The team is led by Captain Nicolas Schiess, a Galapagos native and master angler. Tesoro Galapagos offers charter services in the Galapagos Islands. We provide custom fishing charters, sea safaris and multi-day itineraries including touring and live-aboard yacht charters. We coordinate with a number of Galapagos live-aboard Yachts such as the  52ft Leopard Cat and the 72ft Manhattan Sunseeker cruises. Tesoro Galapagos specializes in custom fishing charters in the Galapagos Islands that focus on Marlin, Tuna and other big game species.  We are a locally-owned and fully insured Galapagos tour operator that supports responsible tourism by promoting sustainable fishing practices.

Capt. Nico has worked as a certified Galapagos National Park Naturalist Guide for decades. His innate respect for the flora and fauna of the Galapagos is evident on all his tours. In his early career, Nico worked as a Naturalist Guide onboard many of the high-end luxury embarkations of the Super Yacht Industry in the Galapagos. Nicolas oversaw creating custom itineraries for the discerning clients which focused on SCUBA diving, fishing and land excursions. His local knowledge helped raise the bar of quality for these high-end clients.

With the acquisition of the yacht Tesoro, Capt. Nico has been able to pursue his dream of sharing his passion for the adventure of the chase with anglers from all over the world. A passionate advocate of the strict Marlin catch & release laws of the Galapagos Islands and International organizations such as IGFA, Nicolas utilizes various techniques, such as circle hooks, to ensure a positive and sustainable impact on the Galapagos ecosystem.

As he grew older, Captain Nico’s passion for angling and sustainable fishing practices only deepened. He became a licensed captain and started his own charter fishing business in the Galapagos Islands. He has always made sure to operate his business in a way that was environmentally responsible and respectful of the fragile ecosystem he has had the luxury to be born into. Displaying his commitment to sustainability and conservation, he eventually was a Founding member of FMME (Fundacion Megafauna Marina Ecuador) a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of Pacific Manta Rays, listed by UICN as critical populations in the world. Nico is also a founding member of Frente Insular, a locally formed social organization that fights against illegal industrial fishing in the Galapagos Marine Reserve.

Capitan Nico has the Pacific Ocean in his blood. A waterman since birth, Nicolas loves free diving, surfing, sailing, and fishing. He has been guiding in the waters of the Galapagos Islands since childhood and he knows the complex system of marine currents and migration patterns of the Galapagos intimately.

Isabela Island in the Galapagos is considered the ultimate Blue Marlin destination in the eastern Pacific. From December to June Captain Nico is on the tail of these giant Blue mamas, fishing in the steep drops with heavy tackle in hand. The rest of the year he can be found raising double digit Striped Marlin throughout the San Cristobal, Floreana and Santa Cruz sea mounts or chasing megafauna on one of his Sea-safaris onboard the Tesoro.

First Mate: William Pinkay is a Galapagos Native who has been fishing his whole life. He has found thousands of prime Galapagos fishing locations and knows the currents and patterns of the islands. He has learned from some incredible anglers and loves to share his passion for fishing in the Galapagos Islands.

Humberto Hernandez: Born in Galapagos, he has been a sport fisherman his whole life. He has worked in Florida on private sport fishing yachts for several years. He is an expert in popping, jigging and trolling. Humberto is a local legend when it comes to fishing.