Best Times & Seasons to Fish in Guatemala (Complete Guide)
Guatemala boasts some of the best fishing in Central America. Knowing the best times and seasons to fish near Guatemala helps anglers plan a fishing trip of a lifetime.
The best times to fish in Guatemala are from October to April for blue marlin, bonito, jobfish, mahi-mahi, roosterfish, sailfish, snapper, trevally, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo.
Guatemala is a unique fishery offering world-class billfishing. The waters provide anglers with crystal-clear waters, underwater mountains, and sandy beaches.
Best Time to Fish in Guatemala
Known as the “Sailfish Capital of the World,” Guatemala will provide more than just sailfish- it will give ample opportunity for marlin, mahi-mahi, and wahoo. As the sailfish capital of the world, most anglers target sailfish, and the best times for this will be between October and April.
Guatemala Species Breakdown: Best Times
Guatemala is known for its unbeatable billfish opportunities, particularly sailfish. However, Guatemala has more to offer than just world-class sailfishing. If you’re looking to go offshore or stay inshore, there is a species for everyone.
Sailfish
There is no closed season and the best time to target sailfish is from November to April, and the best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Blue Marlin
There is no closed season and the best time to target blue marlin is from May to August and again from December and January.
Even throughout the rest of the year, charters encounter blue marlin every couple of days while targeting sailfish, with the average catch being between 200-400 pounds. The best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Black Marlin
There is no closed season, but the best time to target black marlin is from June to August and again in December and January.
The average black marlin in Guatemala is between 250-400 pounds. The best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Striped Marlin
There is no closed season, but the best time is from November to February. The average size of striped marlin will be between 90-150 pounds. The best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Yellowfin Tuna
There is no closed season; the best time for giant tuna will be between May and August. When caught in big schools, the average size is considered “football” and will be between 25-45 pounds. The best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Mahi-Mahi
There is no closed season and the best time will be between May and August. However, if you are fishing throughout any other month and find cover (logs, sargassum, garbage), target dolphin.
Roosterfish
There is no closed season, but the best time will be from March to July. Take advantage of an inshore trip for one of these roosterfish, as Guatemala grows some of the most beautiful roosterfish.
Wahoo
There is no closed season, but the best time will be May through August. Wahoo are a spectacular catch, but their tendency to swim alone or in small packs can make them very difficult to locate. The best location to charter from is in the southern part of Guatemala along the Pacific coast.
Permit
There is no closed season, but the best time will be in February and March. The best location to charter for permit will be along Guatemala’s Caribbean coast.
Bonefish
There is no closed season, but the best time will be in February and March. The best location to charter for bonefish will be along Guatemala’s Caribbean coast.
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 Guatemala
These Guatemala-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 |
| Guatemala Fishing Tours – Kalipso | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala |
| Guatemala Fishing Tours – Blue Marlin | Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala |
| Makina Sportfishing Charters | Iztapa, Guatemala |
Booking Charters in Guatemala
Best Seasons
The “best season” can be defined by weather, tourism, or fishing, so let’s break down all three. The best fishing will occur from November to May when sailfish action is world-renowned. Various types of marlin will also join the action, and even if their bite is slow, there is always a chance at blue, black, or striped marlin.
The best weather will also occur from November to May when the forecast is dry, and the sea is calm. As you can imagine, peak fishing and peak weather mean a higher demand for tourism, so don’t expect low rates or great deals during this time.
If you’re looking for trips at a discounted price, then summer and fall (June to October) will be your best chance due to the rainy weather and fewer tourists. Although June to October isn’t the peak fishing season, this place is the sailfish capital of the world for a good reason: there is always a chance at sailfish.
Time of Day
When choosing between morning or afternoon charters, it comes down to preference and availability since you always have a chance at sailfish in Guatemala.
The advantage of the morning is that you can still get out during a low-light bite. However, this means more pressure from other boats, as the morning is a popular time to charter a half-day trip.
Don’t be afraid to book an afternoon trip, especially considering the incredible amount of billfish raised by these charters.
Trip Options
Half-day trips are a great option if you and your family want to stay nearshore and save some money. Charters in Guatemala have rates as low as fifty dollars per hour for half-day trips. A full day is the best option if you commit a portion of your trip to hunting billfish.
Many charters will guarantee a mileage radius (some up to 50 miles) to ensure you can find your fish of a lifetime. But your last charter option is for anyone who wants fishing to define their Guatemala trip. The most significant benefit to these charters is that they can be all-inclusive and include multiple inshore and offshore species.
The best part? Even if you need a break from the fishing, some of these multi-day charters provide travel to attractions and sites of Guatemala. The barrier to these trips is price, as each day can cost over $1,000 per day per person.
Best Time of Day to Fish in Guatemala
The low-light times at dusk and dawn will be excellent times to target the variety of species available in Guatemala. However, its reputation for billfish is trustworthy for a reason- you are likely to raise at least 15-20 in a day, throughout all parts of the day.
Guatemala Currents & Tidal Impacts
Guatemala’s Pacific Ocean does not have a predominant current but witnesses two different currents within a week’s timeline. One day, a current flowing east to west will switch from west to east. This unpredictability causes baitfish to stay longer, making the fishing grounds off of Guatemala consistently reliable.
As for tide, the incoming high tide will cause ambush predators such as snapper and roosterfish to feed on any washed-up crustaceans and baitfish.
Storms & Guatemala Fishing
Regarding billfish, Guatemala provides the most consistently flat waters than anywhere else. This is in part due to the topographical characteristics of Guatemala and the country’s location in the Pacific.
There is rarely a day that is blown out due to weather in Guatemala’s Pacific. However, when ominous weather rolls through, fish typically sense a drop in air pressure and begin to feed. Following a storm or heavy rain, any river-mouths can be a source for washed-out baitfish.
Additionally, any debris or cover washed into the ocean can be a preferred habitat for some species, particularly mahi-mahi.
If you are inshore, look to fish one to two days following a heavy rain or storm, as the washed-out crustaceans and baitfish will still be available and enticing snapper, grouper, and roosterfish to remain on the hunt.
Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Guatemala?
The winter months from November to April is the best time for fishing in Guatemala. Though the winter months can still be warm (the upper 80s, low 90s), these months are still dry and offer calm water, even offshore.
Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & Seasons
The best time to fish from shore would be during March and February for permit and bonefish along Guatemala’s Caribbean coast. If you’re on the Pacific side, fishing for snapper is possible, assuming you have located them, which proves difficult from the shore.
Since snappers like ledges, structure, and depth, finding them beneath piers could be possible. Otherwise, mackerel is a popular target from the shore, and the best chance for them is between May and October.
Top Fishing Spots in Guatemala
The most popular fishing destinations come from a concentrated part of Guatemala’s southern Pacific coast. Most charters will likely come from the three towns we have listed below. A small coast sprinkled with small towns, means Guatemala’s waters receive little pressure relative to its world-class fishery.
In addition, most of these charters from southern Guatemala will access “The Pocket,” a 12 nautical-mile canyon off the coast of Guatemala that is perfect for billfishing. Winds from the north (Mexico) and south (Nicaragua) also form a natural warm-water barrier to hold baitfish, and therefore billfish, off Guatemala’s coast year-round.
- Puerto de Iztapa: access to The Pocket for billfish, especially sailfish. Water in this area is also protected from commercial fishing for sailfish and provides favorable warm water year-round.
- Puerto Quetzal: access to The Pocket for billfish, especially sailfish. Water in this area is also protected from commercial fishing for sailfish and provides favorable warm water year-round.
- Port of San Jose: access to The Pocket for billfish, especially sailfish. Water in this area is also protected from commercial fishing for sailfish and provides favorable warm water year-round.
- Puerto Barrios: posted on Guatemala’s Caribbean, Puerto Barrios shares Amatique Bay with Belize. This is an ideal location for incredible sights and leisurely inshore fishing. The best times will be March and April for bonefish and permit.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Costa Rica, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Panama, 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 Ecuador, check out this guide.
