An hour out, the floor is a mile down.

The water turns to ink. The riggers go up.

Scroll for more [ 09° 38' 43" N · 84° 39' 35" W ]

This stretch of Pacific releases more sailfish than almost anywhere on earth.

Satellite view of Costa Rica and its Pacific coast, the seafloor shading showing deep water close offshore Great MarlinHerradura Bay Sailfish water
22–28 mi out SJO airport
about 90 min Tortuga Island Pacific Ocean
Imagery: NASA Blue Marble
Three brothers leaning over the gunwale of the Great Marlin with a sailfish alongside before release
Sailfish alongside, released

The Great Marlin fishes out of Herradura. The seafloor falls away fast here, and the big water starts where other coasts are still wading.

We run it year round. Billfish released, meat fish kept, weather respected.

Set up the way a fishing day runs.

A tuna tower for finding birds and bait. Outriggers for a wide spread. An open cockpit with room to move when something big eats.

Below deck, berths, a galley sink and a head with a real door. Kids nap, someone gets out of the sun, and a full day offshore stays comfortable.

Off Herradura
The Great Marlin at a mooring on a clear morning, her name across the transom, green hills behind
A clear morning at the mooring
Below deck: the passage forward past the galley and the berths
Below deck
Length36 feet
SpottingTuna tower
SpreadOutriggers
The fightOpen cockpit
Below deckBerths + galley
ComfortPrivate head
The Great Marlin at her mooring, tower and outriggers up, crew and guests on the stern, her name across the transom
Back at the mooring

Some boats are named. This one was earned.

P12387 · Puntarenas

One boat. Seven ways to spend the day.

Every price is for your group, not per head. Nobody else shares your day.

Full day

Offshore, past the drop, sailfish water. Lunch, beer, water and fruit aboard.

$2,000Priced for 6 · max 8 · about 9 hrs

Plan this day

3/4 day

Offshore, past the drop, sailfish water. Lunch, beer, water and fruit aboard.

$1,800Priced for 6 · max 8 · about 7 hrs

Plan this day

Half day

Inshore, along the rocks and the beach: roosterfish, cubera, jacks. Beer, water and fruit aboard.

$1,600Priced for 6 · max 8 · about 5 hrs

Plan this day

Surf day

A reef we don’t name. White sand, empty on purpose, boat access only. Provisioned like an offshore day.

$1,600Priced for 8 · max 10 · six hours

Plan this day

Tortuga Island

A day at the island. White sand, water clear enough to snorkel, no rods.

On request

Plan this day

Sunset cruise

The last hour of light, the coast from the water, an easy evening run.

On request

Plan this day

Custom & events

Multi-day runs, film days, occasions.

On request

Plan this day

The guest math. Fishing days include up to six guests; each guest beyond six is $100, up to eight aboard. The surf day includes up to eight; each guest beyond eight is $60, up to ten.

Transportation, door to beach Tours for the days you’re not fishing Your first day offshore

Billfish released. Meat fish kept.

Sailfish are the reason this coast is famous, and the fish we plan the day around. Inshore, roosterfish and cubera live in the rocks. Every photo in this grid is a real day on this boat.

Crew and guests leaning over the gunwale with a sailfish alongside
Sailfish, boatside, released
A roosterfish held up on the bow before release, the coast behind
Roosterfish, inshore, released
A marlin alongside the boat, held by the bill at the gunwale before release
Marlin at the gunwale
A family of six on the stern holding a mahi mahi, the wake bright behind them
Mahi, heading home
A sailfish tail-walking a boat-length off the stern
Tail-walking, a boat-length off

Below the surface

Bait, balled up
Dolphins working the school
Predators over the sand
The surface boils

What we chase

The seasons, the fish, the law
  • Pacific sailfishDec–Apr peak · around all yearThe reason this coast is famous, and the fish we plan the day around.
  • Yellowfin tunaMay–Sep peak · most of the yearFound under the spinner dolphin. Sashimi on the ride home.
  • Mahi mahiSep–Nov peak · green seasonColour, acrobatics, dinner.
  • Blue marlinJun–Sep · offshore · a bonusThe real fishery is sixty miles further out. On a day trip, a blue is luck.
  • WahooMay–Jun peak · offshoreThe fastest strike in the spread.
  • RoosterfishAll year · Dec–Apr strongestThe signature inshore fight. Released every time.
  • Cubera snapperAll year · Feb–Apr strongestA brawler that lives in the rocks and knows it.
  • Jack crevalleAll year · inshorePound for pound, the meanest pull of the day.
  • Pacific red snapperAll year · on the bottomPargo rojo. Smaller than a cubera, better on the grill.
  • GrouperAll year · rocks & pinnaclesTen seconds to turn its head, or it’s back in the rocks.
  • AmberjackAll year · rock pilesPulls harder for its size than anything else inshore.
  • Sierra mackerelInshore · comes and goesFast schools, sharp teeth, light tackle. Good dinner, better bait.
The Great Marlin from the air in deep blue water

Put a date on the water.

Message us. Dates, crew, what you want to catch. Answers come fast.

Plan my day WhatsApp us Email us

Half now, or all of it. Your call.

  • 50% holds your datePaid by Zelle, Venmo or PayPal. The details come with your confirmation.
  • Or pay in fullThe whole charter up front by Zelle, Venmo or PayPal. Nothing owed on the day.
  • The rest, your wayCash in US dollars on the beach, or Zelle, Venmo or PayPal before the day.
  • Cancel 10+ days outEverything you paid comes back to you.
  • Cancel inside 10 daysThe 50% deposit is kept; anything above it comes back.
  • Rain or shineDry season (mid-December to April) is sunny day after day. In green season (May to November) the rain usually rolls in after lunch, when we’re already heading in; mornings are mostly clear. Only weather that closes the port calls off a day.
  • If we call it off, you're coveredWhen the captain or the port closes the water for safety, we move you to another date or refund everything you paid. Your choice.

@greatmarlincr

Follow the boat.

Today's catch, the morning run, the crew at work. See what the water's doing before you book.

Follow on Instagram