OUR GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA CHARTER FISHING FLEET
We pride ourselves on operating safe, reliable fish-catching machines!
It's one thing to get out on the water for some incredible Costa Rica fishing... but what's more important is choosing a boat that can take you out and back safely and reliably. Billfish Safari's charter fishing fleet is made up of nothing but high-quality, impeccably maintained boats manned by crews who are bilingual and First Aid Certified. A full compliment of Coast Guard safety equipment including life jackets and redundant VHF radio systems is standard on each of our boats.
Below you'll find photos and descriptions of our fishing vessels along with charter rates.
 PLAUTUS
Specifications and Equipment
• Twin Cummins 430’s
• Cruising Speed: 26 Knots
• 2 VHF Radios, Auto Pilot, GPS, Radar
• Bottom Sounder
• Coast Guard Safety Equipment
• Penn International 80’S, 50’S, 30’S, 15’S
• Spinning Tackle
• Number of Passengers: 6
• Age Restrictions: age four years and up
• Crew: Captain and two Mates
Charter Rates
Full Day: $2,200.00 US
Half Day: $1,625.00 US
• Prices include equipment, bait*, snacks and crew. (*live bait additional, $25/dozen)
• Reservation form must be completed, deposit due at time of charter booking
• Rates effective Feb. 2010 (subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rates)
 FISH TALE II
Specifications and Equipment
• Twin Catepillar 3208’s
• Cruising Speed: 24 Knots
• 2 VHF Radios, Auto Pilot, GPS, Radar
• Bottom Sounder
• Coast Guard Safety Equipment
• Penn International 80’S, 50’S, 30’S, 20’S
• Spinning Tackle
• Number of Passengers: 6
• Age Restrictions: age four years and up
• Crew: Captain and two Mates
Charter Rates
Full Day: $1,450.00 US
Half Day: $1,200.00 US
• Prices include equipment, bait*, snacks and crew. (*live bait additional, $25/dozen)
• Reservation form must be completed, deposit due at time of charter booking
• Rates effective Feb. 2010 (subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rates)
GULF STREAMS
Specifications and Equipment
• Single Yanmar 240
• Cruising Speed: 24 Knots
• 2 VHF Radios, GPS
• Depth Sounder
• Coast Guard Safety Equipment
• Penn International 50’S, 30’S, 20’S, 15’S
• Spinning Tackle
• Number of Passengers: 4
• Age Restrictions: age four years and up
• Crew: Captain and one Mate
Charter Rates
Half Day: $650.00 US
Full Day (inshore): $980.00 US
• Prices include equipment, bait*, snacks and crew. (*live bait additional, $25/dozen)
• Reservation form must be completed, deposit due at time of charter booking
• Rates effective Feb. 2010 (subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rates)
PERMIT III
Specifications and Equipment
• Twin 250 HP Cummins Diesels
• Cruising Speed: 24 Knots
• VHF Radio, GPS, Bathroom and Fighting Chair
• Depth Sounder
• Coast Guard Safety Equipment
• Penn International 6lb to 80lb outfits
• Spinning Tackle and Fly Fishing Gear
• Number of Passengers: Up to 5
• Age Restrictions: age four years and up
• Crew: Captain and one Mate
Charter Rates
Full Day: $1,200.00 US
Half Day: $850.00 US
• Prices include equipment, bait*, snacks and crew. (*live bait additional, $25/dozen)
• Reservation form must be completed, deposit due at time of charter booking
• Rates effective Feb. 2010 (subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rates)
SOUTHERN BELLE
Specifications and Equipment
• Twin Mercury 60 HP Outboard Motors
• Cruising Speed: 24 Knots
• VHF Radio, GPS and Depth Sounder
• Live Well, Full Head and Custom Sound System
• Coast Guard Safety Equipment
• Conventional Rod and Reels, Spinning Tackle
• Generator to Power 6 Halogen Night Fishing Lights
• Number of Passengers: 4-8
• Age Restrictions: age four years and up
• Crew: Captain and one Mate
Charter Rates
Night Fishing - 5:00PM to 8:30PM – Custom Day Tours Available
$100 Per Person, Minimum 4 Passengers, Maximum 8 Passengers
• Prices include equipment, bait*, snacks and crew. (*live bait additional, $25/dozen)
• Reservation form must be completed, deposit due at time of charter booking
• Rates effective Feb. 2010 (subject to change due to fluctuations in exchange rates) |
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WE USE ONLY PREMIUM TACKLE
OTHER QUALITY FISHING TACKLE WE USE
• SHIMANO TLD 15 & 20's Lever Drag Reels
• SHIMANO TORIUM 20 Lever Drag Reels
• BLACK BART Trolling lures and teasers
• Wide assortment of MOLDCRAFT lures
• Surface casting lures and poppers
• Assorted jigs for deep dropping, casting
• STAR LURES teasers and trolling lures
• Cedar plugs and tuna feathers
• Plus a full compliment of terminal tackle |
HOW WE FISH
Special techniques develop over years and years of fishing, regardless of where you fish. That sure holds true here in Guanacaste and our crews are constantly updating their techniques searching for – and finding – the best methods to get the fish to bite.
THE MOST SUCCESSFUL METHODS ARE:
• Trolling a combination of hookless teasers and rigged trolling lures to "raise" fish, then doing a "bait and switch" where the teasers are reeled up to the boat with the fish in pursuit, then a live or dead bait is cast to the excited predator.
• Slow trolling live baits on down riggers and on the surface over pinnacles and structure-rich areas where monster roosterfish, snapper, wahoo and tuna lurk.
CIRCLE HOOKS REQUIRED FOR BILLFISH
Costa Rican law requires the use of circle hooks when fishing bait for billfish. In fact, most captains here will use circle hooks only when fishing live or dead baits, even for non-billfish species. The fact is that when circle hooks are properly fished, hook-up ratios and post release survival of fish increases dramatically. The hardest part of fishing circle hooks is getting new users to learn the intricacies of getting a good hookset.
With the circle hook, the angler drops the bait back to the fish for a short count, keeping the rod pointed at the fish. The fish is allowed to start swallowing the bait. The drag is then smoothly set, but NO motion is made to set the hook preventing damage. Once the drag is set, the forward motion of the boat will begin to pull the bait out of the fish. If the bait is moving slowly, the circle hook will pivot at the corner of the mouth and hook the fish there.
The use of circle hooks when fishing billfish on bait is Costa Rican law. The proper use of circle hooks, along with revival of the fish, increases post-release survival of billfish when compared to using J-hooks. Studies have proven circle hooks to be the single most important and effective conservation device used in sport fishing.
YOU HAVE TO BE FLEXIBLE
Sometimes, proven techniques just don't work, and when that happens, you have to be flexible and adapt to the current conditions. That's why we carry a wide selection of rods, reels and lures.... if the fish are slow to bite, we'll switch up and present several different lures, baits and presentations to avoid the dreaded "skunk"... something that our crews work tirelessly to overcome, and usually do, even when other boats in the area just plain give up. Whatever it takes, our crews are determined to turn a day of fishing into a day of catching!
FLYFISHERS ARE MORE THAN WELCOME!
The growth of saltwater fly fishing hasn't gone unnoticed here at Billfish Safaris. In fact, many of our repeat clients are avid flyfishers
who won't fish with anyone else when in Costa Rica. All are crew members are well versed in the intricacies of saltwater fly fishing and are eager to help you target the species you next want to subdue on fly. So, if you have your fly gear, bring it along and test the waters of Guanacaste.... world records are here and we'd like nothing more than to get your name in the record books!
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