We booked two tours with Bucaneros and were very satisfied. We especially enjoyed a trip with Carlos on the boat, where we saw a huge pod of dolphins and were treated to a delicious meal in a beautiful bay. Carlos is a relaxed, caring, and friendly guide. If you're still hungry or thirsty after the tour, the family-run restaurant El Bucanero is a great option.

Half-Day Sportfishing from Drake Bay
Cast your line into the rich Pacific off Drake Bay — a short, thrilling trip for ocean lovers and casual anglers, with fresh sashimi prepared on board from your catch.
What to expect
A relaxed half-day on the water with a local captain, fishing the productive coastal grounds off Drake Bay for snapper, mackerel, jacks and sometimes tuna.
The fully-equipped boat, crew, snacks and drinks are included — and the catch of the day becomes fresh sashimi on board, then cleaned and filleted for you on return.
Local captain & crew
Knows exactly where the fish are running.
Snapper, mackerel & jacks
With a shot at tuna on a good day.
Sashimi on board
Fresh from your catch of the day.
Flexible timing
Morning or afternoon departures.
See it for yourself







The itinerary
Meet at Drake Bay
Board and head out with the captain.
Lines in the water
Trolling and casting the coastal grounds.
Sashimi break
Fresh from the day's catch on board.
Back to Drake Bay
Fish cleaned and filleted on return.
What's included
- Experienced captain & crew
- Fully-equipped boat & gear
- 5-hour fishing trip
- Snacks & drinks
- Fresh sashimi from your catch
- Fish cleaning & filleting
Not included
- Crew tips (appreciated)
- Sunscreen & sunglasses
- Motion-sickness remedies
- Personal items
Good to know
What to bring
A hat, polarised sunglasses, sunscreen and a light long-sleeve shirt. Take motion-sickness tablets an hour before departure if you are prone to it — after boarding is too late.
Who it's for
Casual anglers, families and anyone who wants time on the water without a full offshore day. No experience needed; the crew will show you everything.
Best season
The inshore grounds fish all year. Sailfish and marlin run stronger from December to April, but for snapper, mackerel and jacks any month is a good month.
Where we meet
On the beach in Drake Bay. Morning and afternoon departures both work — tell us which you prefer and we will set the time around the tide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the price per person or per boat?
Per boat, for up to four people. That is the whole charter — captain, crew, gear, fuel and the five hours — so it works out well for a family or a group of friends.
What will we catch?
Close in, the usual fish are snapper, mackerel, jacks and roosterfish, with a chance of tuna on a good day. The captain fishes these grounds constantly and goes where they are running.
Can we eat what we catch?
Yes. The crew cuts fresh sashimi on board from the day's catch, and cleans and fillets the rest for you on the way in. Take it to our restaurant and Doña Francis will cook it for you.
Do I need any experience?
None. The crew rigs everything, shows you how to work the rod and takes over if a big fish makes it complicated. Plenty of our guests have never held a rod before.
What if someone gets seasick?
Inshore water is much gentler than offshore, which is exactly why some people choose the half day. Take tablets before boarding, stay on deck and watch the horizon. If it gets bad, we come back in.
Is this tour refundable?
Yes. If you need to cancel, contact us as soon as possible so we can arrange your refund.
Hear from travelers who chose us
The bioluminescence tour was wonderful. Carlos and Carlos or friend will take you out on a multipurpose boat, the same one their family uses to catch fresh fish for their restaurant. This type of bioluminescence is reactive to the touch. In Drake Bay in mid-July, we went out into the middle of the bay and swam in life jackets. They were willing to do a private tour for a bit longer for a little more, and were very flexible and nice. I felt comfortable at night with a ratio of 1 guide to 3 people, so if swimming in a lifejacket at night in the bay is scary for you, you might inquire about that. It is difficult to climb up to the boat without a ladder on your own, but extremely easy with the captain's helping hand. This bioluminescence is not easily photographable and requires at a minimum a very very large aperture DSLR with very high ISO and sensitivity, and even then it's extremely faint. Think of it as bright as small ephemeral stars in the water, a few dozens whenever you move. The snorkeling goggles are not compatible with prescription glasses, but I preferred personally the clarity of no goggles (which can get foggy), while my companions preferred with goggles. Any night is good as long as the moon is not up in the sky (new moon or near new moon is fine any time of night, but anything else and you have to check the lunar hour by hour moonrise moonset time table). Very nice family, who helped us out a few times when we forgot an item or two. Tasty drinks and food at their restaurant too. Another unnamed popular agency across the street cancelled another bioluminescence tour we booked, disingenuously claiming "weather" (seemed fair weather; I think they didn't get enough customers that night), but Bucaneros Corcovado Tours is very good. Bucarenos Tours honored the scheduled time and has always been straightforward and honorable, and we greatly enjoyed their kindness/hospitality and experience. Muchas gracias para todos 🤎
Thanks Carlos for the amazing kayak tour showing us the bioluminescence! After paddling out in the sea for a while, the biolumnescence was clearly visible from the kajak and even more while swimming in the sea. It was magical!
We booked the Sunset & Bioluminescence Tour as a family, and it was absolutely amazing. Carlos and his friend did an outstanding job throughout the experience. Our kids especially loved when they cut fresh coconuts from the palms and prepared sugar cane for us to try. They even brought along cold beers, which we enjoyed while watching the sunset from the boat. Later, swimming in the glowing water under the pitch-black, starry sky felt truly magical. We can without hesitation recommend this tour. If you're interested, it’s best to visit Bucaneros Restaurant and arrange it directly with them, as the website still needs a bit of improvement . Its worth it! :)
My wife and I were impressed by the professionalism and knowledge of Carlos during our inshore fishing tour today. He tried different spots, different techniques in pursuit of the best experience. We caught Bonito Tuna, Red Snapper, Spanish Mackerel, and Jack. The Jack fish was served at the El Bucanero Restaurante in a Ceviche dish - muy deliciosa!
Reserve your spot
Small groups, licensed local guides, 100% wild. Pick your date, pay securely, and your spot is confirmed straight away.
Chat on WhatsAppReady for Half-Day Sportfishing from Drake Bay?
Secure your spot with local experts — small groups, licensed guides, 100% wild.
