Flamingo, Costa Rica—In what has become one of the most anticipated events of the summer fishing season, the Presidential Flamingo Fishing Rodeo Presented by Marina Flamingo is set to take place in Flamingo Beach on July 28-30.
The tournament’s mission statement is to publicize Flamingo as one of Central America’s top sport-fishing destinations by helping charter captains book clients to fish this event, although private vessels are always welcome to compete as well. The tournament will benefit not only marine conservation in Costa Rica but also a local charity called Abriendo Mentes, which is a nonprofit organization to help provide assistance to people in that part of Costa Rica to have access to enhanced education and employment opportunities.
Marina Flamingo returns as this year’s Presenting Sponsor as well. The first phase of the new, state-of-the-art facility opened in December 2022, with 92 slips (of a total of 184 planned) as well as a high-speed fueling dock, a desalination plant, a wastewater treatment plant and a helipad. A four-story, multi-colored building features commercial space on the two bottom floors and 40 luxury villas on the top two floors. Marina Flamingo is located on the east side of downtown Flamingo, in a sheltered bay on Playa Potrero. One of its attractions is that you can walk straight from the marina into the town of Flamingo, which has many quaint restaurants, shops, hotels and vacation rentals. The marina is an hour’s drive from the international airport in Liberia.
A short run from the marina to the fishing grounds brings excellent opportunities for all three species of marlin (blue, black and striped) as well as sailfish, tuna, wahoo and mahi-mahi, called dorado locally. Back inshore, there are a wide variety of gamefish species, including roosterfish, jacks, grouper and snapper.
With a fleet of more than 30 boats expected to participate in several divisions, this year’s Flamingo Fishing Rodeo will truly highlight the opportunities that are available in the region. First up is the Flamingo Casino Offshore Division, with an entry fee of $600 per team of up to six anglers. Eligible species are all marlin and sailfish plus dorado, tuna and wahoo. The CR Marine Supply Inshore Division will have an entry fee of $200 per team of up to four anglers ($250 for six anglers) and will fish for dorado, tuna, wahoo, snapper and roosterfish. The Desyfin Junior Division will offer anglers under the age of 18 the opportunity to enter a billfish release to count toward junior angler prizes only. Release verification will be done with cell phone video, which must show without interruption the angler hooked up and fighting the fish, the species of the fish, and the fish ultimately swimming away after the fight is concluded.
Schedule of Events
July 28
3pm-5pm: Team Check-In at Event Sponsor Marina Flamingo
Final Team Registration: Kingfisher Room
6pm-8pm Welcome Cocktail Party: Grand Lobby, Hosted by Britt and Gurme
Complimentary snacks, cash bar, live music and dancing
7pm: Rules Meeting: Marina Flamingo
July 29-30
Fishing Days
Weigh Station and scorecard collection dockside at Marina Flamingo
July 30
Awards Party and Conservation Auction Hosted by Hemingway’s at the Sailing Club. Live music, cash bar. There will be a silent and live auction to benefit Costa Rica conservation efforts as well as Abriendo Mentes during the awards celebration.
Email tournament coordinator Joan Vernon for more information, joan@preschallenge.com.
