# Fishing Near Manuel Antonio: What Anglers Need to Know > Manuel Antonio is one of Costa Rica's most popular beach areas, and its fishing happens offshore from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, about 15 minutes down the hill. Fishing isn't allowed inside the national park itself, but the waters just outside it hold sailfish from about December to April and roosterfish and snapper all year. Source: https://sportfishing-costarica.com/sportfishing-in-manuel-antonio-national-park/ Last checked: 2026-11-14 Leaves from: Marina Pez Vela, Quepos (about 15 minutes from Manuel Antonio) Inside the park: No fishing (national park rules) Offshore: Sailfish, marlin, dorado, yellowfin tuna, wahoo Inshore (outside the park): Roosterfish, snapper, jacks Best billfish months: About December to April ## Manuel Antonio and the fishing rules Manuel Antonio National Park is small, but it's one of the most visited parks in Costa Rica: white-sand coves, forest that runs down to the sand, and monkeys, sloths and coatis that are used to people. Its protected area doesn't stop at the beach; it takes in the sea and the rocky islands offshore too. That matters for anglers. Article 9 of Costa Rica's Fishing and Aquaculture Law (Law 8436) bans both commercial and sport fishing in national parks. So you can't cast from the park's beaches, and charter boats don't fish inside its boundary. The good news is that some of the best fishing on the Central Pacific is just outside it. ## Where the boats leave from Fishing trips for anyone staying in Manuel Antonio start at [Marina Pez Vela](/marina-pez-vela-a-luxurious-getaway/) in Quepos, about 15 minutes down the hill by taxi or the local bus. It's a full-service marina with one of the biggest charter fleets in the country, and many crews will collect you from your Manuel Antonio hotel. For more on the fleet and the boats, see our guide to [sportfishing in Quepos](/sportfishing-in-quepos/). ## What you'll catch and when Offshore, the waters beyond Manuel Antonio are classic sailfish grounds. FECOP, the Costa Rican sport fishing federation, gives roughly November to April as the most productive months for [sailfish](/the-pacific-sailfish/) and [marlin](/marlin-the-tropical-sporting-fish/) on the central and southern Pacific. In the rainy months, [dorado](/the-dolphin-fish-mahi-mahi/) are often the main catch, with [yellowfin tuna](/yellowfin-tuna/) and [wahoo](/wahoo-in-costa-rica-a-faboulous-catch/) around floating debris and offshore structure. Inshore trips work the rocky points and islands along the coast, outside the park boundary, for [roosterfish](/roosterfish-the-majestic-fish-of-costa-rica/), [snapper](/snappers-in-costa-rica/) and jacks. A half-day inshore trip fits neatly around a morning in the park. Billfish are always released. Ask your captain before your trip whether you can keep a dorado or tuna for dinner; many Manuel Antonio restaurants will cook your catch. ## Planning a fishing day from Manuel Antonio - **Book the park and the boat on different days**, or do the park in the morning and a half-day inshore trip in the afternoon. - **Buy your park ticket online in advance** through SINAC's booking site. Tickets aren't sold at the gate, the park closes one day a week, and it often sells out in the dry season. - **Buy your INCOPESCA fishing licence online** if your charter doesn't include it. - **Bring seasickness tablets** for offshore days; the ride out can be long when the fish are far off. ## Fishing and wildlife on the same trip One of the pleasures of fishing here is how much else you see from the boat. Dolphins are common off this coast, sea turtles surface on calm days, and humpback whales pass through in season. Ask your captain to slow down if you spot something; most will happily take a few minutes for photos. If your group is mixed, look for trips that combine a few hours of inshore fishing with snorkeling or a cruise past the park's coast and islands, staying outside the protected waters while fishing. It's a good way to keep anglers and non-anglers happy on the same day. Fishing trips are also a good rainy-day option in the green season. Showers usually come in the afternoon, so a morning on the water often stays dry, and the dorado fishing can be at its best when the rains wash floating debris out to sea. ## Where to stay Manuel Antonio has a long strip of hotels along the road that climbs between Quepos and the park entrance, many with views over the forest and the Pacific. Places near the top of the hill have the best views; places near Playa Espadilla are walking distance from the beach and the park. Quepos town, at the bottom of the hill, is closer to the marina and handy for early departures. ## Getting there Manuel Antonio is just south of Quepos, about 2.5 to 3 hours by road from San José. SANSA flies from San José to the Quepos-Manuel Antonio airstrip, a short taxi ride from the hotels. ## Other things to do - **The national park:** trails, beaches and wildlife, best early in the morning. - **Snorkeling and kayaking:** tours paddle around the bays and islands outside the park. - **Sunset catamaran cruises:** leave from Quepos most afternoons. - **Playa Espadilla:** the public beach just outside the park entrance, with surf lessons and beach chairs. ## Frequently asked questions ### Can I fish inside Manuel Antonio National Park? No. Costa Rican law bans sport fishing in national parks, and that includes the park's beaches and its marine area. ### Where do I go fishing if I'm staying in Manuel Antonio? Charters leave from Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, about 15 minutes away. Many will pick you up at your hotel. ### When is sailfish season near Manuel Antonio? About December to April, with February to April usually the best. Smaller numbers are caught the rest of the year. ### Do I need a ticket to visit the park? Yes. Tickets are sold online in advance through SINAC, not at the gate, and they often sell out in high season.