Best Times & Seasons to Catch Snapper in Costa Rica (Guide)
The various species of snapper are one of the top targeted fish in Costa Rican waters. Knowing the best times and seasons to target snapper in Costa Rica helps anglers plan great fishing trips.
The best times to catch snapper in Costa Rica are from January to July. However, snapper in Costa Rica are available year-round.
Costa Rica has some of the best snapper fishing in the world. Snapper fishing is possible both on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts and these non-migratory resident snapper are available year-round.
Best Time to Catch Snapper in Costa Rica
With their year-round season and variety of snapper species, Costa Rica provides its best snapper fishing from January to July.
Temperature, Tide, and Location
You will find snapper in water temperatures between 72 and 82 degrees; the best tide for snapper is when the water moves, specifically on an incoming tide. With an incoming tide, snapper can feed easily by ambushing the washed-out prey.
But tides aren’t the only favorable water conditions. If a heavy swell or storm comes through, fishing closer to shore a day or two after may be helpful as the washed-out baitfish and crustaceans can create a frenzy for feeding snapper.
Remember, most snapper will prefer locations that provide structure and food. So, in this case, snapper can be found nearshore or offshore, as long as there is safety and depth.
This means you can discover snapper just beyond the first breakers of a surf, around reefs, below cliffs, or alongside ledges and dropoffs.
Seasonal Breakdown of Snapper Fishing in Costa Rica
January-March: This is the best time of year to catch snapper as their activity increases and “catchability” also increases. Assuming you have found structure, depth, and food, you can discover snapper nearshore or offshore.
Since this is the time of year when snapper seem more active, casting poppers to surfacing snapper would be a bucket list endeavor.
April-July: the excellent bite from the various types of snapper will continue from April to July. An effective tactic during this time would be to bump troll dead baits along the bottom of ledges and cliffs.
August-September: the excellent bite of January to July will taper into good action when snapper are still available and hungry. You can deploy various tactics during this time, including poppers, bump trolling, and vertical jigging.
October-December: if snapper fishing has a slow time of year, this will be it. The various snapper species are still available and near, but their “catchability” seems to slow to a fair bite. Given the case, tempting snapper with butterflied dead bait may be best.
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 if you want to create your combo.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Costa Rica
These Costa-based charters are some of the best at putting you on great fishing action. 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 |
| Sport Fishing El Gato III Charters | Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica |
| Gitana Fishing Charters | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| North Pacific Adventures | El Jobo, Costa Rica |
| Rhino Charger Sport Fishing | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Soleil Sport Fishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Pacific Boat Rentals – Mad Marlin | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Costa Rica Extreme Fishing | Coco, Costa Rica |
| Tiburon Azul Charters | Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica |
Species of Snapper: Best Times
Identifying the type of snapper can be confusing, but knowing how to target each can be even more confusing. Not to worry, we have provided a brief rundown with the basics to help you wrap your head around this diverse species.
Cubera Snapper
Best months: January to July
Distinguishing features: Cubera snappers have canine teeth at the front of the mouth, and some have a pair of teeth big enough to be visible with a closed mouth- so be careful while handling a cubera. Their color is typically a deep red, and they are the largest Costa Rican snapper species, with the record being over 100 pounds.
Location and depth: Cubera snappers are often found along rock structures and ledges, though they can also be found in water as shallow as 15 feet near mangroves. The typical depth of Costa Rican cubera snappers will be 50-200 feet.
Pacific Red/“Pargo Rojo”
Best months: January to July
A Pacific Red refers to several species of snapper, including Silky Snapper, Colorado, and Spotted Rosey. The average weight of these various types will be between 5-20 pounds, and all are excellent eating.
Spotted Rosey is the smallest of our listed snappers and grows up to 4 pounds, with an average of one pound. Don’t be discouraged, they will school into groups of 100, and their group aggression leads to quick catches of 10-20 fish. Any Spotted Rosey around ten inches are considered the best eater.
Location and depth: you will find Pacific Reds along the rock ledges and bottom
Mullet Snapper
Best months: January to July
Distinguishing features: mullet snappers are defined by their long slender shape and feature a red color throughout their body.
Size: the maximum length of a mullet snapper is around 3 feet, weighing up to 30 pounds.
Location: Mullet typically hangs in schools and can be seen boiling at the surface. Juvenile mullets are also known to lay in shallow depths near mangroves.
Favorite baits & lures: mullet will often attack poppers in their area, and effective tricks include sardines and blue runners.
Yellow Snapper
Best months: January to July
Distinguishing features: yellow snapper is closely related to the schoolmaster snapper and will typically display a red-brown color in the front that fades to a yellow at the tail.
Location and depth: yellow snapper hang around rock ledges and reefs in the 50-100 foot range.
Size: most yellow snapper will weigh under 10 pounds and are considered an excellent meal.
Rock Snapper
Best months: January to July
Distinguishing features: vertical light bands against their darker body.
Location & depth: usually along the bottom or on ledges so they can retreat to their hole after feeling a hook.
Best Months for Costa Rican Snapper
Costa Rica offers a few fish species that bite year-round, and snapper is one of them. There is no bad time of year for snapper fishing- there is only good action and excellent action.
If you had to pick the best months of the year, it would have to be January and July, when snapper act less apprehensive and become more catchable.
Snapper can be very particular about lures and bait, and their guard seems to go down from January to July. October and November are considered the slowest times of year for snapper, specifically cubera.
Surf Fishing Costa Rican Snapper
The problem with surf fishing for snapper isn’t catching snapper; it will be locating them. Snapper prefer rocky structures, ledges, and wrecks that provide shelter and depth. If you can find this from the shore (perhaps cliffs), you will have a chance to catch snapper without a charter.
If you try this, the best time of year will be January to July, and the best time of day will depend on water movement. If there is an incoming tide and you have an accessible location for snapper, you will want to be fishing.
Remember, snappers prefer structure and bait, so they can easily hunt their prey with little effort while staying protected. When the water moves with an incoming tide, crustaceans, and prey fish are washed up to activate snapper. This makes for an easy meal with little energy.
Snapper also sits below river mouths and estuaries, which are very common along Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast and may be worth a try. One strategy would be to fish these river mouths one to two days after heavy rain. As the high water recedes from the river back to the ocean, snapper will sit below the mouths to feed on any washed-out bait.
Fishing at night can be very effective if you have access to snapper habitat. With the low light and murkier waters, snapper will let their guard down and come out of their holes. While fishing at night, be sure to use bait such as crustaceans- and remember to search your beach to identify local crustaceans and baitfish.
Night Fishing Snapper in Costa Rica
With darker waters and more effortless protection, snapper feel more comfortable leaving their shelter for food at night. So yes, night fishing will be helpful, but the abundant opportunities for snapper in Costa Rica do not make it necessary.
Best Seasons for Costa Rica Snapper (by Region)
East Coast
Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast is known for its tarpon and snook action. However, snapper is available throughout the Caribbean, and Costa Rica’s abundant river mouths along its east coast are a great place to find snapper. The best time to visit this area is dependent on the weather.
The weather on Costa Rica’s east coast can be much more unpredictable. Therefore January to April, when the weather is less ominous, may be the best time to visit.
Pacific Coast
There are plenty of opportunities for snapper on the Pacific side of Costa Rica; this is where most tourists visit for snapper action. The best months for snapper along Costa Rica’s Pacific remains January to July.
For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish in Costa Rica, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best time to catch tarpon in Costa Rica, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best time to catch tuna in Costa Rica, check out this guide.
