Guanacaste Fishing Seasons

Papagayo fishing - Tamarindo fishing

There are no seasons for specific specie for fishing in Guanacaste in the northern Costa Rica province (Tamarindo beach and gulf of Papagayo region), however species are more prevalent during some periods, therefore, quantities caught of every one specie depend on season. Although we have excellent fishing year 'round, our peak seasons are April-August and November-March.

From April thru August is the traditional fishing season in this area, as fishing takes place in Catalina and Bat islands or in front of Tamarindo beach, often only a ten minutes boat running in search of Mahi-Mahi(Dorado), wahoo, tuna and other species, or bottom fishing for amberjack, red snapper, or may be your captain could give you the choice of Rooster fishing in gulf of Papagayo region. Tamarindo fishing for full day charters move offshore in search of large dolphinfish, giant tuna, sailfish and all kind of marlin.

From December thru March is the "high season" tourist-wise, this is also the windy season. Guanacaste fishing charter in Tamarindo for full day run around 60 minutes to reach the south to find calm waters which are protected from the wind. This area to the south hosts Mahi-Mahi, wahoo, giant tuna, sailfish and blue, black,and striped marlin during this time of year. There is no particular "season" as regards what species are available.

Offshore Guanacaste Fishing

Sailfish: Caught throughout the year, with May through August normally the top season. Less sailfish are caught in September and the slowest months are from late August through November.


Marlin: Caught every month of the year, with mid-November to early March exceptional, then begin to thin out from early April into early June when it picks up again, peaking in August and September.


Dolphin or Dorado: this nice, rich and fighter fish is most abundant from late May through early October when the seasonal rains flood the rivers, carrying out debris that forms trash lines close inshore that they like to lie under. Troll past a floating log and you'll likely hook a Dorado.

Inshore Guanacaste Fishing

Roosterfish: This fabulous specie is caught round the year, although there are more caught in the gulf of Papagayo (Bat islands) area from November through March; but this is a territorial specie and is abundant in the region, so caught depend on the water conditions no matter time of the year.

Tuna: fishing in Guanacaste region peak months are probably early August through October, but when all else fails, there are always tuna, anytime of the year you want to look for them, and more often than not when you'd just as soon avoid them to concentrate on billfish. The yellowfin and some Bigeye tuna are often found well inside the Catalina Islands, in the gulf of Papagayo, 30 minutes or less running time from the beach.

Wahoo: The Wahoo fishing in Guanacaste starts about the time the rains start in May, peaking in July and August. This fish is offen found around the rocky points and islands, here in Catalian and Bat islands, but in season, you will pick one up fishing offshore or deep sea.

Guanacaste fishing (Papagayo and Tamarindo area)is great year around, you could catch rooster, grouper, lot of Mahi (Dorados), sail, marlin and seasonal Tuna, Wahoo and many others species making Costa Rica fishing charter the best, but we must to think in futuere, so, we practice The Catch and Release technique. Fishes are waiting, lets fish them, but remember to release. Take as much photos as you want but return the fishing you don't eat. LET KEEP THE SPECIES FOR FUTURE!!!