Guanacaste Fishing Seasons
Guanacaste Fishing, in the northwester corner of Costa Rica (Tamarindo beach and gulf of Papagayo region) has no specific season, however species are more prevalent during some periods, 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 March thru August there is a high pick fishing season in this area, as fishing takes place in the nearby Catalina and Bat islands or in front of Tamarindo beach, often only a ten minutes boat running in search of Mahi-Mahi(Dorado), wahoo, yellowfin tuna and other species, or bottom fishing for amberjack, red snapper, or maybe your captain could give you the choice of a Papagayo fishing Charter for rooster. On full day charters we move offshore in search of large Mahi, tuna, sailfish and marlin.
From December thru April is the "high season" tourist-wise, this is also the windy season. Our charter for full day run around 60-70 minutes to reach the south to find calm waters which are protected from the wind. This area to the south hosts Mahi-Mahi, wahoo, 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 Fishing in Guanacaste
Sailfish: This specie is present round 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 and the Blue marlin is the specie more abundant, with more caught from mid-November to early March. Less marlins are caught from early April into early June when it raise again, peaking in August and September.
Dorado (Mahi-mahi): this appreciated, colourful, 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 Fishing in Guanacaste
Roosterfish: This fabulous specie is caught round the year, although there are more caught in the gulf of Papagayo area from May through September; 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: Peak months are probably early August through October; you can expect catch a tuna when all else fails, anytime of the year captains pray for small tuna as they use them as live bait for billfishing, roosterfishing or bottom fishing. 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.
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