Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis 

4.8
(320 reviews)
Recent reports
 Guanacaste Province, Playa Hermosa, GU, Costa Rica–

Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis 

Playa Hermosa, GU, Costa Rica
–
30 ft
5
4.8
(320 reviews)

If you're looking for your next unforgettable fishing adventure, head to Playas del Coco and book a trip with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters! Emerge on the fishing experience of a lifetime! Captain Mendez will take you fishing in the Gulf of Papagayo!

Welcome aboard the captain's 30' Panga boat. This centre console has all the necessary navigational and safety equipment, an ice box, and a live bait tank. There's enough room for 6 guests. If you're bottom fishing, everybody can do it at the same time, but in the case of trolling, 5 rods can be in the water.

Sailfish, Roosterfish, Mahi, Wahoo, and many other game species are on the menu throughout the year – you just have to hunt them down and reel them in. These are not easy catches, so Capt. Mendez will assist you in case it gets too hard. Please note that all Billfish and Roosterfish are strictly catch and release.

The captain will provide you with Penn and UglyStick fishing equipment and prepare live bait in advance. The catch cleaning service is included in the price as well. There's going to be drinking water and seasonal fruit onboard but feel free to bring other beverages and snacks. The captain can also purchase your fishing license, and you can pay him when the trip starts.

Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters is at your service year-round. Ready for your awesome Costa Rican adventure?!

Please note that we can offer pick-ups at your location, but it isn't included in the trip prices, and it will depend on your exact location.

If you're looking for your next unforgettable fishing adventure, head to Playas del Coco and book a trip with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters! Emerge on the fishing experience of a lifetime! Captain Mendez will take you fishing in the Gulf of Papagayo!

Welcome aboard the captain's 30' Panga boat. This centre console has all the necessary navigational and safety equipment, an ice box, and a live bait tank. There's enough room for 6 guests. If you're bottom fishing, everybody can do it at the same time, but in the case of trolling, 5 rods can be in the water.

Sailfish, Roosterfish, Mahi, Wahoo, and many other game species are on the menu throughout the year – you just have to hunt them down and reel them in. These are not easy catches, so Capt. Mendez will assist you in case it gets too hard. Please note that all Billfish and Roosterfish are strictly catch and release.

The captain will provide you with Penn and UglyStick fishing equipment and prepare live bait in advance. The catch cleaning service is included in the price as well. There's going to be drinking water and seasonal fruit onboard but feel free to bring other beverages and snacks. The captain can also purchase your fishing license, and you can pay him when the trip starts.

Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters is at your service year-round. Ready for your awesome Costa Rican adventure?!

Please note that we can offer pick-ups at your location, but it isn't included in the trip prices, and it will depend on your exact location.

Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
Captain
Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
12 years of experience
ID & credentials verified
responds within an hour

Select date to see availability

Trip date:
Group Size:
November 2026
SuMoTuWeThFrSa
Group Size
2 adults • 0 children
Change
Half Day Trip (AM)
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
US $450
Entire boat: up to 5 people
Half Day Trip (PM)
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
5 hour trip starts at 1:00 PM
US $450
Entire boat: up to 5 people
Full Day Trip
In high demand Last booked: 4 days ago
FREE Cancellation 14 days notice
8 hour trip starts at 6:00 AM
US $600
Entire boat: up to 5 people

Customer reviews

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Rating

4.8
320 reviews
4.6
Boat & equipment
4.9
Captain & crew
4.8
Fishing Experience

Anglers' gallery (1458)

What anglers say

91%
Great experience
93%
Family friendly
98%
Friendly captain
95%
Good boat
95%
Recommended
91%
Caught fish

Reviews (320)

  • Lance Childress
    Lance Childress
    us
    Texas, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Best guided fishing trip we have ever been on!

    Full Day Trip on June 16, 2026 • 2 adults

    Caught 6 mahi, 2 tuna and a 92 inch sailfish which we will be getting a replica mount of. Captain Juan and his first mate were experienced anglers and worked hard to put us on fish. They also provided us with snacks including pineapple, local breads and sashimi made from some of the fish that we caught….delicious. Picked us up from the beach of our hotel and brought us back there at the end of the day. Would highly recommend Captain Juan to anyone considering a fishing trip in Costa Rica.

  • Joris Rouchon
    Joris Rouchon
    fr
    France
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Fishing trip PM

    Half Day Trip (PM) on March 10, 2026 • 3 adults

    Nous voulions essayer la pêche au Costa Rica et notre expérience fut inoubliable! Nous étions à la recherche d’une espèce de poisson du nom de poisson-coq ou roosterfish, cependant les conditions n’étaient pas au rendez-vous pour ce poisson emblématique du Costa Rica. Pas grave ! Les thons jaunes étaient de sortie !! Munis d’une canne spinning et d’un leurre, nous étions à la traque des bancs de thons qui chassaient tout autour de nous, c’était spectaculaire ! Résultat : 5 jolies prises et de beaux souvenirs. Merci au capitaine et à son équipe qui ont été très agréable et qui on tout mis en oeuvre pour que cette sortie ce deroule au mieux pour nous.🔥🇨🇷

  • Brett Orr
    Brett Orr
    Repeat angler
    ca
    Saskatchewan, Canada
    Member since 2024
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    What a blast!

    Half Day Trip (AM) on January 31, 2026 • 1 adult

    This was my second time out with the captain. Him and his man on the boat were great, sharing fishing knowledge and just generally having a good time. The first time we went out was for Rooster fish and it was slow but we saw some dolphins and went and caught some Red Snapper to take home. The wind was up today but this time out we caught some snapper in the morning and then tried for something better landing a decent Jack Crevalle trolling, then back to the "honey hole" to get some more snapper before heading in. Carlos is a great guy, will be going out with him again when I visit.

  • Tony Fick
    Tony Fick
    us
    Ohio, US
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Bucket List Day

    Half Day Trip (PM) on January 4, 2026 • 3 adults

    We had a great experience with Captain Mendez. He was extremely prompt and helpful with all of his communication. The day got off to a slow start with high temps and winds, but Captain Mendez kept changing strategies while pointing out of marine animals - whales, sea turtles, etc. to keep me and my two teenage daughters engaged. His keen eye spotted a sailfish and the hunt was on. We successfully got the fish on the line. An epic battle ended with some amazing photographs, videos and memories after we landed the glorious fish. Watched a world class sunset on the way back to shore. Bucket list day, so grateful to Captain Mendez for making it a special day with my daughters!

  • Dave Unger
    Dave Unger
    Repeat angler
    ca
    Alberta, Canada
    Member since 2025
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Fantastic bottom Fishing

    Half Day Trip (AM) on February 19, 2026 • 2 adults • 1 child

    My son (10 yo) and I wanted to do our first saltwater trip while we were here. Captain Mendez took us out on a fantastic Grouper hunt! He had bait ready to go and breakfast/drinks in the cooler for us to start the day. Fishing started off solid with my son hooking into a Spanish Mackrel giving a good fight for a little lad. We then moved onto other spots for bottom fishing, by the end of the trip we were knee deep in fish. Mendez and his deck hand are calm and coordinated, but he's definitely up for some shenanigans! Muchas Gracias to both of you guys! Definitely recommend you!

  • Jon Ruedas
    Jon Ruedas
    us
    Utah, US
    Member since 2026
    4.7
    Verified

    Great Trip!

    Full Day Trip on June 23, 2026 • 4 adults • 1 child

    We had a really good time fishing off the coast of Playa Hermosa with Capitan Juan Carlos and his skipper Byron. They both worked really hard to get us on some fish. Although it was a really slow day, we ended up hooking into sweet sailfish, which made it all worth it. Captain Juan Carlos has great prices as well compared to other charters and we appreciated his great and fun personality, as well as the snacks that he was able to provide. 

  • Martin Arndt
    Martin Arndt
    Repeat angler
    de
    Germany
    Member since 2024
    2 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Tagestour offshore auf groß Fisch

    Full Day Trip on March 31, 2026 • 1 adult

    Der Empfang an Board war direkt sehr herzlich und wir haben besprochen weiter rauszufahren. Professionell wurden die Ruten vorbereitet, es wurde mir alles super erklärt und im Zielgebiet angekommen konnten wir sofort anfangen mit angeln. Der erste Mahi Mahi hat sich nicht lange bitten lassen. einige Versuche später gab es dann noch eine kapitalen Mahi Mahi. Gegen Mittag wurden wir dann noch mit einem kapitalen Sailfish belohnt. alles in allem ein super Tag und die Erwartungen wurden erfüllt.

  • Hunter Barrett
    Hunter Barrett
    us
    Nevada, US
    Member since 2026
    5.0
    Verified

    Great experience and crew! Great Sailfish!

    Full Day Trip on January 21, 2026 • 2 adults

    Capitan Mendez and 1st Mate Jose gave a great experience! Even though wind was not on our side they still knew where to go and got us on some fish. Caught big sailfish, 108 inches! Chose the option they offered to mount the sailfish, which was a very easy process so far and will be shipped back home. Also caught some nice sized roosterfish and amberjack. They delivered exactly what we were looking for here in Costa Rica! Overall experience was very easy and convenient as well.

  • Kelly Kennedy
    Kelly Kennedy
    Repeat angler
    us
    Oklahoma, US
    Member since 2026
    2 trips
    4.7
    Verified

    Sail fish!

    Full Day Trip on May 20, 2026 • 1 adult

    Caught 1 big sail fish, 4 mahi mahi and a wahoo. Caught the sail fish with 30 minutes left. Captain could have quit, but reset anyway. Saw some birds, made a pass, got 2 bites. Reset, made another pass and caught the largest mahi mahi of the day. Ended up going 20 minutes over time. Captain and crew wilk stay with it even past time to quit when on fish. Had a great time. Would highly recommend.

  • Alex Balogh
    Alex Balogh
    ca
    British Columbia, Canada
    Member since 2026
    4.7
    Verified

    A Mahi Mahi experience

    Half Day Trip (AM) on May 9, 2026 • 2 adults

    Easily the best value in the area. It can be cramped and chaotic when pulling in fish - especially with 4 mahis on the lines at once! - but it adds to the experience. Captain Mendez and it his son make a great team and its nice to support a family business. He asked what we were looking for & we said mahi and hopefully a sailfish. He got us on several schools of Mahi. We caught about 12-15 in total. He also went searching for some bigger fish at our request. Water/beer/pop/snacks were included. Wish we had done the full day!

FAQs about Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis

Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis offers the following trips to customers:
  • US $450 per group - Half Day Trip (AM) (5 hours)
  • US $450 per group - Half Day Trip (PM) (5 hours)
  • US $600 per group - Full Day Trip (8 hours)
When you book a trip with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis, you can expect the following amenities onboard:
  • GPS
  • Fishfinder
  • Live bait well
  • Ice box
Trips booked with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis include:
  • Rods, reels & tackle (Penn, UglyStick)
  • Live bait (Prepared in advance)
  • Lures
  • Catch cleaning & filleting
  • Snacks (Seasonal fruit, chips)
  • Drinks (Water)
  • First mate (Tips are customary and appreciated!)
Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis offers the following types of fishing:
  • Inshore fishing
  • Nearshore fishing
  • Offshore fishing
Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis offers the following fishing techniques:
  • Bottom fishing
  • Trolling
  • Spinning
Top targeted fish species with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis include:
  • Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
  • Jack (Pacific Crevalle)
  • Roosterfish
  • Sailfish
  • Snapper (Pacific Dog)
  • Wahoo

Your captain

Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
26 Fishing Reports
ID & license verified
332 Customer reviews
Typical response within an hour
Member since October 2019
Captain Juan Carlos has been fishing all his life. First, he started as a commercial fishing captain, then he was the captain of a yacht. After a hurricane, he started with his own business, 3 years ago. Born and raised in Playa del Coco, he knows all the good spots in the area and he can easily track the fish, wherever they go.
Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
Juan Carlos Méndez Gutierrez
Fully verified
26
reports
332
reviews
2019
member since
~1h
response
Captain Juan Carlos has been fishing all his life. First, he started as a commercial fishing captain, then he was the captain of a yacht. After a hurricane, he started with his own business, 3 years ago. Born and raised in Playa del Coco, he knows all the good spots in the area and he can easily track the fish, wherever they go.

The fish you can target

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Roosterfish
Roosterfish
Sailfish
Sailfish
Pacific Dog Snapper
Pacific Dog Snapper
Wahoo
Wahoo
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Pacific Crevalle Jack
Roosterfish
Roosterfish
Sailfish
Sailfish
Pacific Dog Snapper
Pacific Dog Snapper

Real catches by this captain

  • Two adult anglers display a large silver jack-family fish aboard a boat in a sunny coastal bay.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Great Barracuda
    Dave M.
    Dave M.
    Had a great day on the water with captain mendoza. got CC my first rooster fish.
  • Two adult anglers proudly holding a large wahoo aboard a center-console fishing boat in open tropical coastal waters.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    +2
    Pacific Barracuda
    One more day—thank God we captured the objective the client wanted.
  • Adult angler holding a large striped roosterfish aboard a small boat in a sunny coastal bay.
    Fish 1
    Pacific Barracuda
    Dan S.
    Dan S.
    Captain Juan and crew are great. They work hard to put you on fish, and offer great hospitality. Would absolutely recommend
  • Adult angler proudly holding a large roosterfish aboard a boat in calm coastal waters.
    Gracias a Dios tuvimos el objetivo pez gallo y un pez aguja
  • Adult angler holding a large tuna aboard a boat offshore, with open ocean in the background.
    Fish 1
    Fish 2
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Beth R.
    Beth R.
    Tuna and mahi
  • Young angler and adult proudly display a large red snapper aboard a blue fishing boat offshore.
    Fish 1
    Red Snapper
    Rachel M.
    Rachel M.
    Our family of three adults and two kids did not catch any fish but it was not for lack of trying in the crew’s part. I don’t think they had a fish finder so maybe that would have helped, but I honestly don’t know. The half day was plenty for us and the kids. It would have been more fun if we had been allowed to participate in the process more - holding rods or casting or reeling in, but the crew either didn’t understand what we wanted or didn’t want us to. The snacks were ok - a couple of pastries and a pineapple, some chips and salsa. Beer, water and a few Coke Zeros. We had much better snacks on our snorkeling trip the next day with another company. This boat was a cheaper option and I think a perfectly fine one, but I think next time I would pay a bit more and have a slightly more upscale experience. Captain Mendez was also only on the boat for less than five minutes - enough to take our money up front and then get off the boat. So we had a couple of other guys as our fishing guides.
  • Two anglers proudly displaying a large Roosterfish while fishing from a boat in a serene coastal environment.
    Michael R.
    Michael R.
    Captain Juan Carlos was great. i told him I wanted a Rooster Fish and he had me catching one in less than an hour! Great job!
  • Three anglers proudly displaying their catch of Yellowfin Tuna while enjoying a day on the water.
    Fish 1
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Katie B.
    Katie B.
    Juan Carlos was knowledgeable of the local fish, where to go, and fun to fish with! This was our first time in Costa Rica and we are so glad we decided to go out with him!
  • Two adult anglers proudly display a large sailfish aboard a boat offshore in deep blue ocean waters.
    Fish 1
    Sailfish
    Josh O.
    Josh O.
    Weather was not idea for what we wanted but Captain Menendez made it happen!! Caught a 90+ inch sailfish something i havw always wanted to catch. We will definitely be back for more.
  • A young angler and an adult proudly displaying a large fish while enjoying a day on the water, surrounded by scenic hills and clear skies.
    Chris C.
    Chris C.

What is the boat like?

Boat image
Boat category
Center console boats
Capacity
5 persons
Boat length
30 ft
Year built
2016
Boat manufacturer
Panga
Boat type
Panga
Engine model
Suzuki
Powered by
1 x 200HP

What kind of fishing will you do?

Inshore Fishing
Nearshore Fishing
Offshore Fishing

Which fishing techniques you can try

Bottom Fishing
Trolling
Spinning

Which amenities are available onboard

GPS
Fishfinder
Live bait well
Ice box
What's included in the trip price
Rods, reels & tackle
Penn, UglyStick
Live bait
Prepared in advance
Lures
Catch cleaning & filleting
Snacks
Seasonal fruit, chips
Drinks
Water
First mate
Tips are customary and appreciated!

How cancellations work

Free cancellation up to 14 days prior to trip
You can cancel or modify your booking up to 14 days before the trip date, free of charge. If you cancel or modify your booking later, or fail to show up, you'll forfeit 100% of what you've paid.
More details

What the listing policies are

Pickup not included
Transfer to/from departure site is not included in trip rates.
Child friendly
All ages welcome; life vests for 5+
You keep catch
Limited
Catch and release allowed
Catch and release mandatory
Billfish and Roosterfish

How you can pay

Book with 10% deposit, pay rest to captain
When the captain confirms your trip, FishingBooker charges your credit card a 10% deposit to guarantee your reservation.
The remaining balance is to be paid directly to the charter operator on or prior to your trip date in one of the following payment methods:
 Cash
 Bank transfer

What’s biting in Playa Hermosa right now

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
RoosterfishRoosterfish
SailfishSailfish
WahooWahoo

Compare similar fishing charters

Current
Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis
Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters – Cabo Luis
4.8
(320)
30 ft
Group size 1 - 5
1 - 5
Fish 1
Fish 2
+4
5 hour trip • 5 persons
US $450