Best Times & Seasons to Fish Puerto Rico (Complete Guide)
Puerto Rico is home to world-class fishing but it often gets overlooked by anglers. Knowing the best time and seasons to fish in Puerto Rico can lead to a trip to truly remember.
The best time to fish in Puerto Rico is during the summer months when many of the species migrate into the waters around. This goes from May to October, though some species peak during the winter months such as sailfish, marlin, and bonefish.
Puerto Rico consists of over 300 miles of shoreline and many lagoons, flats, and lakes, providing ample room for anglers of all walks to wet a line. Flyfish for bonefish and tarpon in the flats or land a might marlin, mahi mahi, sailfish, or tuna in the deep waters only minutes away.
With all of the possibilities, the question arises on the best time to fish in Puerto Rico. That’s what we are going to break down in this article today.
Best Time to Fish Puerto Rico
When we say fishing in Puerto Rico is good all year round, that’s not an exaggeration. Though each species has its peak season, when one species of sport fish leaves the waters around Puerto Rico, another moves in to take its place.
If inshore fishing is best for you, meaning you want to fish the backcountry for tarpon, bonefish, snooks, or jacks, the best time to fish would be from Fall into Spring.
Summertime brings with it calmer, shallower waters which many of the species don’t for. However, bonefish and tarpon love the calm waters, so summertime is still an excellent time to fish for these.
Deep-sea fishing, though, is another beast entirely. The best times to fish in the deep waters is going to be totally dependent on which species you are going for.
We’ve broken down some of the major species later on in this article. In short, if you want to go after Marlin or tuna, summer is the best time to fish in Puerto Rico while mahi mahi, wahoo, and sailfish tend to peak in the fall to winter months.
Recommended Fishing Guides/Charters in Puerto Rico
These Puerto Rico-based charters have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a great service. The captains are knowledgeable and professional and are sure to put you on fish. By clicking the links below, you will be taken to the charter’s respective profile on Fishing Booker where you can read reviews, learn more about the charter, view photos, and book online at the best rate.
| Recommended Fishing Charters | Location |
| Blue Water Fishing Puerto Rico | Carolina, Puerto Rico |
| Caribbean Fishing Academy Charters & Tours | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Backwater Tarpon Fishing PR | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Go Tarpon Puerto Rico | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Tight Lines Fishing Puerto Rico | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Double Hook Charters | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Konklma Fishing Charters | Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
| Curate Fishing Charters | Humacao, Puerto Rico |
| Bayside Fishing Charters | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| The Drop Fishing Charters | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Bayside Fishing Charters 2 | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Castillo Tours – 48′ The Legend | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Adventures Tourmarine | Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico |
| Reel Bless Fishing Charters PR | Fajardo, Puerto Rico |
Puerto Rico Species Breakdown
As mentioned earlier, Puerto Rico is home to a diverse list of world-class species. Here we are going to break down some of the top species for fishing in Puerto Rico.
Mahi Mahi
Mahi Mahi, or dolphin fish, can range from 20 – 70 pounds in Puerto Rico, depending on when and where you are fishing. Though smaller, the 20 pounders tend to hang out around weedlines and other floating debris. If you’re wanting to go bigger, the deeper waters are where you need to go.
The peak time for mahi mahi fishing in Puerto Rico is between November and May; if the North coast is where you are headed, the peak time for Mahi Mahi is November to December while the south coast sees them peak from February to May.
Tarpon
Known as the silver king, the tarpon is a staple in the Puerto Rico fishing economy. They range anywhere from 15 – 80 pounds, though it’s not uncommon to reel one in topping at 150 pounds. They don’t live too far off the coast as they will flood the lagoons and flats.
The peak season for fishing tarpon in Puerto Rico is between January and May, though there is a definite lead-up starting in October.
You’ll want to have a variety of lures with you and be prepared to land a big one as tarpons of all sizes tend to school together. The Torrecilla and San Jose lagoons are the best places to start when fishing for tarpon in Puerto Rico.
Blue Marlin
Puerto Rico is home to one of the world’s oldest Blue Marlin tournaments, which is held in October. This should say something about the blue marlin fishing in Puerto Rico. Depending on where you go will determine when the peak season is.
If you are going to the north coast, the season will be longer, going from February to June while the south coast sees less blue marlin with its peak season going from March to May.
The west coast, though, is likely the best place to fish blue marlin in Puerto Rico. You can expect great fishing from June to October.
There are many FADs, or Fish Aggregation Devices, around Puerto Rico which are sure to have some blue marlin lingering around. San Jose Harbor is another great spot to go.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Antigua & Barbuda, please check out this helpful article I wrote.
Peacock Bass
If fishing inshore, the peacock bass will be the most popular fish you see. They are incredible-tasting fish and make for the perfect companion fish when fishing for tarpon or bonefish.
Peacock bass are always in season and can be caught all year round, with no determinable peak season, as they are always hot. You will see their activity increase slightly during the summer months, and between May and November, but they are always biting.
Tuna
There are several species of tuna found in the waters around Puerto Rico, including the blackfin, yellowfin, and skipjack, with each having its peak times. Skipjack can be found all year round as they are spawning all year round in the tropical waters.
Blackfin tuna, which average 25 pounds while their yellowfin counterparts can go up to 80 pounds. They are most commonly found by drifting over ledges and humps and by using live baits versus lures.
Bonefish
The bonefish is one of the most sought-after fish in Puerto Rico due to the sheer quantity of flats and lagoons inshore. Bonefish love calm waters so are not as common during the stormy months of the summer.
The peak season for bonefish fishing in Puerto Rico is from September to January, with November and December being the best times for bonefish in Puerto Rico.
I recommend this Penn Pursuit Spinning Rod & Reel combo (available on Amazon) for inshore and nearshore fishing. It can handle everything from redfish to snapper and king mackerel. The Penn Battalion Series Spinning Rod and the Penn Battle Spinning Reel are fantastic to create your combo.
Booking Charters in Puerto Rico
If your dream is to land a monster of a fish, deep-sea fishing on a charter is the way to make that dream become a reality. Knowing when to book a fishing charter in Puerto Rico, and what length of trip to take, can be difficult to find out.
In this section, we are going to break down the best season to book a fishing charter, the best time of day, and what length of fishing trip is best.
Best Season to Go
As mentioned earlier, the best season to book a fishing charter in Puerto Rico will depend greatly on which species you decide to target.
The blue marlin, one of the most famous species of sports fish in the entire world, comes into season following the first full moon in May. However, the peak season for marlin is from July through September.
The problem with the summer, however, is Puerto Rico is known for its rainy season being in the summer. Though you may still find some excellent fishing, the perpetual rainfall makes it difficult to catch many species.
Almost every other species in the deepwater peaks from fall to spring. If mahi mahi is what you’re after, the best time to fish in Puerto Rico is from October to April while Sailfish peak from September to March.
Best time of Day to book a Puerto Rico Fishing Charter
There are several options for the time of day to book a fishing charter in Puerto Rico. Here we look at morning versus the afternoon to see which is better for you.
Morning
The best time of day to fish in Puerto Rico is in the morning. Fishing in Puerto Rico follows much of the same trend as most fishing destinations in that the fish tend to be more active in the mornings.
Baitfish are active right as the sun is coming up, meaning the predator fish are feeding during that time. This alone almost guarantees a successful fishing trip. The downfall, though, is going to be the availability of charters during peak times. You want to be sure to book a charter well in advance.
Afternoon
There are several charters that offer afternoon fishing trips in Puerto Rico. While they might not see the same level of activity as during the morning, there is still some great fishing to be had.
The key to a successful afternoon fishing trip in Puerto Rico with a PR fishing charter is to find a boat with an experienced captain who knows where the fish hang in the afternoon to evening hours.
For a complete guide to the best fishing locations in Puerto Rico, check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish near Barbados, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish Saint Lucia, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in St. Kitts & Nevis, please check out this helpful guide.
Best length of trip to book a Puerto Rico fishing Charter
When it does come time to book your PR fishing charter, you’ll need to decide which length of trip is best for you. Let’s look at the options and which might be best for your Puerto Rico fishing trip.
½ Day
Many charters offer ½ day fishing trips with the option to choose a morning or afternoon departure. These are best for those anglers who don’t have a full day to devote to fishing.
If you’re looking to stay in the backcountry fishing bonefish or tarpon, a ½ day trip might be all you need. However, if you’re wanting to have the experience of deep-sea fishing, a half-day might not be enough time to land a big one.
Full-day trip
Though close, Puerto Rico is still roughly 75 miles from the deepest point of the Atlantic Ocean, though many incredible reefs are only a stone’s throw away from the shore. That being said, the best fishing charter in Puerto Rico is going to be a full-day charter.
A full-day trip allows you to leave when the fish are biting in the mornings and have plenty of time to land a big marlin or tuna. And, to get to that deep spot in the Atlantic, you’ll need a full-day trip.
Multi-day charters.
Being in such close proximity to attractions, deep waters, and beautiful landscapes, the need for multi-day charters is not prominent in Puerto Rico. With that being said, there are several charters that will allow you to book several days and fish for a different species on each day.
This would allow for the ultimate experience in fishing in Puerto Rico and allow you to fish some of the country’s best locations.
Puerto Rico fishing & Tidal impacts
Fishing in Puerto Rico is affected by the tides just as much, if not more so, than by the weather. And knowing when the best time to fish in Puerto Rico involves knowing how the tides affect the fish. This is especially true when fishing inshore.
Fish will switch locations as the tides change. You will find that fish are often more active and feed more in the middle of high and low tides; this is often when the most movement is in the water. If fishing inshore, the depths of the water come into play also, mainly in the flats and near mangroves.
If this is where you’re heading, you want to be there during high tide as it will be too shallow during low tide.
Deep-sea fishing isn’t as affected by the tide as inshore, but there are still some impacts. The current from the tidal changes will push the fish, so it’s important to have a crew who understands where the tides will be pushing the fish.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Dominican Republic, please check out this helpful guide.
Top Fishing spots in Puerto Rico
Fajardo
Fajardo, PR gives the best mix of offshore and inshore fishing as it has close access to the Atlantic, as well as several island lagoons and flats. “Marlin Alley” is only a few minutes away where the current pulls in the famous blue and white marlin. Plus, inshore is home to year-round fishing of tarpon, bonefish, and snook, just to name a few.
The best time to fish Fajardo is during the marlin run from June to September.
San Juan
The capital city of Puerto Rico provides an iconic backdrop to some great fishing. In the deep waters off San Juan runs the Yucatan current which draws large migratory fish just miles from its shores.
Tarpon fishing in San Juan is incredible all year round, along with snook, jack, and barracuda. The peak season for deep sea fishing in San Juan ranges from November to April for mahi mahi, wahoo, and tuna while summer is the best time to catch marlin in San Juan.
The Puerto Rico Trench
While not a city which you travel to, the Puerto Rico trench is a popular deep-sea fishing destination in Puerto Rico. At nearly 500 miles long and 28,000 feet deep, you are sure to find some monster blue marlins here during the summer months while the mahi mahi and wahoo will be among its inhabitants during the fall to spring seasons.
Continental Shelf
The continental shelf of the Atlantic is only 10 miles away from Puerto Rico’s coast, on average. However, it is nearly 2,000 feet deep, making it the perfect deep-sea fishing destination for marlins. Another popular catch here is massive tarpons which peak in this area from October to May.
The Sea Mounts
The seamounts are underwater mountains famous for their deep waters and lavish ecosystems. The territory around the seamounts is mostly unchartered, meaning not much is known about the life on the bottom near these underwater mountains.
What is known, though, is massive fish can be found here all year round. And, at just 15 miles from the shore, you’ll be fishing in no time.
Storms & Puerto Rico Fishing
Most of the species in Puerto Rico peak during the fall and winter months, meaning storms do not play much into the fishing in Puerto Rico. However, the summer storm seasons can wreak havoc on Marlin fishing in Puerto Rico during the summer.
Additionally, in the flats and shallower waters where bonefish, snook, and snapper can be found all year round storms do tend to push these fish into deeper, safer waters.
Plus, as the flats in Puerto Rico are known for being crystal clear, storms make the waters murky and hard to fish, even several days following the storms.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good?
The waters around Puerto Rico stay warm almost all year round. Though cold fronts can affect fishing inshore and in the backcountry waters, the deep sea fishing in Puerto Rico is excellent during the summer.
Species like the wahoo, tuna, and dolphin fish peak during the late fall to winter months as they migrate from the north. Plus, winter is a slow travel period, meaning fewer crowds on the water.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish the U.S. Virgin Islands, please check out this helpful article I wrote. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Jamaica, please check out this helpful guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Curacao, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Turks & Caicos, please check out this helpful article.
