# Fishing the Southern Pacific: the complete guide

> Costa Rica's Southern Pacific, from Dominical down to Pavones, is the country's least crowded big-game coast: calm inshore fishing in the Golfo Dulce for roosterfish and cubera snapper, and offshore runs for marlin, sailfish and big yellowfin. Most anglers base themselves in Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Zancudo or Drake Bay and fly in from San José, since the drive takes most of a day.

Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/southern-pacific-fishing-guide/
Last checked: 2026-11-14
Main bases: Puerto Jiménez, Golfito, Playa Zancudo, Drake Bay, Uvita
Inshore: roosterfish, cubera snapper, snook, jacks, grouper, Sierra mackerel
Offshore: sailfish, blue and black marlin, yellowfin tuna, dorado, wahoo
Best sailfish months: about December to April
Best marlin and tuna months: about May to September, and again November to December
Marinas: Marina Bahía Golfito, Banana Bay and Fish Hook in Golfito; Crocodile Bay's pier in Puerto Jiménez
No fishing: Caño Island reserve, Marino Ballena and Corcovado national parks, Cocos Island
Getting there: SANSA flights to Golfito, Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay, or a long drive

## The short answer

Costa Rica's Southern Pacific runs from Dominical, on the Costanera highway, all the way down to Pavones and Punta Banco near the Panama border. In between sit the Térraba-Sierpe mangroves, Drake Bay, the Osa Peninsula and the Golfo Dulce, a deep, sheltered gulf with Puerto Jiménez on one shore and Golfito on the other. It's the wettest, greenest and least built-up part of the country's Pacific coast, and it fishes like it.

What you get here is two fisheries side by side. Inside the Golfo Dulce and along the rocky Osa shore, small boats chase roosterfish, cubera snapper, snook, jacks and grouper on calm water, in any month. Outside, past Cabo Matapalo and the mouth of the gulf, the shelf drops away and crews troll for sailfish, blue and black marlin, dorado, wahoo and some of the biggest yellowfin tuna caught in Costa Rica. Sailfish are best from about December to April, marlin and tuna from about May to September and again late in the year, and roosterfish are around all year.

The catch is distance. Puerto Jiménez, Golfito and Zancudo are most of a day's drive from San José, so nearly everyone flies in on a small domestic plane. If you want a quieter coast, fewer boats on the water and a real chance at a big fish, it's worth the trip.

## Towns and where the boats leave from

The zone splits neatly into 3 parts: the Costa Ballena coast (Dominical, Uvita, Ojochal), the Osa (Sierpe, Drake Bay, Puerto Jiménez) and the Golfo Dulce's southern shore (Golfito, Zancudo, Pavones). Here's where each town's boats actually leave from.

| Town | Where boats leave | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Dominical | Beach launches at Dominicalito; most visitors drive to Quepos | Half-day inshore, or a Quepos charter |
| Uvita | The beach harbor inside Marino Ballena National Park | Inshore roosterfish, offshore day trips |
| Ojochal | No local fleet; book from Uvita or Sierpe | A quiet base between the two |
| Sierpe | The town dock on the Sierpe River | River and estuary trips, Caño Island area |
| Drake Bay | Beach boarding at Agujitas, lodge docks | Lodge packages, Caño Island area, offshore |
| Puerto Jiménez | The public pier and Crocodile Bay's pier | Golfo Dulce inshore, Matapalo, offshore |
| Golfito | Marina Bahía Golfito, Banana Bay, Fish Hook | Offshore runs, marina-based charters |
| Playa Zancudo | The Zancudo Lodge's dock on the Sábalo River | All-inclusive lodge fishing |
| Pavones and Punta Banco | Beach launches in Pavones | Small-boat inshore, surf-and-fish trips |

### Dominical and Uvita

[Dominical](/dominical/) is a surf town with no harbor, and our Dominical guide covers its options in detail: most anglers staying there fish from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, under an hour north, which our [Central Pacific guide](/central-pacific-fishing-guide/) covers. A few small boats launch from the cove at Dominicalito, just south of town.

Uvita, about 20 minutes farther south, has a real local fleet. Its boats sit in the sheltered harbor at the north end of Marino Ballena National Park, and fishing charters meet guests at the park entrance and motor out of the park before they put lines in. Diablo Sportfishing, the best-known Uvita crew, keeps its boat there, and its reviews mention some half-day trips leaving from Dominicalito beach instead.

### Ojochal

Ojochal is a small hillside village south of Uvita, known for its restaurants rather than its boats. Our research didn't turn up any charter that's based there. If you're staying in Ojochal, book a boat from Uvita (about 15 minutes north) or from Sierpe (about 45 minutes south), and ask whether the crew picks up.

### Sierpe and Drake Bay

Sierpe is a river town on the edge of the Térraba-Sierpe wetland, the biggest mangrove system in the country. Its boats leave from the town dock and run down the river to the Pacific, which makes Sierpe the place for estuary and river fishing as well as day trips toward Caño Island. Crews here time their runs over the river-mouth bar with the tide, so start times can shift.

Drake Bay, on the north coast of the Osa, has no road worth the name for most visitors and no marina. Boats anchor off the beach at Agujitas, and you'll often wade out and climb aboard from the water. Drake Bay is lodge country: most fishing is booked through the lodge you stay at, or through a handful of local captains.

### Puerto Jiménez and Cabo Matapalo

[Puerto Jiménez](/puerto-jimenez-sportfishing-adventures/) is the Osa's main town, on the Golfo Dulce shore near the mouth of the gulf. Local captains leave from the public pier in the middle of town, and [Crocodile Bay](/crocodile-bay-resort/) runs its fleet from its own pier beside the airstrip. From here it's a short ride to the inshore reefs, and offshore water is reached without crossing the whole gulf.

Cabo Matapalo, the tip of the peninsula about 30 minutes south by road, has surf lodges and rentals and no harbor. Anglers who stay there fish with Puerto Jiménez boats.

### Golfito

[Golfito](/golfito-sportfishing-and-boating-venture/) is an old banana port tucked into a small, deep bay on the mainland side of the gulf. It's the only town in the zone with proper marinas (3 of them) and fuel docks, so it's where most of the bigger sportfishing boats are based. Offshore days start with a run out of the bay and down the gulf, so expect a longer ride than from Puerto Jiménez.

### Playa Zancudo

Zancudo is a long, quiet beach on a sandspit at the southern mouth of the Golfo Dulce, across the water from Golfito. Its boats leave from [The Zancudo Lodge](/zancudo-fishing-lodge/)'s dock on the Sábalo River, a few minutes from the gulf and, the lodge says, about 45 minutes from the offshore grounds.

### Pavones and Punta Banco

Pavones is famous for its long left-hand surf wave, and Punta Banco is the quieter beach just south of it, close to the end of the road. Fishing here is small-boat and local: a couple of captains launch from the beach for roosterfish, snapper and jacks along the rocky shore, and Golfito boats sometimes pick up anglers in Pavones.

![The Sierpe River running wide and brown between banks of mangrove and forest in southern Costa Rica](/static/img/sp-sierpe-river-800.webp "Photo: [The Sierpe River](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sierpe_River,_Costa_Rica.jpg) by Bernard Gagnon, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons")

## Marinas, docks and boat ramps

The Southern Pacific has fewer marinas than any other stretch of the Pacific coast, and nearly all of them are in Golfito.

**Marina Bahía Golfito** is the big one, built for large yachts and superyachts, with a fuel dock and help with clearing customs (Golfito is an official port of entry). Its own sportfishing page offers inshore and offshore packages, and it says its offshore grounds reach up to 70 miles out. It hosts the Battle of the Bay tournament each May.

**[Banana Bay Marina](/banana-bay-marina-in-golfito/)** is the older, smaller marina on Golfito's waterfront, with rooms upstairs and a bar over the water. Several independent charters, including Dos Mas Sport Fishing and Porque No Sport Fishing, list it as their home dock.

**[Fish Hook Marina & Lodge](/fish-hook-marina-and-lodges/)** has around 20 slips, a small hotel and a dockside restaurant at Km 2 in Golfito. Colio Sportfishing Charters and Golfito Fishing Charters board here.

Outside Golfito, the options are simpler:

- **Puerto Jiménez:** a public pier in town for local boats, and Crocodile Bay's private pier and marina next to the airstrip.
- **Zancudo:** the lodge's private dock on the Sábalo River.
- **Sierpe:** the town dock on the river, where tour and fishing boats tie up side by side.
- **Uvita:** a beach harbor inside Marino Ballena National Park, used by tour and fishing boats.
- **Drake Bay and Pavones:** beach launches only, so boarding is wet.

If you're bringing your own boat, there's no public launch ramp we'd send a trailer to, so ask a marina in Golfito about hauling and launching before you go.

![A weathered wooden dock reaching out over calm water at sunrise](/static/img/sp-wooden-dock-sunrise-800.webp)

## The best outfitters

We chose these crews only on evidence: years on the water, reviews dated 2025 or 2026, clear details about their boats and captains, and a stated habit of releasing billfish. Nobody pays to be listed here, and we checked each one's website or booking page in November 2026. Where we have our own page on a business, we've linked it.

**[Crocodile Bay](/crocodile-bay-resort/), Puerto Jiménez.** The biggest operation in the zone, fishing since 1999 from its own pier. The fleet is 24 and 25 foot Boston Whalers for inshore days and 33 foot Strike tower boats for offshore runs, with tackle, bait, licence and lunch included. It publishes a detailed month-by-month calendar, releases all marlin and generally lets big cubera snapper go. Guests now stay at Botánika Osa Peninsula, the Hilton Curio resort built on the same grounds.

**[The Zancudo Lodge](/zancudo-fishing-lodge/), Playa Zancudo.** An all-inclusive lodge with a fleet of 32 foot Contender center consoles and a newer Contender 44, fishing the gulf, the Pavones coast and offshore. It releases all billfish and has helped FECOP with satellite tagging. One thing to know: the lodge and its business have been listed for sale since August 2025. It's still taking reservations on its own website, and in late August 2026 it announced its 21st season, so it's open for now. If you book far ahead, confirm with the lodge that your dates are covered whatever happens with the sale.

**Colio Sportfishing Charters, Golfito.** A single custom 28 foot TwinVee catamaran run from Fish Hook Marina, with a lead captain who fishes year-round and an owner who's lived at Matapalo for more than 20 years. They fish the reefs off Matapalo inshore and the shelf and seamounts 30 to 70 miles out. Their site states that all sailfish and marlin go back alive, on circle hooks, unhooked in the water. [coliosportfishing.com](https://coliosportfishing.com/)

**Sportfishing Maestro, Puerto Jiménez.** Captain Oscar Villalobos, known locally as "Maestro", lists 28 years of experience and runs a 30 foot Luhrs sportfisher and other boats from the public pier. His reviews run through July 2026. Osa Tourism also books his boats. [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/25993)

**Dos Mas Sport Fishing, Golfito.** A 30 foot Island Hopper with a single diesel inboard, captained by Donald McGuinness, based at Banana Bay Marina. It fishes offshore and inshore, picks up in Golfito and has collected Pavones anglers. Billfish release is mandatory on board, and reviews run through early 2026. [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/17639)

**Golfo Dulce Tour Operador, Puerto Jiménez.** Captain Rommel Quintero, 11 years on the water, runs a 2022 Coral center console from the public pier for inshore and offshore days, and the outfit tops Puerto Jiménez's fishing reviews on TripAdvisor. It's a good pick for families, since it also runs whale-watching and snorkel trips. [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/46149)

**Tour Sierpe CR, Sierpe.** Run by Edgardo since 2017, on a 26 foot Mako center console with a live well, tuna tubes and a T-top. It offers river trips (from age 5), offshore days and a full day toward Caño Island, with trips reviewed as recently as August 2026. [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/15251)

**Good Catch Costa Rica, Drake Bay.** Two center consoles, a 30 foot Mako and a 28 foot boat, boarding from the beach at Agujitas. Marlin and sailfish are released, and the crew will fillet a fish for you. Trips are reviewed as recently as July 2026. [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/23007)

**Diablo Sportfishing, Uvita.** An owner-run boat, the *Been There*, moored in the Marino Ballena harbor and run by Captain Javier Guzmán. Its site says every billfish and shark is released, along with roosterfish, and legal dorado, tuna and wahoo can be kept. Its website looks dated, but TripAdvisor reviews run to October 2026. [diablosportfishingcr.com](https://diablosportfishingcr.com/)

If you'd rather have someone match you to a boat, **Osa Tourism** in Puerto Jiménez books several local captains, from small pangas to sportfishers, and posts a weekly fishing report (the latest when we checked covered November 9 to 15, 2026). [osatourism.com](https://www.osatourism.com/osa-peninsula-fishing/)

![A roosterfish held up beside a boat, showing its tall comb of dorsal spines and dark stripes](/static/img/sp-roosterfish-800.webp "Photo: [Roosterfish](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Roosterfish.jpg) by Carol Neuhoff, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons")

## Fishing lodges and good bases

The far south is where Costa Rica's fishing-lodge tradition is strongest: places where the boats, the rooms and the kitchen are run as one. For the full national picture, see our guide to [fishing lodges in Costa Rica](/costa-rica-fishing-lodges-guide/).

### Lodges run around the fishing

- **Crocodile Bay at Botánika, Puerto Jiménez.** The marina and fleet carry on under the Crocodile Bay name, and the rooms are now the Botánika resort. It suits groups where not everyone fishes, with more than 20 land and sea tours on offer.
- **The Zancudo Lodge, Playa Zancudo.** Packages bundle the flight to Golfito, the boat across, meals, drinks and fishing. There's a saltwater pool and miles of empty beach. See the sale note above.
- **Aguila de Osa, Drake Bay.** A hillside lodge on the Agujitas River that has run its own sportfishing boats since 1992, including the *Albatros*, a 31 foot Palm Beach sportfisher, and a 26 foot center console. It says it was the first Osa charter to commit to circle-hook catch and release, and its kitchen will cook what you keep. Its Fishing Adventure package runs May 1 to December 19, 2026, with transfers from the Drake Bay or Palmar Sur airstrips.

### Good bases to stay

- **Golfito:** the marina hotels (Banana Bay, Fish Hook and the rooms at Marina Bahía Golfito) put you a few steps from the boat. It's the handiest base if you want offshore days on bigger boats.
- **Puerto Jiménez:** small hotels and cabins in town, all a short walk or taxi from the pier, with Corcovado on the doorstep for non-anglers.
- **Matapalo:** surf lodges and jungle rentals at the tip of the Osa, about 30 minutes from the Puerto Jiménez pier.
- **Uvita and Ojochal:** plenty of rentals and small hotels, good for a fishing day or two on a wider trip.
- **Drake Bay:** lodges and cabins around Agujitas, most of which arrange fishing.

## What's biting, month by month

This chart follows our national [fishing seasons guide](/costa-rica-fishing-seasons/), which pulls together MarViva's species data, FECOP and the southern lodges' own calendars. Every one of these fish can be caught outside its best months, and the far south often has billfish when the rest of the coast goes quiet.

| Month | Sailfish | Marlin | Roosterfish | Dorado | Yellowfin and wahoo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good |
| February | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good |
| March | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good |
| April | Best | Good | Best | Good | Good |
| May | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best |
| June | Good | Best | Good | Good | Best |
| July | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best |
| August | Good | Best | Good | Best | Best |
| September | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good |
| October | Good | Good | Good | Best | Good |
| November | Good | Best | Good | Best | Good |
| December | Best | Best | Good | Best | Good |

A few local notes from the people who fish here every day:

- **December to April** is classic sailfish time. Crocodile Bay says the sails build through January and peak in February and March, then drop off in mid-April just as the first marlin show up.
- **March to May** is the strongest inshore stretch. Seas are calm, and roosterfish, cubera snapper and grouper are the main event, with school-size yellowfin close to the coast.
- **June to September** is marlin season offshore, with blue marlin, the chance of a black, and sailfish in the mix. Big dorado and yellowfin come with them. Crocodile Bay's calendar notes that July often gives "slams" of several billfish species in one day.
- **October and November** are the wettest months, but they bring dorado in numbers around floating logs and weed lines. Marina Bahía Golfito calls November a peak month for all species.

## Inshore, offshore and the named fishing grounds

The far south has more kinds of water within an hour's run than almost anywhere in Costa Rica: a tropical fjord, mangrove rivers, rocky points, an island reef and a steep offshore shelf. For how crews fish each one (live bait, trolling, popping, jigging and fly), see our guide to [fishing techniques in Costa Rica](/costa-rica-fishing-techniques/).

### The Golfo Dulce

The Golfo Dulce is one of only a handful of fjord-like gulfs in the tropics, deep in the middle and shallower near its mouth, with steep forest on both sides. That shape keeps it calm, which is why inshore trips here go ahead on days when the open coast is rough. Crews work its rocky points, river mouths and mangrove edges for [roosterfish](/roosterfish-the-majestic-fish-of-costa-rica/), [cubera and other snapper](/snappers-in-costa-rica/), [snook](/snook-in-costa-rica/), jacks and [grouper](/grouper-in-costa-rica/). Crocodile Bay counts about a dozen kinds of snapper in the gulf.

The gulf is also a nursery. Young scalloped hammerheads are born at its head, and humpback whales and dolphins are often seen on the way out. Treat it gently: release the big breeding cubera, and keep only what you'll eat.

![Red mangrove roots standing in calm brown water at the edge of a tropical gulf](/static/img/sp-mangrove-roots-800.webp)

### Matapalo and the Osa coast

Cabo Matapalo, where the Osa meets the open ocean, is the zone's best-known inshore ground. Colio Sportfishing describes inshore reef structure off Matapalo, and the rocks and reefs from the cape south and west along the coast hold roosterfish, cubera, amberjack, jacks and big grouper. The run from Puerto Jiménez is short, and Golfito and Zancudo boats come here too.

North of Matapalo, the Corcovado coast is protected as a national park, so boats fish outside its waters. Aguila de Osa says the stretch south of Drake Bay sees little fishing pressure.

### The Caño Island waters

Caño Island sits about 16 km off the Osa coast, and the whole island and its surrounding sea are a biological reserve where fishing is banned. Drake Bay and Sierpe boats fish the open water and rocky mounds outside the reserve boundary on the way there and back, trolling for [wahoo](/wahoo-in-costa-rica-a-faboulous-catch/), yellowfin and jacks and jigging for grouper and [amberjack](/amberjack-in-costa-rica/). Our [Isla del Caño](/isla-del-cano/) page covers snorkeling and diving at the island itself.

::: triptych "Around the Osa: a jungle river near Drake Bay, the shore of Caño Island, and a capuchin in the Drake Bay forest"
![A kayaker paddling a calm, sunlit jungle river near Drake Bay](/static/img/sp-drake-bay-800.webp "Photo: [River near Drake Bay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Drake_Bay,_Costa_Rica_(Unsplash).jpg) by Filip Mroz, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons")
![The rocky, forested shore of Isla del Caño with deep blue sea beyond](/static/img/sp-cano-island-view-800.webp "Photo: [View from Isla del Caño](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:View_from_Isla_del_Cano.jpg) by Peter Andersen, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons")
![A white-faced capuchin monkey feeding in a tree near Drake Bay](/static/img/sp-capuchin-drake-bay-800.webp "Photo: [White-faced capuchin near Drake Bay](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2020-03-15_16-36-28_Costa_Rica_-_Drake_Bay_K70_JH.jpg) by Jan Helebrant, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons")
:::

### Offshore: the shelf edge and the seamounts

Offshore water comes up quickly here. Crocodile Bay says its boats are fishing offshore 45 minutes to an hour from the pier, Zancudo puts its grounds about 45 minutes out, and Banana Bay in Golfito says its marlin water is about 30 miles away. Aguila de Osa fishes 20 to 40 miles off Drake Bay. The farthest trips, to the seamounts and the shelf edge, go 30 to 70 miles out.

Out there, crews troll lures and teasers for [sailfish](/the-pacific-sailfish/), blue and black [marlin](/marlin-the-tropical-sporting-fish/) and striped marlin, and look for floating logs, weed lines and current edges that hold [dorado](/the-dolphin-fish-mahi-mahi/) and tuna.

![A blue marlin leaping clear of deep blue water with its bill raised](/static/img/sp-blue-marlin-leaping-800.webp)

### Big yellowfin

If one fish sets the Southern Pacific apart, it's [yellowfin tuna](/yellowfin-tuna/). Crocodile Bay reports typical December and January yellowfin of 100 to 250 pounds, with the odd fish near 300, and school fish of 20 to 60 pounds close to the coast in April. Both Crocodile Bay and Aguila de Osa find the tuna by following big schools of spinner dolphins, which travel with the fish. Most of the season's big yellowfin come on live bait or kite-fished baits near the dolphins, and on poppers when they're busting bait at the surface.

Tuna can be kept within the legal limits, but a 200-pound fish is a lot of meat for one family. Many crews encourage taking a few steaks and releasing the rest, or sharing the catch with the crew and the lodge.

![A large yellowfin tuna swimming through clear deep blue water, its long yellow fins catching the light](/static/img/sp-yellowfin-tuna-800.webp)

## Protected areas and the rules here

The far south has more protected water than any other part of Costa Rica's coast, and some of it sits right beside the best fishing. Costa Rica's national parks law (Ley 6084, article 8) bans sport, small-scale and commercial fishing inside national parks unless the park service specifically allows it in a set area. Our [fishing rules guide](/costa-rica-fishing-rules/) covers the national law in full; here's what matters locally.

| Area | What it is | Fishing |
|---|---|---|
| Marino Ballena National Park (Uvita) | Marine park around the whale-tail sandbar | Not allowed; boats fish outside |
| Caño Island Biological Reserve | Island and surrounding sea off the Osa | Not allowed |
| Corcovado National Park | Osa rainforest and coast | Not allowed in park waters |
| Golfo Dulce | Marine Area of Responsible Fishing since 2010 | Sport fishing allowed; big longliners barred |
| Head of the Golfo Dulce | Hammerhead nursery set aside in 2018 | No-take |
| Cocos Island National Park | Offshore island 500 km out | No fishing of any kind |

### The rules on the boat

- **Licence:** every angler needs a Costa Rican sportfishing licence from INCOPESCA. Many charters include it; if not, buy it online through FECOP before you go.
- **Billfish:** sailfish and marlin must be released, and FECOP says the law requires them to stay in the water, even for photos.
- **Roosterfish:** a catch-and-release species. Let them all go.
- **Circle hooks:** required by law when fishing with natural bait, live or dead.
- **Limit:** FECOP gives 5 fish per boat for species that aren't protected.
- **Hammerheads:** since 2023, a national decree bans keeping or selling scalloped and great hammerheads; any caught by accident must be released.

### Book a licensed boat

In November 2026 the Coast Guard stopped a fishing tour off Dominical whose captain had neither a fishing licence nor the boat's seaworthiness papers, and the boat was carrying undersized fish and more than the legal limit. The 5 Costa Rican tourists aboard had paid for the trip without knowing. Every outfitter in this guide works openly through its own site or a booking platform, but wherever you book, it's fair to ask to see the boat's papers and the captain's licence.

### The Golfo Dulce's fight with longliners

The Golfo Dulce was declared a Marine Area of Responsible Fishing in 2010, which keeps medium and large commercial longliners out of the gulf. Even so, southern captains have spent years reporting illegal live-bait longlining inside the gulf and within 30 miles of shore. In 2021 FECOP told a presidential commission that sailfish catch rates in the Southern Zone had fallen by more than 60%, while dorado and tuna were holding up. If you see what looks like illegal fishing, tell your captain; local crews are the ones who report it.

### Cocos Island: no fishing at all

[Cocos Island](/cocos-island-costa-rica/) is part of Costa Rica, but it's about 500 km offshore, and visitors reach it only on dive liveaboards from Puntarenas, not from the southern ports. The national park around it bans every kind of fishing, and boats carrying tackle have to keep it stowed. The park's marine area was expanded in 2021, alongside a much bigger Seamounts Marine Management Area around it, where some regulated fishing was expected but the details were still being worked out. We'd never plan a fishing trip around it.

That's a good thing for southern anglers. Cocos is one of the last places in the eastern Pacific where sharks, tuna and big jacks can feed and breed with little pressure, and fish that grow up there help stock the open ocean the Osa boats fish. For more on why it matters, see our [conservation and catch-and-release guide](/costa-rica-fishing-conservation/).

![A large circle hook tied to a heavy fluorocarbon leader, lying on a wet boat deck](/static/img/sp-circle-hook-800.webp)

## Bait, tackle and ice

Nearly every charter in the zone supplies rods, reels, lures and bait, and catches its own live bait on the way out. The local baitfish include sardines, mullet, ballyhoo, herring and mackerel, according to Marina Bahía Golfito. If you bring your own tackle, bring spares: there's no big tackle store south of the Central Valley. Our national [bait and tackle guide](/costa-rica-bait-and-tackle/) has the bigger shops.

What you can find locally, from our November 2026 research:

- **Golfito:** a bait and tackle shop on the waterfront and a small tackle store, Circlehook, in Pueblo Civil. CR Marine Supply, the marine chain, lists Golfito among its stores.
- **Puerto Jiménez:** a small tackle shop called Roosterfish, next to Cabinas Las Palmas.
- **Uvita and Dominical:** Happy Fisher in Uvita sells inshore gear and live bait, and Tienda de Pesca JYJ in Dominical carries general tackle.
- **Sierpe and Palmar Norte:** live bait from local suppliers in Sierpe, and a tackle shop in Palmar Norte, on the highway.

Ice is easy in the towns: supermarkets in Golfito, Puerto Jiménez and Uvita sell bagged ice, and the boats carry their own coolers. Fuel docks are in Golfito.

![Rigged ballyhoo baits laid out in a row on crushed ice in a cooler](/static/img/sp-rigged-ballyhoo-800.webp)

## Getting there

Distance is the main planning decision in the far south. Here's how long it takes to reach each base. For trip planning beyond the zone, see our [Costa Rica fishing trip planner](/planning-a-costa-rica-fishing-trip/).

| Base | Fly | Drive from San José | Drive from Liberia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dominical and Uvita | Quepos airstrip, then about 1 hour by road | About 3 to 4 hours | About 5 hours or more |
| Sierpe | Palmar Sur airstrip, then about 30 minutes | About 5 hours | Most of a day |
| Drake Bay | SANSA to the Drake Bay airstrip | Drive to Sierpe, then about 1 to 1.5 hours by boat | Not practical in a day |
| Puerto Jiménez | SANSA to Puerto Jiménez | About 7 to 8 hours | Not practical in a day |
| Golfito and Zancudo | SANSA to Golfito, then a boat to Zancudo | About 6 to 7 hours | Not practical in a day |

**By air.** SANSA, the domestic airline, flies from San José to Golfito, Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay, as well as to Quepos for the Dominical end of the zone. The Zancudo Lodge says the flight to Golfito takes about 50 minutes. Some lodges also pick up from the Palmar Sur airstrip near Sierpe. Domestic planes have strict baggage weight limits, so check before packing rod tubes.

**By road.** The Costanera highway (Route 34) runs along the coast from Quepos to Dominical, Uvita and Palmar, where it joins the Inter-American Highway south toward Golfito and the turn-off for the Osa. The last stretches to Puerto Jiménez, Zancudo and Pavones are slow. Driving at night in the south isn't a good idea: rain, livestock and unlit bridges.

**By boat.** Passenger boats cross the Golfo Dulce between Golfito and Puerto Jiménez, and Zancudo lodges send a boat to meet guests in Golfito. Drake Bay is usually reached by a boat ride down the Sierpe River and along the coast.

## Where to eat your catch

In the far south, the easiest place to eat your fish is wherever you're staying. Lodges built around fishing, like Aguila de Osa in Drake Bay, say plainly that their kitchen will cook what you bring back, and most of the bigger lodges do the same for guests.

In town, it works the local way. Ask your captain to fillet a dorado or tuna and bag it on ice, then ask at a seafood restaurant (a marisquería) near the pier whether they'll cook it. Many will, usually grilled, fried whole or as ceviche with rice, salad and patacones, and they'll charge a fair fee for the cooking and sides. Call ahead or ask the day before; we couldn't confirm a restaurant with a current, stated policy, so we haven't named one.

A few customs worth knowing: offer part of a big fish to the crew, who often take it home, and don't expect to keep anything protected. Billfish and roosterfish go back.

![A whole grilled red snapper on a plate with lime wedges and rice](/static/img/sp-grilled-snapper-800.webp)

## Weather and sea conditions

The Osa and Golfo Dulce are the rainiest part of Costa Rica's Pacific coast, and that's why the forest is so green. The dry season runs from about December to April, with March usually the driest month. Rains start in May and build through to October, usually the wettest month, when afternoon storms are a near daily event and rivers run brown.

Rain matters less to the fishing than you'd think. Mornings are often clear even in the wet season, and the rain washes logs and weed lines out to sea, which is what brings in the dorado. What changes is comfort and, sometimes, the bar crossings: river mouths at Sierpe and the Sábalo can be rough on a big swell, and offshore runs get bumpier from about September.

The Golfo Dulce is the safety valve. It's sheltered from the Pacific swell, so when the open ocean is too rough, crews can usually still fish inside the gulf. Offshore conditions are generally calmest from December to May.

![A small unmarked white fishing boat far out on calm blue water at dawn](/static/img/sp-small-boat-dawn-800.webp)

## Tournaments in the zone

The far south has only one big tournament, but it's growing. For the national calendar, see our guide to [Costa Rica fishing tournaments](/costa-rica-fishing-tournaments/).

**Battle of the Bay (May).** Organised by Marina Bahía Golfito, Crocodile Bay and The Zancudo Lodge, with fishing across the Golfo Dulce and offshore and the weigh-in at Marina Bahía Golfito. Billfish and roosterfish are release categories.

- **2025:** the first edition drew 14 boats. *Z1* won the overall Triple Crown, *Seaduction* won billfish, *Los Cocos* won roosterfish and *Southern Exposure* won gamefish. The all-women *Gladiator* team placed third in billfish.
- **2026:** held May 7 to 9 with 16 boats, adding the Triple Crown overall award to the billfish, roosterfish and gamefish categories. FECOP ran responsible-fishing workshops for adults and kids alongside it. We haven't found the 2026 winners published yet.

Marina Bahía Golfito also ran a yellowfin event, the Tuna Cup, in 2022. We couldn't find a later edition.

![A sailfish swimming near the surface in deep blue water, the tall sail running the whole length of its back](/static/img/sp-sailfish-800.webp)

## Every fishing business in the Southern Pacific

Every business below showed signs of operating in 2025 or 2026 when we checked in November 2026: a current website, a live booking page or recent dated reviews. We left out three we couldn't confirm (Fish Drake Bay, the Las Islas Lodge fishing operation and Mar Huron Sportfishing), plus several that had clearly stopped. A booking page link goes to the captain's listing on a booking site, since many local captains don't run their own websites.

| Name | Town | What they do | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diablo Sportfishing | Uvita | Inshore and offshore charter on the *Been There* | [Website](https://diablosportfishingcr.com/) |
| Martin Adventours | Uvita | Offshore day trips on a 33 foot Fountain | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/40468) |
| Fishing Tours Zahira | Dominical | Small-boat fishing trips | [Reviews](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g313829-Activities-c61-t217-Dominical_Province_of_Puntarenas.html) |
| Tour Sierpe CR | Sierpe | River, inshore, offshore and Caño Island-area trips | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/15251) |
| Osaventuras | Sierpe | Inshore and offshore on a 25 foot cabin boat | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/50608) |
| Sierpe Fishing | Sierpe | Inshore, offshore and estuary trips | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/11778) |
| Aguila de Osa | Drake Bay | Lodge with its own sportfishing boats | [Website](https://aguiladeosa.com/) |
| Good Catch Costa Rica | Drake Bay | Inshore and offshore center consoles | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/23007) |
| Drake Bay Dream Catchers | Drake Bay | Inshore trips on a 28 foot center console | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/50046) |
| [Crocodile Bay](/crocodile-bay-resort/) | Puerto Jiménez | Fishing lodge and fleet at Botánika | [Website](https://www.crocodilebay.com/) |
| Sportfishing Maestro | Puerto Jiménez | Offshore and inshore, Captain Oscar Villalobos | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/25993) |
| Golfo Dulce Tour Operador | Puerto Jiménez | Family-friendly inshore and offshore | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/46149) |
| El Vaquero Sport Fishing | Puerto Jiménez | Small-group panga trips in the gulf | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/25335) |
| Hunter Twins Sportfishing | Puerto Jiménez | Inshore and offshore on a 25 foot boat | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/45795) |
| Pez Koi | Puerto Jiménez | Inshore and offshore on a 24 foot center console | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/24901) |
| Chino Tours Puerto Jiménez | Puerto Jiménez | Half and full days from the public pier | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/45942) |
| JK Tours & Sportfishing | Puerto Jiménez | Half-day inshore, full-day offshore | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/50361) |
| Warning Pacific Sportfishing | Puerto Jiménez | Light and heavy tackle, inshore and offshore | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/46518) |
| Tres Amigos Fishing | Puerto Jiménez | Local captain | [Reviews](https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractions-g309284-Activities-c61-t217-Puerto_Jimenez_Osa_Peninsula_Province_of_Puntarenas.html) |
| Osa Tourism | Puerto Jiménez | Books local boats, weekly fishing reports | [Website](https://www.osatourism.com/osa-peninsula-fishing/) |
| Marina Bahía Golfito | Golfito | Marina with inshore and offshore packages | [Website](https://www.marinabahiagolfito.com/sportfishing) |
| [Banana Bay Marina](/banana-bay-marina-in-golfito/) | Golfito | Marina, rooms and charter base | [Website](https://bananabaymarinagolfito.com/) |
| [Fish Hook Marina & Lodge](/fish-hook-marina-and-lodges/) | Golfito | Marina, lodge and charter base | [Website](https://fishhookcr.com/) |
| Colio Sportfishing Charters | Golfito | Offshore and Matapalo inshore on a 28 foot catamaran | [Website](https://coliosportfishing.com/) |
| Dos Mas Sport Fishing | Golfito | Offshore and inshore on a 30 foot Island Hopper | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/17639) |
| Cazador (Capt. Bobby McGuinness) | Golfito | Offshore and inshore on a 37 foot Merritt | [Booking page](https://fishcostarica.com/fishing-charters/cazador-golfito/) |
| Not Too Bad Tours | Golfito | Inshore and offshore on a 23 foot boat | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/44529) |
| Porque No Sport Fishing | Golfito | Full and half days on a 27 foot Ocean Master | [Website](https://www.porquenosportfishing.com/) |
| Si Fly | Golfito | Inshore, offshore and fly fishing | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/42428) |
| The Gum Adventures | Golfito | Coastal and full-day trips on a 29 foot center console | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/48403) |
| Cubera Fish CR | Golfito | Inshore and offshore on a 24 foot boat | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/51546) |
| Golfito Fishing Charters | Golfito | Inshore and offshore panga trips | [Booking page](https://pescaya.com/en/listing_details/94) |
| [The Zancudo Lodge](/zancudo-fishing-lodge/) | Playa Zancudo | All-inclusive fishing lodge (listed for sale, still booking) | [Website](https://zancudolodge.com/) |
| Pavones Hunter | Pavones | 6 to 9 hour fishing trips on a 31 foot panga | [Booking page](https://fishingbooker.com/charters/view/45456) |

You can see where many of these boats are based on our [fishing map](/map/).

## Frequently asked questions

### When is the best time to fish Costa Rica's Southern Pacific?

For sailfish, about December to April. For marlin, yellowfin and wahoo, about May to September, with marlin good again in November and December. Roosterfish and snapper are caught inshore all year, best from about January to May.

### Is Golfito or Puerto Jiménez the better base?

Puerto Jiménez is closer to the Matapalo reefs and to offshore water, and it's next to Corcovado. Golfito has the marinas, fuel docks and bigger boats. Both fish well; pick the one that suits the rest of your trip.

### Can I fish at Caño Island?

Not inside the reserve, which covers the island and the sea around it. Boats from Drake Bay and Sierpe fish outside its boundary.

### Can I fish at Cocos Island?

No. Cocos Island National Park bans all fishing, and it's reached only by dive liveaboards from Puntarenas.

### Is The Zancudo Lodge still open?

Yes, as of November 2026. It has been listed for sale since August 2025 but is still taking reservations and announced its 21st season in August 2026. Confirm your dates directly with the lodge.

### How do I get to the Southern Pacific from San José?

Fly SANSA to Golfito, Puerto Jiménez or Drake Bay, which is the easy option. Driving takes about 6 to 8 hours to Golfito or Puerto Jiménez, and 3 to 4 hours to Uvita.

### Do I need a fishing licence?

Yes. Every angler needs an INCOPESCA sportfishing licence. Many charters include it; otherwise buy it online through FECOP.

### Can I keep the fish I catch?

You can keep dorado, tuna, wahoo, snapper and other unprotected species within the limit of 5 per boat. Sailfish, marlin and roosterfish must be released.

### Is the Golfo Dulce good for people who get seasick?

Usually, yes. The gulf is sheltered from the Pacific swell, so inshore trips are much smoother than offshore runs.