Best Times & Seasons to Catch Fish in Curacao (Full Guide)

Curacao offers incredible fishing opportunities. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish Curacao is key to a successful fishing trip. 

The best times to fish Curacao are from April to July and from September to December for great barracuda, blue marlin, white marlin, bonefish, bonito, mahi-mahi, king mackerel, permit, sailfish, tarpon, albacore tuna, blackfin tuna, skipjack tuna, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.  

Curacao is home to a wide variety of fish species. It’s possible to fish in Curacao at any time of the year. Anglers can always catch something in the local waters. Curacao is also well-known for its crystal-clear warm waters.

Best Time to Fish in Curacao

Curacao is a year-round fishing destination. So, it’s possible to enjoy fishing in the region at different times of the year. Visiting the destination at the right time helps anglers maximize their chances for success. 

Fishing in Curacao is different during different seasons. Anglers should aim to visit the destination when fishing is the most productive. That’s why they have to find the best time for fishing in the local waters.  

The fishing season in Curacao starts in spring and ends in the fall. It’s the time of the year when the vast majority of fish species are active. However, there are different peak times for different fish. 

It’s incredibly important for anglers to prepare for Curacao fishing trips. Study the bite times of your fish species carefully. Go fishing when the chance to catch these species is high.

Curacao Species Breakdown: Best Times

Albacore Tuna

The albacore tuna fishing season in Curacao starts in April and ends in August. The best months to catch albacore tuna in the region are May – July. It’s possible to catch albacore tuna in the early morning and late evening. Fishing for albacore tuna is very productive in the waters around Klein Curacao.

Barracuda

Barracuda get active during the colder months. Barracuda fishing in Curacao is best from January to March and from October to December. Barracuda bite well in the early morning and late evening. Barracuda can be caught in Caracas Bay.   

Blue Marlin

Fall is the best time of the year to catch blue marlin in Curacao. Fishing for blue marlin is the most productive during morning hours. Blue marlin bites well near Kralendijk. 

Goliath Grouper

Goliath grouper bite well during the colder months. Goliath grouper fishing is best in Curacao from January to February and from November to December. Goliath grouper feed actively in the early morning and in the late afternoon. Oftentimes, anglers catch goliath grouper near Jan Thiel Beach. 

Mahi-Mahi

Mahi-mahi fishing is good in Curacao year-round. However, the best season to catch mahi-mahi in the region is from April to August. Mahi-mahi feeds actively in the middle of the day. Kralendijk is the right place to go fishing for mahi-mahi. 

Tarpon

The tarpon fishing season in Curacao starts in the early spring and ends in the late fall. The best season to catch tarpon in the local waters is from April to July. Anglers can successfully fish for tarpon in the early morning and late afternoon. Tarpon can be found in the waters near Willemstad. 

Sailfish

The best time of the year to catch sailfish in Curacao is from October to December. Sailfish feed actively in the early morning. It makes sense to fish for sailfish in the waters near Kralendijk.   

Skipjack Tuna

Skipjack tuna fishing is good in Curacao throughout the year. The best time of the year to fish for skipjack tuna in the region is December – January.  It would be great to target skipjack tuna between dusk and dawn. Visit Klein Curacao if you would like to catch skipjack tuna during a fishing trip. 

Yellowfin Tuna

Yellowfin tuna is good in Curacao throughout the year. However, the peak yellowfin tuna fishing season starts in March and ends in July. Yellowfin tuna feed actively between dusk and dawn. Klein Curacao is the perfect place to go fishing for yellowfin tuna. 

Wahoo

Anglers can successfully catch wahoo in Curacao year-round. However, wahoo fishing is best in the region from January to April and from September to December. Westpunt is one of the best fishing spots to target wahoo in the region. 

Recommended Fishing Charters in Curacao

These Curacao-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
La Menta Boattrips	Brakkeput Ariba, Curacao
Smallfield Adventures– Party Hooker	Jan Thiel, Curacao
Fish Curacao on Papucho IV	Willemstad, Curacao
Captain Boots Adventures Curacao	Willemstad, Curacao

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.

Best Time of Day to Fish in Curacao

A fishing trip requires meticulous planning. It’s crucial to find out when is the best time to go fishing in Curacao. Anglers can increase their chances of success if they go fishing at the right time. 

The region is well-known for its tropical climate. It’s hot in Curacao all year round. That’s why anglers prefer to fish in the local waters either early in the morning or late in the evening. Water cools down and fish begin to feed actively. It’s also important to note that anglers can avoid heat when fishing during morning and evening hours.

Anglers should aim to go fishing when their favorite fish species are active in the region. Studying the bite times of the top targeted fish species in Curacao will help you find the best time of day for fishing.      

And of course, anglers should always check the Curacao weather forecast when planning their fishing trips. Fishing should be avoided when rainy weather or storms are expected.   

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in St. Martin, check out this guide.

Curacao Fishing & Tidal Impacts

Tide times affect bite times and, therefore, fishing success. That’s why anglers need to study the tide times for Curacao when preparing for their fishing trips. It would be better to fish the area during an incoming tide.

Such tides bring waters of lower temperatures, oxygen, and food to the area. So, fish get active and bite well. Fish feed actively when water moves. Fishing in Curacao is less productive during the so-called slack tide.  

Storms & Curacao Fishing

Anglers should plan their Curacao fishing spots with the weather in mind. Keep in mind that a fishing trip will be canceled if storms or rainstorms are expected. The rainy season in Curacao begins in October and ends in December.

Traditionally, there is a lot of rain during these months. Curacao is located outside the hurricane zone. However, tropical storms can happen in the region occasionally.  

Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Curacao?

Curacao offers year-round fishing. Winter fishing is also possible in the local waters. Fishing in Curacao is good in December and less productive in January and February.

Anglers have success fishing for grouper, marlin, mahi-mahi, permit, tuna, snapper, and wahoo in the region during the winter months.      

Night Fishing in Curacao

Anglers can successfully fish in Curacao waters at night. The climate is warm in the region throughout the year. That means that anglers can enjoy night fishing in the local waters year-round. 

It’s hot to fish in Curacao during the daytime. Fishing at night is a great way to avoid the summer heat. It’s worth noting that night fishing can be very productive. During night hours, anglers can catch grouper, king mackerel, and tarpon.  

Docks attract anglers, who are interested in night fishing. Docks are equipped with lights. Lights attract fish to docks. When fishing in Curacao at night, anglers have a good chance to catch a trophy-sized tarpon.      

Shore/Surf Fishing Best Times & Seasons

Shore fishing is popular in Curacao. Shore anglers prefer to fish from docks. Some anglers also choose to fish on the shore. Surf fishing in the region is very productive early in the morning.

Best Seasons to Book a Curacao Charter

Curacao is home to a wide variety of fish species. Here, anglers can target fish species that are active during cold and warm months. There are also fish species that can be caught in the region throughout the year. Now, we’ll provide anglers with information on what species they can target in Curacao waters during spring, summer, fall, and winter months.  

Spring

The Curacao fishing season starts in spring. Curacao Yacht Club organizes its Blue Marlin Release Tournament in the early spring. So, book a fishing trip ahead of time if you are planning to visit the region in March.

In April, anglers can successfully target mahi-mahi and yellowfin tuna. In the late spring, the main targets are mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo. 

Summer

Fishing in Curacao is very productive in June – August. Anglers can catch barracuda, mahi-mahi, marlin, yellowfin tuna, and other species during these months. It would be better to target barracuda near shore. In August, fishing is less productive. However, anglers can still catch king mackerel and mahi-mahi successfully. 

Fall

Fishing is getting better in the region in the early fall. Blue and white marlins are active in the local water during the fall months. It makes a lot of sense to target marlin in the waters near Klein Curacao. Anglers can also successfully catch sailfish in the local waters in the fall.

Marlin fishing is still excellent in Curacao waters in the late fall. However, the weather usually changes and a lot of rains are expected in the region in November. If the weather allows, anglers can catch marlin, sailfish, wahoo, and many other fish species this month.     

Winter

Fishing in Curacao is still good in the early winter. However, it’s getting worse in January – February. Many fish species are inactive in Curacao in winter. However, anglers can still target goliath grouper, snapper, permit, and wahoo successfully in the region during the winter months. 

Top 5-10 Fishing Spots in Curacao

Klein Curacao

Klein Curacao is an uninhabited island. This tiny island is surrounded by fish-rich waters. Klein Curacao offers great offshore fishing opportunities. When fishing around the island, anglers use trolling with live baits and dead baits. 

This fishing technique works best in this place. Fishing in Klein Curacao is best from November to June. During fishing trips, anglers can catch barracuda, mahi-mahi, marlin, tuna, and wahoo. 

Caracas Bay

Caracas Bay is well-known for its crystal-clear waters, beaches, and reefs. It’s a deep water bay. The bay has gained popularity among scuba divers, snorkels, and anglers. The place is protected from the wind. 

This makes Caracas Bay an ideal location for fishing. Here, anglers can catch fish at different times of the day. It’s the place where anglers can catch marlin, tuna, and other species.   

Jan Thiel Bay

Jan Thiel Bay gives anglers an opportunity to fish in crystal clear blue waters. The bay is famous for its beautiful beach. The water in the bay is warm every month. That’s the reason why anglers can fish in Caracas Bay year-round. 

The best time of the year to go fishing in Jan Thiel Bay is from May to July. It’s a good fishing spot to target barracuda, sailfish, mahi-mahi, and other species.  

Kralendijk

Anglers choose to use jigging and trolling techniques when fishing in the local waters. The warm climate allows anglers to fish in Kralendijk at any time of the day. The peak Kralendijk fishing season starts in the late spring and ends in the late summer. 

Barracuda, blackfin tuna, blue marlin, bonefish, mahi-mahi, and wahoo are among the species that can be caught in Kralendijk waters.  

Willemstad

The weather is nice and warm in Willemstad year-round. However, the best time of the year to go fishing in the local waters is from September to December. White marlin are the main target in the region. Anglers can also successfully catch barracuda, mahi-mahi, tuna, and wahoo in the local waters. 

For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Puerto Rico, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Aruba, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in the Bahamas, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Turks & Caicos, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Honduras, check out this article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in St. Kitts & Nevis, please check out this helpful guide.