Juan was great. Knowledgeable of where the fish would be what expectations you should have and if your day is a bad day for fish he will tell you ahead of time. He put off our trip for a day due to extreme winds and extremely rough water. At least for as long as our trip would allow. Hooked into a huge marlin and several grouper a couple small red snapper and a mackerel. We booked two trips with Juan, the first as stated was postponed due to 40 mph winds for several days and it did make the ride pretty tough. Either way we got on some fish. He filleted them and had them cooked up with some rice a beans (our choice) and it was fantastic. Obviously we would have liked to catch more but (I don’t think you ever catch enough as anglers) the conditions were near unbearable till our last day available to fish. Nothing you can do about that so overall, I would recommend Juan for sure. Great guy, will teach you anything you ask and fish however you’d like. Casting from the front is an option and trolling from the back. Other than the fishing, he will point out tons of wildlife on your boat ride. From stingrays jumping out of the water and flying through the air, giant schools of dolphin, huge sea turtles, jelly fish etc. I’m still thinking about the giant sailfish that got away and I know Juan is too. He is a real fisherman.

Our fishing trip was amazing! Captain Mendez went above and beyond to make our trip a once in a lifetime experience! Friendly, professional, knowledgeable and hard working! The crew was great, the fishing was a success, and the sashimi was out of this world! Couldn’t have asked for a better experience. If you’re on the fence, do not hesitate to book with Captain Mendez! 10/10 recommend!

Support the locals!! Best captain you can get. It doesn’t matter how big or expensive the boat is.. he knows what he’s doing out there. An awesome experience. Food, drinks, and great fishing. Caught Rooster fish, Tuna, Red Snappers. Cooked us the fish we caught after and sashimi the tuna on the boat. Lots of snacks and drinks. Also let us cool off in the ocean after and snorkel. He really puts everything into his charters to make a great experience. Not a 9-5 job like most charter companies. The ocean is his life. 10/10. Will be back.

My Fiancée and I had a great time fishing with Captain Juan Carlos and his crewmate. They made the trip, convenient, memorable, and fun! We caught a large sailfish and celebrated with some beers and fresh fruit. We also saw dolphins and a sea turtle while taking in the scenic Costa Rican coast. I highly recommend booking with Capitan Mendez Fishing Charters.

We booked a half day AM trip with Captain Juan Carlos out of Playa Hermosa with short notice in October. He communicated well and was detailed about what we needed to bring, what time to arrive and where to meet. He also was flexible on payment method (Cash vs Card).

Our fishing trip started at 6:30 AM and we were picked up on Playa Hermosa beach by Juan Carlos and his son who was the first mate for the trip. They were both friendly and welcoming and the boat was ready to go with fuel, bait and snacks when we boarded. We ended up targeting Mahi Mahi (Dorado) for our trip, as that was the species that Juan Carlos suggested for the best success.

We had an amazing time actively fishing with Juan Carlos and his son and ended up hooking 4 fish in a quick span once we got to where the fish were biting. Both Juan Carlos and his son were great on the boat and helped us with the catch and were as stoked as we were when the fish came on board!!

Bumping Reggaeton music back to the beach, Juan Carlos prepared some fresh local pineapple for us and some fresh sashimi to share and we talked about our plans for the rest of the evening. The Captain recommended getting our fish cooked for us at a local Soda (Costa Rican Restaurant) ran by his family steps away from the surf. We wisely followed his recommendation and not only had a fantastic day of fishing but a wonderful Costa Rican meal.

Gracias y Pura Vida Juan Carlos!!