Family fishing and dolphins in Papagayo on Monday, October 26th, 2026

Captain Log · Monday, October 26th, 2026

Today Captain Assistant Giancarlo and I picked up a family at the Andaz Resort in Peninsula Papagayo for a morning of light tackle fishing and time at the beach.

Mom and dad were traveling with their two children, four and five years old, and this would be the kids’ first fishing experience.

We had a beautiful morning, with a high tide, and planned to try some shallow rocky areas before finding a beach where the family could swim.

Dolphins and turtles just after pickup

We had barely left the hotel when we found a group of dolphins and spotted a few sea turtles at the surface.

It was a very nice way to start the tour, especially with two little kids on board who were about to try fishing for the first time.

Wildlife is never something I can promise on a tour, so seeing dolphins and turtles before our first fishing stop was a good start to the morning.

A first morning of fishing for the kids

After the wildlife sightings, we headed to our first fishing spot.

We caught some bait, including caballos, cut it up and tried a few shallow rocky areas to see if we could get some bites for the children.

We had some nice action with triggerfish, a couple of snappers and a couple of bonitas, including bites while casting from the boat.

For the kids’ first time fishing, there was plenty happening around the boat, and it was nice to give them that first experience on the Gulf.

A few hours at Playa Nacascolito

After fishing, we headed to Playa Nacascolito for our beach stop.

We spent a few hours there exploring a little and swimming.

The plan at the start of the morning had included possibly doing some snorkeling, but our time after fishing was spent enjoying the beach and the water at Nacascolito.

With children this age, I like having time for a beach stop as well as the fishing.

On this trip we had dolphins and turtles at the beginning, fish around the rocky areas, and then a place where the family could swim before we headed back.

Back to the hotel in time for lunch

By the time we finished at the beach, the family was getting tired, so we headed back to the hotel.

We arrived just in time for lunch after a beautiful morning on the water with Captain Assistant Giancarlo and our guests.

A Papagayo morning for a young family

October 26th gave this family a first fishing experience for the children, dolphins and turtles just after pickup, and time to explore and swim at Playa Nacascolito.

Every trip has its own conditions and wildlife, but today we were able to enjoy several different parts of the Gulf in one morning.

If you are planning a trip in October, Mytanfeet’s guide explains the weather and what to expect around Costa Rica.