Yellowfin Sportfishing

Still fishing, with new numbers

Yellowfin Sportfishing Charters was one of the bigger outfits in Playa Flamingo when we first wrote about it in 2013, and it still is. The company's own Instagram was posting marlin releases, roosterfish and tuna through 2026. What has changed is how you reach it. The landline in our old post no longer appears on its site. Today the site lists a mobile number, +506 8813 9675, and its WhatsApp button goes to +506 8636 0005.

A fleet with a boat for most groups

The company says it keeps a fleet of around 20 boats, all insured and equipped with GPS, radios and Penn and Shimano reels. We can't confirm the exact count, but its site and Instagram name a wide spread of boats:

• Big boats for long offshore days. Seacario, a 48-foot Jarrett Bay custom with twin Cummins engines, an air-conditioned salon and two cabins. Mamacita, a 48-foot Ocean Yacht with an air-conditioned salon, two staterooms and a flybridge. Rickdiculous, a 43-foot Riviera with a tower, flybridge and air-conditioned salon. Each takes up to 8.
• Mid-size sportfishers. El Jefe, a 40-foot Out Islander express. Victory, a 35-foot Cabo express with twin Caterpillar engines. El Jefe Too, a 34-foot Pursuit with a tuna tower. These suit most groups of 4 to 6.
• Smaller boats. The 27-foot Yellowfin and Lupo, a 29-foot Pro-Line, which the crew uses for half days, roosterfish and bottom fishing.

That range is the main reason to book here. A couple chasing roosterfish along the rocks and a group of 8 who want a full day after marlin can both find a boat.

What you'll catch off Flamingo

Offshore, the targets are Pacific sailfish, blue, black and striped marlin, mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna. Closer in, the company names roosterfish, mackerel, red snapper, wahoo and jack crevalle, and its posts show plenty of cubera snapper, amberjack and grouper too. FECOP, the Costa Rican sport fishing federation, says the north Pacific's offshore season runs roughly May to December.

Costa Rican law requires billfish and roosterfish to be released, and the company's posts show its crews doing that. Tuna, wahoo and snapper can come home for dinner.

Beyond fishing

Yellowfin also books other trips: snorkeling, scuba diving, sailing, canopy tours, horseback riding, ATV tours and national park visits. If you're putting together a few days around Flamingo, see our guide to Playa Flamingo, and our guide to fishing from Flamingo for seasons and spots.

Good to know before you book

• Getting to the boat. The site says transportation is included in the Tamarindo and Flamingo area.
• Other ports. If you're staying farther south, ask about trips from Playa Carrillo, Los Sueños or Quepos.
• Trip length. Half days, full days and custom multi-day trips are all on offer, inshore and offshore.