About Us – The Central America Fishing Team
“Choose a job you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”
That pretty much sums up life here at CAF, but we invite you to learn more about us – the Central America Fishing Team.
How we got here…
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and raised in Wisconsin. I grew up fishing the Great Lakes, but my obsession with the ocean started young with family vacations to Florida and visits to Sea World. While studying Spanish at the University of Minnesota, I decided a semester abroad would be the best way for me to really learn the language, so I chose Costa Rica. Towards the end of my stay, my parents came down for a visit and I managed to convince my dad to pay for a day of inshore fishing on a local panga. The only English the captain spoke was “Reel, boy! Reel!“, which he screamed at me when we got our first bite. A few minutes later I was holding an exotic fish with a seven-fingered dorsal fin like nothing I had ever seen before. They kept calling it “gallo”, which I soon learned meant roosterfish. I suppose that was the moment it was all over for me. I was infected with the Costa Rica bug. Stricken by the tropical fever. Obsessed.
After graduating, I did a year in the corporate world but I quickly realized that wasn’t where I belonged. I couldn’t stop thinking about Costa Rica, so much to my family’s chagrin I quit my safe corporate job and moved back to Costa Rica full time in 2005 and have been here ever since.
My wife Theresa was born and raised in Michigan. She studied Finance and International Business at Grand Valley State University and also made the decision to study in Costa Rica for a semester to learn Spanish. She immediately fell in love with the local culture, gallo pinto breakfasts, friendly Ticos, and of course being from the Midwest – the warm weather!
Theresa graduated and then volunteered in Honduras for the Peace Corps, but after their coup d’etat in 2009, she decided Costa Rica was a safer place to be so she moved back too. We met shortly after that, and the rest is history!
Central America Fishing today…
After creating and managing the fishing division at a large Costa Rica travel agency for eight years, at the end of 2013 I decided it was time to spread my wings and start my own company to be able to offer fishing vacations throughout the entire region. From fly fishing the flats in Belize to incredible inshore and offshore fishing in Panama, Central America has so many different fishing venues to explore and species to catch I knew that our anglers would love fishing these different places as much as I do. In 2016 we added Guatemala to our offerings. In 2022 we ventured out of Central America for the first time to offer incredible fishing on the Amazon River in Brazil. Today we have over 200 destinations and operations that we offer, as always with the same direct pricing and no booking fees.
Back in 2013, I created the company that I would love to travel with: unmatched local expertise, insider knowledge, and personalized service from start to finish. Today we are the premier outfitter for fishing vacations to Central America. We’ve hosted Fox Sports West #1 rated fishing show four times, Stoked on Fishing, and we’ve been featured in the Billfish Foundation’s & Florida Sport Fishing magazine. We are honored to partner with the venerable Make a Wish Foundation as well as Pack for a Purpose. We are passionate about conservation and are proud to partner with the Billfish Foundation, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust, and King Sailfish Mounts.
Perhaps most of all, we are proud to say that nearly 40% of all CAF anglers are repeat or referral guests. That means so much to us because it shows that we are making our guests happy and they want to share the good times and come back for more. We truly love being a part of the travel and sport fishing industries, meeting new people every week, and helping guests plan the vacation of a lifetime. The only thing that surpasses our expertise for fishing and travel in Central America is our passion for it, and we can’t wait you help you experience it for yourself.
The Central America Fishing Team
Chris Atkins
Owner & Angler
I was born in Pittsburgh, PA and grew up in Kohler, Wisconsin. I first came to Costa Rica in 2003 for a semester abroad in college, fell in love, and moved here full time in 2005. I have been working in the sport fishing industry ever since and still can’t believe I get to do this for a living. I’ve traveled to Australia, Africa, Asia, Europe, South America and the Middle East, but Central America is still my favorite region of the world. If I’m not working, fishing, or traveling you can probably find me spending time with my two young boys, playing with my chocolate lab & boxer, golfing, or watching my beloved Steelers, Penguins, or Pirates!
Theresa Atkins
Guest Services
Guest Services & Photographer I am proudly from the beautiful state of Michigan and grew up just outside of Ann Arbor. My second home in Central America has allowed me to play with the Costa Rica Women’s National softball team in Guatemala, volunteer with the Peace Corps in Honduras, climb Mayan Ruins in three countries, dive the Mesoamerican Reef in Belize, shop local markets in Nicaragua, and hike the highest peaks in both Panama and Costa Rica. When I’m not working or traveling, I enjoy photography, yoga, volleyball, horseback riding, trying new cuisine, and virtually anything outdoors.!
Ilona Maroto
Operations Manager
I was born and raised in San José, Costa Rica. I’ve been working in the tourism industry for over 20 years and love sharing my country with visitors. It may surprise you that two of my favorite work-related activities are zip-lining and white rafting, so much so I used to do In my free time I enjoy spending time with my huge extended family. When I’m not traveling throughout Central America, Switzerland is at the top of my bucket list for my next vacation!
Adolfo Vargas
Operations & Sales
Born and raised in Costa Rica, I have nearly three decades of experience in the tourism industry. My past experience includes both leisure and corporate travel. What I love about working in the travel industry is that our work is constantly changing, things are never the same on any given day. I enjoy reading and cooking, and I also love traveling in and & out of Costa Rica. A seasoned international traveler, some of my favorite destinations include the USA, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Panama and Colombia. My favorite cities in the US are Washington D.C. and Manhattan. My favorite destination in our country is Tortuguero, but I also enjoy any beach along the Central Pacific Coast.
Dakota Dunmire
Outfitter & Manager of Digital & Social Media
I was born and raised in Oviedo, Florida, where I played lacrosse and fished a ton in Mosquito Lagoon. I went on to play Division 1 lacrosse for Monmouth University and graduated with an International Business and Marketing degree. After college, I had the opportunity to play semi-professional lacrosse in Melbourne, Australia for two seasons. I came back to this side of the world and was the head guide at a fishing lodge in Panama for four years where I fished 44 weeks out of the year. Living here in Panama and fishing around the region, Central American species are by far my favorite in the world, which lead me here to Central America Fishing.
Why Fish With CAF?
We have been fishing, living, and traveling around Central America since 2003. Plan your trip with local experts to make sure you are in the right place, at the right time, and on the right boat. We’ll help you fish for what you want, the way you want.
Free vacation planning + the best direct rates. No booking fees!
Personalized service from pre-arrival to 24/7 in-country support.
Hand-picked accommodations, fishing captains, expert guides for the best vacation experience.
Nearly 40% of our anglers are repeat & referral guests. CAF puts you on the fish!
We are proud to have a global reach and have hosted anglers from 15 different countries here in Central America!
Media & Press
Conservation & Charity Partners
