Short answer: you can catch fish here every month of the year. But each species has a peak. Here's the month-by-month breakdown for the Central Pacific (Jacó, Los Sueños, Herradura) so you can time your trip to the fish you want.
Month-by-month
Where each species concentrates through the year:
| Month | Sailfish | Marlin | Mahi (Dorado) | Tuna | Inshore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peak | Good | Fair | Good | Good |
| February | Peak | Good | Fair | Good | Good |
| March | Peak | Good | Fair | Good | Good |
| April | Peak | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| May | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Good |
| June | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Good |
| July | Good | Good | Peak | Good | Good |
| August | Good | Peak | Good | Good | Good |
| September | Fair | Peak | Good | Good | Good |
| October | Fair | Peak | Good | Good | Good |
| November | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| December | Peak | Good | Fair | Good | Good |
Peak = prime season. Good = consistently caught. Fair = present, less concentrated. The ocean doesn't read calendars, but this is the long-run pattern for the Central Pacific.
The quick version
- ▸Sailfish lover? Come December through April — peak numbers, calm dry-season seas.
- ▸Chasing a marlin? August through October is your window (blue marlin run).
- ▸Want mahi-mahi for dinner? May through August, the green season.
- ▸Tuna and roosterfish produce year-round — great for any inshore trip.
Dry season vs. green season
- ▸Dry season (Dec–April): calmest water, peak sailfish, busiest and priciest months — book early.
- ▸Green season (May–Nov): afternoon rain, fewer crowds, better rates, peak mahi and marlin. Mornings are usually clear, and most charters leave early anyway.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a bad month to fish Jacó?
No truly bad month — even the slower stretches produce. September and October bring more rain but excellent marlin.
Half day or full day?
Billfish (sailfish, marlin) live offshore — book at least a 3/4 day to reach the blue water. Inshore species are fine on a half day.
Do you guarantee a catch?
No honest operator guarantees fish — it's fishing. But timing your trip to the season stacks the odds hard in your favor.
Fish the right month
Tell us when you're coming and what you want to catch — we'll match you to the right boat, captain, and trip length.