Marlin Fishing the Galapagos Islands
EcuaGringo Fishing Charters - Ecuador
Isabela Island Grander Marlin
The Galapagos Islands, a volcanic archipelago of 19 islands, is situated in the isolated Pacific Ocean. Isabela Island, the largest island of the Galapagos, is fast becoming one of the best places in the world to target big blue marlin. All fishing charters are private for your group of one to six guests. Customize your fishing package to fit your needs.
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EcuaGringo Fishing Charters
Ecuagringo has operated in the Galapagos Islands since 2000 and were the first deep-sea fishing charter on these waters. Since 2000, they've released over 3,000 marlin in the Galapagos.
The Galapagos Islands nutrient-rich waters attract blue marlin, black marlin, and striped marlin. Blue marlin are found all around the waters in the Galapagos Islands. However, to increase your chances of getting more bites, there are areas where they tend to frequent more. The Galapagos Islands offer 10, 20, 30, and 50-plus raises of striped marlin per day. Plus, excellent topwater tuna, wahoo, and bottom fishing.
Fishing Facts:
Season: Fishing is available year-round. Peak fishing months are from January through June, when the seas tend to be warmest and calmest.
Boats: 38-ft. Sportfishers host up to six anglers. Each boat is equipped with a flybridge, fighting chair, salon, and private head (toilet). All charters are private for your group only. Ecuagringo does not offer shared charters, split charters with strangers, or half-day charters.
Captain and Crew: Tournament-class captains, crew, coaching from start to finish. For both novices and experienced anglers.
Fishing Methods: Pursue marlin on light tackle, flies, spin tackle, pitch baits, and lures.
Equipment: The use of trolling rods and reels built in the USA is included in the package. A limited supply of conventional #80 and #130 tackle is provided. They fish mainly lures. If a guest wants to fish pitch baits instead, they can provide bait but need to know ahead of time in order to ship bait to the Galapagos. A comprehensive gear and tackle list is provided in our confirmation packet.
Fishing License is not required for the Galapagos, but a $100.00 Entrance fee is required for the Galapagos National Park.
Grander Marlin - Isabela Island
Isabela Island produces more blue marlin and large ones with shots at grander (fish over 1000 pounds). When hot, you can expect double-digit striped marlin bites daily, endless topwater tuna action, and even grander marlin! You'll chase giant blue marlin with realistic expectations of fish reaching the 1000-pound mark. Grander marlin out of Isabela is a true possibility. Peak fishing is from January to June.
Isabela Island
Isabela Island is the largest island in the archipelago, with an area of 1,791 square miles and about 62 miles long. Isabela offers the best shots at giant blue marlin in the Pacific, with fish averaging 500 to 900 pounds. Granders are caught in the mix every year. Peak fishing is from mid-January to mid-May. The island is home to some of the largest blue and black marlin in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Large numbers of tuna, bonito, and squid make this habitat a prime feeding ground for marlin. Only eight miles from the port, you’ll find prime fishing; runs will rarely be more than 20 nautical miles from the shore.
San Cristobal Island
San Cristobal Island: San Cristobal Island offers some of the best striped marlin and tuna fishing in the world. The high volume of striped marlin bites is legendary, with most days producing five to 50 raises a day. Some days anglers may experience over 100 fish in the spread. Several striped marlin banks are accessible from a 13 to 68-mile run. Daily runs average 25 to 35 miles.
Bigeye Tuna
Crews have experienced days where it is very difficult to fish for marlin because big eye tunas were such a nuisance. Bigeye tuna are strong, relentless, and dive deep when hooked - a prizefighter in its own class. They can grow to more than 400 pounds in size. When targeting tuna under 150 pounds, they're terrific fish on light tackle. These tunas can feed and dive into low-oxygen water deep down where many other predators cannot go. Tuna spend much of their life feeding in depths 200 to 500 meters. When you hook one of these incredible pelagics, get ready for a great fight.
Sample Fishing Day
A Typical Fishing Day:
You’ll have an early breakfast. Your host will drive you to the marina, typically a 10-minute drive.
At 7:00 a.m., you’ll board your boat for a full day of fishing. A captain, crew, tackle, lunch, snacks, bottled water, and sodas are provided.
At 4:30 p.m., you’ll return to the port and be driven back to your lodging. Dinners are not included in the package and are on your own at local restaurants in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno. If you’d like transportation to restaurants, your host can arrange this. You will pay him directly. No alcohol is provided in the package.
Accommodations and Meals:
Lodging: You'll stay at clean hotels arranged by the outfitter. Upgrades are based on availability.
Meals: You’ll have breakfast at the hotel. Packed lunches are provided on the fishing boats and tours. Dinners are not included in the package and are on your own at local restaurants. If you’d like transportation to restaurants, your host can arrange this. You will pay him directly.
Alcohol: No alcohol is provided in the package. You’ll need to let the host know the night before if you’d like beer on the boat for the next day. The cost per 12-pack is $40.00 or more.
Non-Angler Activities: There are no non-angler rates. San Cristóbal Island has several non-angling tours available, including Loberia Beach, snorkeling Kicker Rock, wildlife viewing, and birding, to name a few. San Cristóbal’s Puerto Baquerizo Moreno is a thriving port town with shopping, restaurants, and bars. The coastlines and bays of Isabela Island also have some incredible snorkeling, hikes, and tour opportunities.
Getting to Isabela Island:
You'll fly to the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport in Guayaquil, Ecuador. Daily direct flights are available from Fort Lauderdale and Miami and arrive in Guayaquil in under four hours. Outside of Customs, you'll be greeted by a host and driven to your hotel. (Hotel nights and dinner in Guayaquil are not included in the package.)
The next day, you'll take an under 2-hour flight to Baltra Island and gain an hour. (There is a one-hour time difference between Guayaquil and Isabela Island. No airfare is included.)
The host will meet you at the Baltra Airport in the Galapagos and take you by bus to Itabaca Channel, a 7-minute drive. A ferry will carry you about 500 yards across the Itabaca Channel. Once on the other side, the driver will meet you and take you on a 45-minute scenic drive across the island of Santa Cruz. You'll arrive in the town of Puerto Ayora, where you will board a speed ferry that will take you on about a 2-hour run to Puerto Villamil, Isabela Island. Upon arrival, a host will greet you at the dock in Puerto Villamil and drive you to your lodging so you may check in. You'll spend the afternoon at your leisure. Guests can book an island hopper flight from Baltra to Isabela for an added fee.
2024 USD Rates:
Rates are subject to change.
All charters are private for your group only. Ecuagringo does not offer shared charters, split charters with strangers, or half-day charters. All packages are fully customizable—fishing, touring, lodging changes. Please email us.
San Cristobal or Santa Cruz
and 1-night Lodging in Guayaquil
6-nights and 5-days guided fishing
2 anglers per boat $8,850.00 p.p.
3 anglers per boat $6,410.00 p.p.
4 anglers per boat $4,950.00 p.p.
5 anglers per boat $4,460.00 p.p.
6 anglers per boat $3,920.00 p.p.
Giant Blue Marlin - Isabela Island
High demand package. Book one to two years in advance.
7-nights and 5-days guided fishing
2 anglers per boat $10,360.00 p.p.
3 anglers per boat $7,535.00 p.p.
4 anglers per boat $5,870.00 p.p.
5 anglers per boat $5,220.00 p.p.
6 anglers per boat $4,620.00 p.p.
The Packages Include:
• Airport reception
• Necessary ground transfers in the Galapagos
• One hotel night upon arrival in Guayaquil
• Guided fishing on 38-ft. Sportfisher
• Use of fishing equipment
• Lodging and breakfasts at a clean hotel
(Upgrades based on availability)
• Lunch, snacks, and beverages onboard
• Roundtrip ferry speed boat transfers between Santa Cruz and Isabela Island
The Packages Do Not Include:
• International Airfare to Guayaquil, Ecuador, and return• Domestic flight from Guayaquil to Island destination, and return
• Optional last night hotel stay and meals in Guayaquil
• Dinners are on your own
• Alcoholic beverages
• Lunch, if not fishing
• Gratuities to staff, host, captain, crew, drivers, and guides
• $100.00 Galapagos National Park Entrance fee p.p.
($50.00 per child)
• INGALA immigration card $20.00 p.p. (upon arrival at the airport)
• Global Rescue or similar medical/safety evacuation coverage
• Travel insurance
• Anything not mentioned under inclusions.
• Fuel surcharges may apply if
special taxes are imposed by local authorities.
