Fishing calendar · Quepos
Best time to fish in Quepos, month by month
Quepos fishes well all year. Billfish peak in the dry season, tuna and mahi-mahi take over in the green season, and the inshore species never leave. Here is what runs each month.
Quick answers
When to fish in Quepos, in short
Best overall
December to April for billfish; May to November for tuna and mahi-mahi. There is no off season.
Sailfish
Peak December to April, and present most of the year.
Marlin
Blue marlin December to April, best on a full-day offshore charter.
Yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi
May to November, in the warmer green season.
Inshore fishing
Year-round; roosterfish are strongest from December to April.
Two seasons
The dry season and the green season
December to April
Dry season
Sunny days, calm mornings and the busiest time for billfish. Sailfish and blue marlin are at their peak, wahoo show up offshore and roosterfish hunt the rocky points.
- Main targets
- Sailfish, blue marlin, wahoo, roosterfish
- Best charter
- Full-Day Offshore
May to November
Green season
Warm water, lush coast and fewer boats. Yellowfin tuna and mahi-mahi run strong, sailfish stay around and inshore fishing is steady. Rain usually arrives in the afternoon, so mornings are the time to fish.
- Main targets
- Yellowfin tuna, mahi-mahi, sailfish, snapper
- Best charter
- 3/4-Day Offshore, morning departure
Fishing calendar
All twelve species, all twelve months
A season guide for the main species, based on how the grounds fish from year to year. Conditions on any given day decide the rest.
This month
Swipe to see the full year
| Species | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offshore | ||||||||||||
| Sailfish | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak season |
| Blue marlin | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Peak season |
| Striped marlin | Good | Good | Good | Good | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Good |
| Yellowfin tuna | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Variable |
| Mahi-mahi | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Good | Variable |
| Wahoo | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Variable | Peak season | Peak season |
| Inshore | ||||||||||||
| Roosterfish | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Peak season | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Peak season |
| Cubera snapper | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Red snapper | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Jack crevalle | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Grouper | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
| Spanish mackerel | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good |
Seasons are a guide, not a guarantee.
Month by month
What is biting each month in Quepos
Peak species for each month, plus the inshore fish that are there all year.
Swipe through the year
January
Dry season
This month
Peak
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
- Wahoo
- Roosterfish
Also biting
- Striped marlin
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
February
Dry season
This month
Peak
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
- Wahoo
- Roosterfish
Also biting
- Striped marlin
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
March
Dry season
This month
Peak
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
- Wahoo
- Roosterfish
Also biting
- Striped marlin
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
April
Dry season
This month
Peak
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
- Roosterfish
Also biting
- Striped marlin
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
May
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
June
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
July
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
August
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
September
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
October
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Mahi-mahi
Also biting
- Sailfish
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
November
Green season
This month
Peak
- Yellowfin tuna
- Wahoo
Also biting
- Sailfish
- Mahi-mahi
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
December
Dry season
This month
Peak
- Sailfish
- Blue marlin
- Wahoo
- Roosterfish
Also biting
- Striped marlin
Inshore all month: snapper, jacks, grouper and mackerel.
Plan your day
Tips for fishing Quepos in any season
Fish the morning
Seas are usually calmest early, and in the green season the rain tends to come after lunch. Morning departures make the most of both.
Book early in high season
December to April, and the holiday weeks around Christmas and Easter, are the busiest dates at Marina Pez Vela.
Match the charter to the season
Chasing marlin in the dry season calls for a full day offshore; tuna and mahi-mahi in the green season are often within reach on a 3/4-day trip.
Let the captain decide on the day
Currents and water color change from day to day. Your captain reads the conditions and takes you where the fish are biting.
Keep reading
The full seasonal guide
Costa Rica Fishing Company's blog goes deeper into each season, species by species.
Good to know
Fishing season questions
Marina Pez Vela · Quepos
Ready to head out?
Pick your dates and your charter. Offshore, inshore, or a little of both.