The short answer: there's no bad time to fish the Gulf of Papagayo. But there's definitely a best time, and it depends entirely on what you want to catch.
The Two Seasons
Costa Rica divides neatly into two seasons, and both are great for fishing, just for different reasons.
Dry Season (December – April): Calmer seas, better visibility, and flatter water make offshore trips more comfortable. Marlin are at their peak and grouper and mackerel are at their best inshore. This is when most visitors come, so book early.
Rainy Season (May – November): Rivers swell and carry organic debris offshore, creating floating trash lines that attract Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) in huge numbers. Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado all peak in these months. Seas can be rougher, but the fishing is often exceptional.
The busy season is not the fish season. Most visitors come December to April, but the main peak for sailfish, tuna and dorado is May to September. If your dates are flexible, the green season gives you more fish and emptier boats.
Month-by-Month Guide
January – March
The heart of dry season. Blue and Black Marlin are at their peak from mid-November to early March, and the second sailfish run starts in late January. Offshore water is flat and clear once the papagayo winds settle. Inshore, grouper and mackerel are at their best, and Roosterfish bite year-round.
April – May
Sailfish stay good through April, and in May their main peak begins. Yellowfin Tuna pick up in May too. Dorado arrive in late March and build fast once the rains start in May. April is the last month of the wahoo season.
June – August
The best stretch of the year for numbers. Debris lines form 5–15 miles offshore and Dorado congregate underneath them. Sailfish and Yellowfin Tuna are at their peak, and inshore the jacks and cubera snapper are too. In August the second marlin peak begins. Offshore seas can be bumpy but the fish make it worth it.
September – October
The second marlin peak runs through September, and Yellowfin Tuna stay at their peak to the end of it. Dorado remain excellent until the rains end. Sailfish slow down in late October. For offshore action with several species, September is underrated.
November – December
Marlin come back to their peak from mid-November. Wahoo arrive on the offshore current lines in early December. Sailfish are slow in November and build again into the new year. The transition back to dry season brings cleaner water and calmer seas. The weeks around New Year are the busiest of the year, so book early.
What Is Excellent Each Month
| Month | Excellent |
|---|---|
| January | Sailfish, Marlin, Grouper, Mackerel |
| February | Sailfish, Marlin, Grouper, Mackerel |
| March | Sailfish, Marlin, Grouper, Mackerel |
| April | Sailfish, Grouper, Mackerel |
| May | Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Jack |
| June | Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Jack |
| July | Sailfish, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Jack |
| August | Sailfish, Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper, Jack |
| September | Marlin, Dorado, Yellowfin Tuna, Snapper |
| October | Dorado, Snapper |
| November | Marlin, Snapper |
| December | Marlin, Grouper, Mackerel |
The One Species That Never Has a Bad Month
Roosterfish. Costa Rica's iconic inshore gamefish is non-migratory and abundant year-round in the Gulf of Papagayo. Success depends more on live bait availability, water temperature, and water clarity than on time of year. Our captains know how to find them in any conditions.
Our Recommendation
If you want the most species at their peak: May through September. Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado all peak together, and the boats are quieter.
If you want calm seas and marlin: December through March. Roosterfish bite year-round, and you can combine inshore and offshore fishing without rough water concerns.
If you want to target Dorado specifically: May through October, best when the rains are running.