Evelyn and I booked a 6-hour fishing charter with Sea Star CR 26’and unfortunately it turned out to be the worst of over 50 fishing charters I have taken.  When I booked the charter with Michael the manager, I asked specifically to fish for mahi mahi, red snapper, grouper, or yellow fin.  So, trolling for mahi mahi and yellow fin can be hit or miss so we wanted to have the option for bottom type fishing.  In a previous CR trip out of Flamingo the same time of year, this strategy proved successful after trolling was not productive, but grouper fishing was incredible.  Our boat met us 30 minutes late, but I was excited about the trip and let that go.  At first, I was happy with the location that the captain (Roberto) took us since there were schools of pelagic fish and mahi mahi feeding.  A boat next to us had a fish on but we never saw if it was mahi mahi they landed.  After three hours of trolling that area, Roberto decided without a word to us, to go out to sea trolling where no foraging fish schools could be seen, and they trolled and trolled without changing bait. Evelyn and I felt it was time to make a change so she asked Roberto if we could fish for red snapper or grouper.  He ignored her and did not answer.  She asked again and when he ignored her again, she said I deserve an answer. He only said, “NO I do not have the bait we need for that”. Clearly Michael and Roberto did not communicate our desired strategy for the trip. I was upset with how he treated Evelyn, and I told him we wanted to cut the trip short and go back.  He did not listen to me either and slowed the trolling speed and continued.  When the first mate began to put fresh bait on, I demanded that he pull in the lines and take us back.  As we were passing Monkey Head a boat that was bottom fishing had a nice fish on.  So, we ended with a 4-hour boat ride having paid for a 6-hour ($650) fishing trip and never touching a pole. I have been on plenty of trip were we didn’t catch fish….that’s fishing, but to not follow through on why booked with them and then to be rude is unacceptable.  I complained to Michael who offered to give us $100; likely to prevent this review.  I’m sure their past reviews reflect this strategy, but that was not enough reimbursement to make up for the rudeness, attitude and our frustration with captain Roberto that day.

I have fished for 25 years and never have I went without catching 1 fish.  This outfit put out minimal effort.  We started late, caught zero fish, and came back early.  You can spend 1000 dollars in a casino, fireworks stand, or brothel and be more satisfied.  After this, I won’t use fishbooker moving forward.  They could care less if we caught anything.

Where to start. We were greeted by a Captain Mike at the beach before boarding the trip. He was nice and friendly but did not go on the boat with us.  This was suppose to be great day for me and my two nephews who had never been deep sea fishing before and had never been outside the USA before. WRONG! The trip started out ok even though neither of the two men on board the ship spoke any English AT ALL.  The guy piloting the boat never once stopped the boat during the entire 6 hour journey. We never even saw a single fish the entire day; NOT ONE! They didn’t even let us though the fishing rods and equipment. Additionally the 2 hour journey back to shore the guy piloting the boat (not the captain because he did not come along) went so fast we could not even enjoy any part of the coastline views because we were being tossed about the boat.  The ride was so rough at one point we hit a wave so hard one of my nephews and I were slammed together causing his head to bust my lip.  Watch the attached video at 2:27 min mark and you see.  Additionally, the “lunch” they served us were 2 day old “Subway” sandwiches, and luke warm cheap beer. How do I know the sandwiches were 2 days old… well the journey started at 7am and the only “Subway” in Playas del Coco isn’t open that early.

To summarize: NO FISH EVERY SEEN in the whole 6 hours; injures from violent boat driving, no English spoken at all; 2 day old food and snacks. If you like those things by all means choose this boat.  My advice is to save your $700 and do something else or pick a different boat, because this one SUCKS!

We felt so welcomed and cared for. I highly recommend them!