Tarpon Sport Fishing
Capt. Daniel Solís in Barra del Colorado
Tarpon Sport Fishing is a small guide service in Barra del Colorado Sur, run by Capt. Daniel Solís, who has 14 years on the Río Colorado. He fishes a custom 24-foot center console with a 150 hp Yamaha for just 2 anglers. It suits anglers who want a local guide for tarpon in the river and off the river mouth, on a half day or a 2 to 3-day trip.
At a glance
- Location
- Barra del Colorado, Caribbean, Costa Rica
- Captain
- Daniel Solís, owner and guide, 14 years on the river; Capt. Oldemar V. also guides
- Boat
- a custom 24-foot center console built in 2020 and refitted in 2021
- Engine
- a single 150 hp Yamaha outboard
- Group size
- 2 anglers
- Fishing
- tarpon in the Río Colorado and up to about 2 miles off the mouth, plus jacks, mackerel and snapper
- Trips
- half days, 6-hour trips, and 2 and 3-day tarpon trips with lodging
- Leaves from
- Barra del Colorado Sur
- Booking
- through its FishingBooker listing
Part of our complete guide: Fishing Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast: The Complete Guide
Who runs it
Tarpon Sport Fishing is Capt. Daniel Solís's own business in Barra del Colorado Sur, the village on the south bank where the Río Colorado meets the Caribbean. He's been guiding on the river for 14 years, and before going out on his own he spent many years working for one of the village's fishing lodges. A second captain, Oldemar V., and a business partner, Marciano S., are named on the same booking page.
He joined FishingBooker in 2023, and that listing is the way most visitors find him. Its reviews run from February 2025 to a trip on October 23, 2026, when a British angler hooked 6 tarpon and landed 2, the biggest around 100 pounds. A January 2026 review describes about 18 tarpon hooked on a single 6-hour trip. Reviewers keep coming back to the same points: he's patient, punctual and knows where the fish are.
The boat
The boat is a custom 24-foot center console, built in 2020 and refitted the following year, with a single 150 hp Yamaha. It cruises at about 20 knots, which matters on a river where the best water can be a fair run from the village. It's set up for 2 anglers only, so there's room to fight a big fish from either end. The listing names a GPS and fish finder, an ice box and a fighting chair, and rods, reels and tackle come with the trip.
Where it fishes and what for
This is tarpon country. The Río Colorado holds resident fish all year, and big runs move in and out of the river mouth with the seasons. Daniel fishes the river itself, the reefs, and the open sea off the mouth out to about 2 miles or 60 feet of water. Besides tarpon, the listing names king mackerel, amberjack, almaco jack, African pompano and snapper, and guests report jack crevalle too.
On the Caribbean, tarpon are usually best from about February to April and again in September and October, while July, August and December tend to be slow. His 2-day and 3-day tarpon trips are offered from September 1 to mid-November, the heart of the fall season, but reviews show half days and 6-hour trips in January, February and April as well. Our Caribbean tarpon season guide explains the months in detail.
Trip types
- Half day and 6-hour trips. Good if you're already staying in Barra del Colorado or nearby.
- 2-day tarpon trip. Starts at 6 a.m., with an overnight stay, from September 1 to November 1.
- 3-day trip. The same, with an extra day on the water, from September 1 to November 15.
One October 2026 guest's trip included pickup in San José and a stay at Kawé Lodge in the village, so ask what's possible if you'd like lodging and transport arranged. Transfers to the boat aren't included as standard. Drinks are, and full days include fruit and a light lunch, though the listing is a little unclear on meals, so check before you go.
Release and the rules
Tarpon must always be released alive in Costa Rica, and reviewers describe careful releases boat-side. You may keep some eating fish within the legal limits. Two other rules matter here. You need an INCOPESCA fishing licence for the sea, and inside the Barra del Colorado refuge's rivers and lagoons SINAC asks for its own licence too (our licence how-to covers the INCOPESCA one). And from October 1 to January 31 the river mouth is closed to keeping calba (fat snook), as our calba run guide explains.
How to book
Book through the FishingBooker listing, where the captain usually replies within an hour and cancellation is free up to 3 days before the trip. If you plan to fly-fish, bring your own fly gear; the listing says it may not be on board. For the bigger picture of fishing this coast, see our Caribbean fishing guide, and for places to stay, our Caribbean lodges guide.
Frequently asked questions
Where does Tarpon Sport Fishing leave from?
From Barra del Colorado Sur, on the Río Colorado. There's no road to the village, so you arrive by small plane or by boat from Puerto Lindo.
How many people can fish?
2 anglers. It's a small boat set up for a pair, which suits tarpon fishing.
When is the best time to book?
The 2 and 3-day tarpon trips run from September to mid-November. Tarpon are also usually good from about February to April, and the captain takes shorter trips through the year.
Can I keep a tarpon?
No. Costa Rican law says tarpon must be released alive. Some eating fish, such as snapper or mackerel, can be kept within the limits.
Do I need a fishing licence?
Yes. Buy an INCOPESCA licence online before you go, and ask the captain whether you also need the SINAC licence for the refuge's rivers and lagoons.
