Seasons

Seasonal Chart of Costa Rica Game Fish Species - Best Time to Fish Costa Rica

Specific times of the year for the best bite by species

Fishing is a year-round thing here in Guanacaste. There really isn't a bad time of year to come fish with us. Our year is basically divided into two different fishing seasons: windy and green. Our fishing styles vary depending on these seasons but there is no shortage of fish during either season. The windy season generally begins in December and runs through the end of April. Our full day trips during this time of year are focused on big billfish (blues and blacks) and other pelagics. The half day trips during the windy season focus on various species of snapper, grouper, sierra mackerel and depending on the conditions dorado.

As the windy season gives way to the green season, the winds calm down and sporadic rain showers warm the surrounding ocean. During this time of the year, the areas we fish are less dictated by weather and more by the location of bite. Our full day trips this time of year, come with the option of targeting prevalent sailfish and dorado or chasing world record size roosterfish, almaco jacks and cubera snapper up at our secret spot called "Jurassic Park". Half days focus on the Gulf of Papagayo and nearshore structure to target plentiful schools of dorado and football yellowfin tuna as well as roosterfish and if you play your cards right a billfish might even crash the party!

If you're looking to target specific game fish species here in Guanacaste, we've put together a seasonal calendar for the most popular game fish species caught here. The legend is at the bottom of the chart. Use this chart to choose the best time of the year to fish for your target species. Don't let "FAIR" months scare you as a "FAIR" day fishing in Guanacaste, Costa Rica is probably better than the best day of fishing you've ever experienced before! Anything can happen at anytime of the year here in "Jurrasic Park"… so come ready to pull on some big, big fish, and don't be surprised if it was one of the fish that was only supposed to be "FAIR" at the time!!

BLUE MARLIN

BLACK MARLIN

STRIPED MARLIN

SAILFISH

DORADO

YELLOWFIN TUNA

SPANISH MACKEREL

WAHOO

SNAPPER/GROUPER

ROOSTERFISH

JACKS