Sailfish
Peak: Dec–MarThe Central Pacific’s big sailfish season runs December to April. The North Pacific peaks later, around May to August.
Sailfish fishing guide →
Fish Costa Rica • Trusted Sportfishing Experts Since 1990
Pick your travel month to see which fish are strongest, whether to fish inshore or offshore, and which part of Costa Rica fits your dates.
Select your month to see the strongest fish and the best regions, based on the calendar below.
If one fish is your priority, start with its season, then choose your region and dates.
The Central Pacific’s big sailfish season runs December to April. The North Pacific peaks later, around May to August.
Sailfish fishing guide →
Blue marlin are strongest in the green season. Black and striped marlin show up through the year.
Blue marlin guide →
Caught most of the year, with the best fishing from May through October.
Yellowfin tuna guide →
Caught all year along the Pacific coast, with the strongest fishing late in the green season.
Roosterfish guide →Month-by-month ratings for the whole country. On a phone, swipe sideways to see every species.
| Month | Sailfish | Blue Marlin | Black Marlin | Striped Marlin | Yellowfin Tuna | Dorado | Roosterfish | Cubera Snapper | Tarpon / Snook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| February | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| March | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| April | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ |
| May | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| June | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
| July | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ |
| August | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ |
| September | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| October | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| November | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★ |
| December | ★★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★ | ★★★ | ★★★ |
Seasons shift along the coast, so where you stay matters almost as much as when you travel.
Los Sueños, Jacó and Quepos combine a big dry-season sailfish run with green-season marlin and tuna, plus inshore fishing all year.
Flamingo, Tamarindo and Papagayo. Offshore fishing usually peaks in the green season; strong dry-season winds can limit long runs, while inshore fishing stays good.
Golfito, Puerto Jiménez and Drake Bay. Billfish and tuna all year, roosterfish in the Golfo Dulce, and FAD trips for big marlin.
A completely different fishery: tarpon and snook in the rivers and river mouths of Tortuguero and Barra del Colorado.
Your target fish usually makes this decision easy.
Choose offshore when your main targets are sailfish, marlin, yellowfin tuna or dorado. A full day gives you the most time on the fishing grounds.
Explore deep sea fishingChoose inshore for roosterfish, snapper, jacks and grouper, with shorter runs close to the coast. Great for families and half days.
Explore inshore fishingThere’s no single best month for every fish. December to April is best for sailfish on the Central Pacific, May to August brings peak blue marlin and tuna, and September to October is strongest for dorado, roosterfish and Caribbean tarpon.
On the Central Pacific (Los Sueños and Quepos), December to April. On the North Pacific (Guanacaste), the best sailfish fishing is usually from May to August.
Blue marlin are strongest from about May to August. Timing varies by region and marlin species, and the South Pacific has marlin all year. See our blue marlin guide.
Yes. Roosterfish are caught all year along the Pacific coast, with the strongest fishing in September and October.
No. The green season (May to November) brings excellent marlin, tuna, dorado and roosterfish fishing. Rain usually falls in the afternoon, and mornings are often calm.
Tarpon fishing on the Caribbean coast is best from about January to May and again in September and October, when the sea is usually calmer.
Send us your travel dates, where you’re staying and your target fish. Those three details make it easy to match the best region, boat and trip.
Send your travel dates, where you’re staying, number of anglers and what you’d most like to catch. We’ll match you with the right region, charter and fishing style.
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