I’m 18 years old, have only basic experience with fishing and I’m going to the Pacific coast of Costa Rica for vacation this summer. I thought that it would be great to go fishing and maybe catch a Marlin or Mahi Mahi, however I am unsure about whether it is even possible for someone with my knowledge and experience to catch anything at all. Do you think that I would be able to catch a few fish or would it be a waste of money?
Relax, catching a great fish is entirely within your ability. You want to go on a guided trip, which almost all of them are. The guide will handle all the set-up, take you to a productive spot, and coach you on technique–which is pretty basic anyway. They make a living showing people just like you a great time. Definitely well worth the investment!
Edit: Ole Fisherman brings up a good point, as usual. Surf fishing can be challenging and rewarding for much less than the cost of a chartered trip. However, you’re somewhat limited to the species that you can get at from the shore, and a guide will put you right on top of a pile of gamefish. Still, you can’t beat the price of surf fishing, and taking breaks to relax in a sunny beach chair with a cold beer is a nice plus. And a bad day of surf fishing can always turn into a great day of swimming.
For a guided fishing trip, it’s likely that there will be one or two multi-person charters. I’m probably calling that the wrong thing, but you basically set out on a large boat with a few guides, and a dozen or more other fisherman. The attention and guidance isn’t as personal, but they still will walk you through everything you need to know to catch fish. The price is great, too–you might get a spot for around $40 in Costa Rica, gear and bait included. Just remember to bring some money to tip the deckhands afterward–same goes for a private guide.