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Stan Cook
Captain

Stan Cook

Quepos, Costa Rica
10+ reviews
Captain Stan is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces veteran, entrepreneur, and professional angler with over a decade of experience guiding in Quepos, Costa Rica. From running charter vessels for his Special Operations brethren in North Carolina after retirement to commanding his fourth offshore boat today, Stan operates his business alongside his wife, Michele—who passionately champions women in sportfishing—and their famous boat dog, Coco of Quepos.
Garden S.
Garden S.
First mate
Michele C.
Michele C.
Business partner
Bill C.
Bill C.
Captain
Stan C.
Stan C.
Captain

Charter

Rating

5.0
18 reviews
5.0
Boat & Equipment
5.0
Captain & Crew
5.0
Fishing Experience

All reviews (18)

Showing 1 – 5 of 18 reviews
  • Steven S
    Steven S
    Member since 2026
    5.0

    Great trip. Stan is a great host and captian.

    Pelagic Express

    The wife and I had a great trip. We caught a bunch of new fish for us. the boat was great and we really could not have asked for me. We will be back to CR and book with Stan again.

    Reported catch:
    Sailfish
    Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Black Marlin
    Response from Captain

    Thanks Steve! It was a pleasure and cant wait to see you again.

  • Lisa Trebilcock
    Lisa Trebilcock
    us
    Florida, US
    •
    Member since 2025
    5.0
    Verified

    Caught the Big One!

    Pelagic Sprint • 5 adults

    No sooner did we say, “we’d love a big marlin,” a big one hit the line! Followed by a sailfish! We were thrilled. Captain Stan and crew really delivered. Highly recommend. Not to mention a delicious lunch, and seeing tons of dolphin and a couple sea turtle. Great 3/4 day! Thank you, Captain Stan and crew!

    Reported catch:
    Blue Marlin
    Sailfish
  • FishingBooker Member
    FishingBooker Member
    5.0

    Unforgettable days on the water with Captain Stan and the Reel Freedom Crew!

    Pelagic Express

    We had the absolute pleasure of fishing with Captain Stan on the Reel Freedom out of Quepos, Costa Rica—and what an incredible experience it was! From start to finish, everything exceeded our expectations. Captain Stan is the real deal—professional, knowledgeable, and passionate about what he does. He put us right on the fish, and we had non-stop action throughout the day. His years of experience and calm confidence made the whole trip smooth and exciting. A huge shoutout to the mates onboard—these guys were phenomenal! Friendly, hardworking, and incredibly skilled, they made sure everything ran like clockwork. Whether it was rigging lines, helping land the catch, or just keeping spirits high, they were top-notch the entire time. And we can't forget Michele, Captain Stan's wonderful wife. From the moment we booked the trip, Michele was warm, welcoming, and incredibly helpful in making sure everything went off without a hitch. You can tell this is more than just a business—it’s a true family-run operation built on passion and pride. If you're looking for an unforgettable fishing adventure in Quepos, look no further than Reel Freedom. Thanks again to Captain Stan, Michele, and the amazing crew—we’ll definitely be back!

    Reported catch:
    Sailfish
    Yellowfin Tuna
    Blue Marlin
    Striped Marlin
    +1
  • Chad Michaelsen
    Chad Michaelsen
    Repeat angler
    us
    Florida, US
    •
    Member since 2021
    •
    3 trips
    5.0
    Verified

    Epic Sailfish day!!

    Pelagic Express • 7 adults

    We had an amazing day on Reel Freedom. I've fished out of Quepos numerous times and our entire group thought Reel Freedom, Captain Bill and his team ran a spectacular boat. We had a rather large group of friends and all 7 of us caught sailfish - ended up landing 11 overall. Not only did Bill put us on the fish but his guys were great at keeping everyone engaged. The equipment was top notch and the boat was perfect for a larger group. Lunch was excellent !! I would absolutely go fishing with this crew when I am in Quepos and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to catch fish during their stay in Quepos!.

  • Jed Benedict
    Jed Benedict
    Member since 2025
    5.0

    Full Day Trip with Stan Cook on the Reel Freedom

    Pelagic Express

    If you are looking for an amazing off shore fishing experience in some of the best fishing waters in the world, I highly recommend Southern Escapes on the Reel Freedom. Stan Cook and his entire crew are a highly skilled fishing team that go above and beyond to make your trip one to remember. The boat is perfectly outfitted for fishing as well as relaxing whether on the upper deck enjoying the views under cover or the a/c cabin with full bathroom and amenities. I have fished my entire life both with family/friend's boats as well as charter boats and the Reel Freedom was the best experience to date. We landed 12 sailfish with the first hit being a double down which was a great way to start the morning. Definitely a bucket list checked off. We fully intend on visiting the beautiful country of Costa Rica again and will most certainly go back to Stan and the crew of Reel Freedom!

    Reported catch:
    Sailfish
    Black Marlin
    Striped Marlin
    Blue Marlin
    +2

Real catches shared by our community

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    Caught the Big One!
    Lisa T.
    Lisa T.
  • REEL FREEDOM CHARTERS
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    Bucket List Success - AMAZING!
    Jodie S.
    Jodie S.
  • REEL FREEDOM CHARTERS
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    Epic Sailfish day!!
    Chad M.
    Chad M.
  • REEL FREEDOM CHARTERS
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    Simply the Best Fishing Charter Experience
    Andrew H.
    Andrew H.
  • REEL FREEDOM CHARTERS
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    Southern Escape with Captain Stan
    Dianna B.
    Dianna B.

What's biting with REEL FREEDOM CHARTERS in Quepos

All of Central America gained independence on the same day in 1821. These days, September 15 is celebrated with parades, fairs, music, and dancing. Combine your angling adventure with a fiesta!

Top catches for September

Fishing reports

Angler proudly displaying a large Yellowfin Tuna while aboard a fishing boat in open waters.

Muscle Magic -YF

Jun 9, 2026 • Quepos
Michele landed her personal best Yellowfin Tuna after waiting out a massive two day storm that stopped all fishing activities in Costa Rica. Soon as the weather broke we put the boat in gear and tracked down a nice school of tuna and a few sailfish.
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A majestic Marlin leaps out of the water during a thrilling offshore fishing adventure.

Signature Open Top Female Angler

Dec 27, 2025 • Quepos
This lovely couple booked their charters during the Flor De Cana Signature Open tournament, held at Marina Pez Vela. Since they were here to celebrate their ten year anniversary we extended an offer to compete against some of the top anglers, captain and crews in the world. Not only did they jump at the chance, the lucky lady won top female angler award with no prior experience and their team almost pulled off the overall win and a nice pay day.
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Two anglers proudly displaying their large Yellowfin Tuna on a fishing charter in open waters.

Memories Made

May 10, 2025 • Quepos
Our clients were reminiscing about the biggest Yellowfin Tuna they had ever caught many years ago (15yrs) with their oldest son and wanted to try to beat that day. As with all of us, time catches up. We put them on 3 nice Yellowfin ranging from 85-105 pounds. After the last, and biggest fish they we're worn out.
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Two anglers enjoying a lively moment on a fishing charter, with rods in hand and the ocean backdrop highlighting their excitement.

Special Graduation celebration

May 9, 2025 • Quepos
Our friends from Florida made a special graduation celebration trip to Costa Rica. They got to do a little bit of everything on this charter. Definitely a memorable present.
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A smiling angler poses on the boat's interior, showcasing fishing rods and the ocean backdrop during a vibrant fishing trip.

Tuna terror

May 6, 2025 • Quepos
These clients came down to celebrate a 50th birthday party and absolutely crushed the tuna.
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Angler proudly displaying a 106.4 lb Tuna at a fishing tournament, with a vibrant backdrop showcasing the event's branding.

Charter Boat Challenge

May 4, 2025 • Quepos
Our guest wanted to compete in the Charter Boat Challenge. This tournament is a meat fish challenge and is only open to the charter fleet. You can only weigh in 2 fish and their biggest was106 pounds. As of last check they were in the lead. If they win, they get a free charter next season courtesy of Marina Pez Vela.
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