size
- up to 4 guests, plus captain and mate
- Trips
- half day morning or afternoon (5 hours), 3/4 day (7 hours), full day (8 hours)
- Fishing
- inshore, and offshore up to 25 to 40 miles out
- Leaves from
- Herradura Bay, Playa Herradura
- Booking
- through FishingBooker, listed since 2018
Part of our complete guide: Fishing the Central Pacific: the complete guide
Who runs it
Capt. Jorge Fernandez grew up around Playa Herradura and has fished here for close to 2 decades. He's been taking guests out through FishingBooker since 2018, and his listing now carries close to 600 reviews, with trips logged right up to mid-November 2026. Reviewers often name his mate Jefferson as well. He doesn't have a website of his own that we could find, so his FishingBooker page is the way to book.
He's one of the captains we recommend in our complete guide to fishing the Central Pacific, mainly for half-day inshore trips.
The boat
The boat is called Snook: a 28-foot Game Fisher center console built in 2008, powered by twin 115 hp Yamaha outboards with a top speed of about 30 knots. Twin engines are reassuring on a small boat heading offshore. It's set up for both styles of fishing, with outriggers, a live bait well, 2 coolers, GPS, a fish finder and a small toilet. A canvas top gives some shade.
It takes up to 4 guests, plus the captain and a deckhand. Children are welcome (2 at most), and the crew provides life jackets. As with any boat this size, you'll feel the swell more than on a big sportfisher, so take seasickness tablets if you're prone to it.
Where it leaves from
Snook sits on a mooring in Herradura Bay rather than in a slip at Los Sueños Marina. You meet the crew on Playa Herradura and board from the beach, usually with a short ride out. Hotel pickup isn't included, but the beach is about 10 minutes from most Jacó hotels. Confirm the meeting spot when you book.
What you'll fish for, and when
Inshore
The half days work the rocky points and islands around Herradura for roosterfish, Pacific red snapper, broomtail grouper, jack crevalle, amberjack and barracuda. Morning trips leave at 7 a.m. and afternoon trips at 1 p.m. Roosterfish are around all year, and the winter months from December to April are usually strongest.
Offshore
The 3/4 and full days run 25 to 40 miles out for sailfish, blue marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna and wahoo. Sailfish peak on the Central Pacific from December to April. Tuna, wahoo and marlin are best in the green season, from about May to August, and dorado from July to December. Recent reviews from the autumn of 2026 mention sailfish, dorado and a roosterfish caught on a birthday half day.
Our guide to popping and jigging for roosterfish and snapper is useful if you'd rather cast lures than troll live bait.
Release and keeping fish
Costa Rican law requires sailfish and marlin to be released, and catch and release is welcome on this boat for anything else too. Eating fish such as snapper, dorado and tuna can be kept, and the crew cleans and fillets them at the end of the trip. Roosterfish are normally released too, as they are on most Costa Rican boats.
How to book
Book through the Snook Sportfishing FishingBooker page, which shows the calendar and handles the deposit. The balance is paid to the captain in cash. Trips include rods, reels, tackle, live bait and lures, fruit and drinks, and sandwiches on longer days. The listing says the crew covers fishing licences, but check this when you book, since every angler on a boat needs an INCOPESCA licence. For more on the area, see our Los Sueños and Herradura marina page.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I meet the boat?
On Playa Herradura. The boat is anchored in the bay, and you board from the beach.
How many people can go?
Up to 4 guests, including up to 2 children.
Is a half day long enough?
For roosterfish and snapper, yes: the half days run 5 hours. For sailfish and marlin, book a 3/4 or full day.
Do they offer afternoon trips?
Yes. There's a 5-hour afternoon trip starting at 1 p.m., as well as the morning one at 7 a.m.
Is a licence included?
The listing says the crew covers it. Confirm when you book, because every angler needs one.
