Sport Fishing El Gato III
A 26-foot center console out of Flamingo
Sport Fishing El Gato III is a husband-and-wife charter in Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste. Capt. Luis Sandi, licensed since 2004, runs a 26-foot custom center console, and his wife Shirley often works as mate. It suits up to 4 anglers who want a small, quick boat for roosterfish and snapper, a family morning, or a fast run offshore for sailfish and mahi-mahi.
At a glance
- Location
- Playa Flamingo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
- Captain
- Luis Sandi, licensed since 2004, running his own charter since 2012
- Boat
- El Gato III, a 26-foot custom center console (2012, refitted 2019)
- Engine
- a single 150 hp Honda outboard, about 30 knots
- Group size
- up to 4 anglers
- Trips
- a kids' first fishing trip, 5-hour half days, 3/4 days and 8-hour days
- On board
- a private toilet, Garmin GPS and sonar, live bait well, 2 ice boxes
- Leaves from
- Playa Flamingo
- Booking
- through its FishingBooker listing
Part of our complete guide: Fishing in Guanacaste: the complete guide
Who runs it
El Gato III is Capt. Luis Sandi's boat. He's held a captain's licence since 2004 and started his own charter in 2012, and he's been on FishingBooker since 2019. Reviewers often mention his wife, Shirley, who works as mate, and the pair come across as a friendly, unhurried team. The listing has close to 300 reviews, among the most of any boat in Playa Flamingo, and trips were still being logged in November 2026.
There's no separate website for the charter that we could find, so the listing is where you book and message the captain.
The boat
El Gato III is a 26-foot custom-built center console from 2012, given a full refit in 2019. A single 150 hp Honda outboard pushes it at up to about 30 knots, so the run to blue water is quick on a calm day. For a small boat it's thoughtfully set up: a private toilet (the listing points out it's clean and screened, which matters to many guests), a Garmin GPS and sonar, a live bait well and 2 ice boxes, one for your catch and one for food and drinks. Tackle is Shimano, and there's snorkel gear on request. It takes up to 4 anglers; one reviewer found 4 plus 2 crew a little snug.
What you'll fish for
Close in, El Gato III works the reefs and rocky points around Flamingo and the Catalina Islands for roosterfish, snapper and amberjack, with jigging and popping as well as live bait. When the weather allows, Luis heads offshore for sailfish, marlin, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna and wahoo.
In Guanacaste, sailfish are best from about May to August and mahi-mahi from July to December, while roosterfish peak from January to April. The Papagayo winds of December to March can limit how far a 26-foot boat runs, which is why the listing says offshore trips depend on the weather.
Release practice
The listing says catch and release is welcome and that you can keep eating fish, which the crew cleans and fillets on board. Costa Rican law requires billfish to be released, and roosterfish go back on Guanacaste boats as a matter of course. Our guide to releasing a billfish explains good handling.
Trips and booking
There's a 4-hour "first fishing experience" trip for kids, 5-hour morning and afternoon half days, a 6-hour 3/4 day and an 8-hour day. Tackle, lures, live bait when available, fruit, soft drinks, iced tea, beer and filleting are included, plus sandwiches on the long day. Pickup isn't part of the standard trip; reviewers mention a resort pickup for an extra fee and meeting near a beachfront restaurant's parking lot.
Book through the FishingBooker listing. Each angler needs an INCOPESCA fishing licence. For the rest of the coast, see our complete guide to fishing in Guanacaste.
Frequently asked questions
Where does El Gato III leave from?
From Playa Flamingo. The captain confirms the meeting spot when you book.
Is it good for kids?
Yes. There's a 4-hour first fishing trip for children, life jackets for kids on board, and a private toilet.
How many people can go?
Up to 4 anglers.
Does it go offshore?
Yes, for sailfish, marlin, tuna and mahi-mahi when the weather allows. In the windy months it may stay closer to shore.
