🎣 Costa Rica Fishing Calendar: What to Catch Month by Month

Costa Rica is one of the top sportfishing destinations in the world—and for good reason. With two dynamic coasts (Pacific and Caribbean), nutrient-rich waters, and a year-round tropical climate, anglers can target a wide variety of trophy game fish every month of the year.

Whether you’re chasing sailfish and marlin offshore, targeting roosterfish and snapper inshore, or exploring river mouths and estuaries for snook and tarpon, Costa Rica offers 365 days of fishing adventure.

Here’s your month-by-month Costa Rica fishing calendar with key species, regional notes, and seasonal insights.

🌊 Year-Round Species in Costa Rica

  • Roosterfish
  • Snapper (Cubera, Mullet, Red)
  • Amberjack
  • Grouper
  • Jack Crevalle
  • Corvina
  • Snook (more active in the rainy season)
  • Wahoo (sporadic but peaks in rainy season)

📅 January – Prime Time for Sailfish

  • Sailfish (peak season begins)
  • Marlin (occasional blues and striped)
  • Mahi Mahi (Dorado) still active
  • Yellowfin Tuna (consistent action)

Overview: The dry season kicks in with calm seas and clear skies—ideal for offshore fishing, especially along the Central Pacific coast (Los Sueños, Quepos, Jaco). Expect high numbers of sailfish in trolling spreads and shots at dorado around floating debris.

📅 February – Offshore Billfish Bonanza

  • Sailfish (excellent numbers)
  • Striped Marlin
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Tuna

Overview: February is arguably the best month for sailfish. Boats often report 20–50 bites a day, and double-digit release days are common. Conditions are perfect for trolling with teasers and circle hooks.

📅 March – Peak Sailfish Season

  • Sailfish (absolute peak)
  • Striped Marlin
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Yellowfin Tuna

Overview: Sailfish remain red-hot. Striped marlin often show up in small packs, and anglers may experience quadruple hookups. Calm seas and high catch rates make this one of the most popular months to visit Costa Rica for offshore sportfishing.

📅 April – Transition Begins

  • Sailfish (still strong early month)
  • Striped and Blue Marlin
  • Tuna increasing
  • Snapper and Roosterfish inshore improving

Overview: Offshore bite starts to taper off by late April, but inshore fishing picks up rapidly. It’s a great time to mix half-day inshore and full-day offshore trips for variety.

📅 May – Green Season Begins

  • Tuna (Yellowfin)
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Roosterfish
  • Snapper
  • Wahoo
  • Blue Marlin starts increasing

Overview: May marks the start of the green season, bringing more rain but also cooler water temps and abundant floating debris, which attracts mahi mahi, tuna, and wahoo. Inshore reefs come alive with snapper and roosterfish.

📅 June – Tuna and Marlin Action Heats Up

  • Yellowfin Tuna (peak)
  • Blue Marlin
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Roosterfish / Cubera Snapper

Overview: One of the best months for large yellowfin tuna, especially when fishing near pods of spinner dolphins. Blue marlin action starts to pick up over seamounts and drop-offs. Wahoo becomes more common near reefs.

📅 July – Offshore Variety & Roosterfish Madness

  • Blue Marlin
  • Tuna
  • Wahoo
  • Roosterfish
  • Grouper

Overview: This is prime time for roosterfish along the Central and Southern Pacific Coast. Offshore, big tuna continue to hit poppers and jigs, and blue marlin start showing in better numbers.

📅 August – Peak Marlin Potential

  • Blue & Black Marlin
  • Tuna
  • Roosterfish / Snapper
  • Wahoo

Overview: August is ideal for those targeting marlin. Blue marlin bite is steady offshore, and black marlin start showing closer to shore, particularly near the Osa Peninsula and Drake Bay. Great time for mixed-bag fishing.

📅 September – Dorado and Tuna Dominate

  • Mahi Mahi (Dorado) (abundant)
  • Tuna (still strong)
  • Roosterfish
  • Wahoo
  • Black Marlin (Southern zones)

Overview: With floating debris everywhere, dorado fishing peaks. Large mahi can be caught near logs and current breaks. Combine that with consistent tuna action, and it’s a great time to go offshore.

📅 October – Dorado Season Explodes

  • Mahi Mahi (peak)
  • Tuna
  • Black Marlin
  • Snapper & Grouper (inshore improving)
  • Wahoo

Overview: October is dorado season at its best. The combination of weather patterns and debris lines makes it one of the most productive months for mahi mahi. It’s also a top month for wahoo.

📅 November – Marlin Mixed Bag

  • Blue and Black Marlin
  • Dorado
  • Tuna
  • Wahoo
  • Snook and Tarpon (Caribbean)

Overview: Offshore anglers can expect solid action with black and blue marlin, especially near seamounts. The Caribbean coast shines with trophy snook and tarpon, particularly in Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado.

📅 December – Sailfish Return

  • Sailfish (season begins)
  • Marlin
  • Mahi Mahi
  • Tuna

Overview: The dry season begins again, with sailfish making a strong return to the Central Pacific. Offshore trips are productive for both billfish and tuna. Inshore fishing remains reliable for snapper and roosterfish.

📌 Regional Notes

Central Pacific (Jaco, Los Sueños, Quepos)

  • Year-round offshore and inshore access
  • Peak for sailfish (Dec–April)
  • Excellent for roosterfish and snapper in the green season

Southern Pacific (Osa Peninsula, Drake Bay)

  • More remote, but best for black marlin, tuna, and deep inshore species
  • Grouper and amberjack are common in deeper structures

Caribbean Coast (Barra del Colorado, Tortuguero)

  • Home of world-class tarpon and snook fishing
  • Peak from September to November
  • Jungle and river mouth fishing experiences

Final Thoughts

Costa Rica offers one of the most diverse, productive, and exciting sportfishing calendars in the world. Whether you’re a first-timer looking to land a mahi mahi or a seasoned angler chasing a grand slam of sailfish, tuna, and marlin, there’s never a bad time to fish here—just different targets for different months.

From offshore thrills to inshore variety and deep reef battles, Costa Rica’s fishing calendar is a year-round invitation to adventure.

🎣 Ready to plan your trip? Book your Costa Rica fishing charter and experience world-class fishing any month of the year!