Best Times & Seasons to Fish Huatulco, Mexico (Full Guide)

The coastal city of Huatulco offers some of the best fishing in North America. Knowing the best and worst times to come fish here will make a huge difference in your success and experience.

The best time to fish near Huatulco is winter for mahi mahi, yellowfin tuna, amberjack, and wahoo. For marlin (blue and black), sailfish, and snook, May through September is the best fishing season.

Fish SpeciesBest Times to Fish Near Huatulco
Mahi MahiDecember through April is the best season to fish for mahi mahi.
Blue MarlinThe best season for grouper is May through October near Huatulco.
Black MarlinThe best season for black marlin is summer with July the best month near Huatulco.
Pacific SailfishJune through August is the best season to fish for Pacific Sailfish.
Yellowfin TunaThe best season for grouper is December through March near Huatulco.
SnookMay through September is the best season to fish for snook.
Yellowtail AmberjackYear-round availability. The best times for yellowtail is from November through March.
WahooYear-round availability. The best times for wahoo is from December through March.

Huatulco is a small fishing village located in the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. The village provides fishermen with a unique opportunity to fish in the waters of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. Huatulco is an incredibly popular spot among anglers, who give a preference to sport fishing.  

sailfish caught
(Image courtesy of Shark Boat Fishing Charter (Crucecita) & Fishing Booker)

Huatulco is a place where anglers can try different fishing styles. Here, it’s possible to enjoy inshore fishing as well as inshore fishing and nearshore fishing.

Anglers choose to use such techniques as jigging, trolling, and deep-sea fishing. Deep-sea sport fishing tours are available in the area. If you book a trip, local guides will take you on a sportfishing adventure. 

Today, we’ll provide information on fishing in Huatulco. We will explain when and where to fish and what species to target in the area. So, you will find it easy to plan your Huatulco fishing adventures.            

Best Time to Fish Huatulco

Anglers should always plan their Huatulco fishing adventures. It would be better to start preparing for a Huatulco fishing trip ahead of time. What is the best time of the year to go fishing in Huatulco? And of course, it’s incredibly important for fishermen to get the answer to this question.

The best time to fish Huatulco depends a lot on the species of fish you are going to target. Generally speaking, the fishing season is high between the end of May and the end of September. It’s a period of time when the vast majority of fish get active. 

Let’s say that you are interested in targeting mahi-mahi or yellowfin tuna. These fish species are active when water is cold.

In this case, it would be great to visit Huatulco between the end of November and March. During this time of the year, anglers have a chance to catch the trophy mahi-mahi.

It’s important to know that anglers shouldn’t visit Huatulco between the end of September and the end of November. Also, you don’t need to fish in the area between March and the end of May. Keep in mind that fishing is not productive during these periods of time.    

Recommended Fishing Charters in Huatulco

These Huatulco-based guides have earned great reviews from anglers and will offer you a tremendous service. The captains are knowledgeable, friendly, 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 & GuidesLocation
Shark Boat Fishing CharterCrucecita
Huatulco Fishing Adventures – 35′Crucecita
Spearfishing HuatulcoCrucecita
Huatulco Fishing Adventures – 25′Crucecita

Huatulco Species Breakdown: Best Times & Seasons

Huatulco is best-known for its fish-filled waters. Anglers can catch many different species of fish in the region. Now, we’ll provide the list of the most common fish species which are found in the waters near Huatulco.

Also, we’ll tell you when these species of fish are active and where to target them. Plus, we’ll tell you where and when to target these species of fish. So, you will find it easy to plan a fishing trip. 

Amberjack

Amberjack is one of the most common species of fish that’s found in the area. Amberjack actively feeds during the winter months.

The season to catch amberjack starts in the late fall and ends in the early spring. Fishermen, who want to fish for amberjacks, should visit Huatulco Oaxaca. 

Blue marlin

Blue marlin fishing is also very popular in the region. Deep-sea fishing allows anglers to catch blue marlin in the area. Blue marlin is often found in the sea waters. According to the local rules, anglers have to release blue marlin if they catch it.

Fishermen should go 5 miles from shore. Blue marlin bite well between May and October. However, anglers get the best results in catching blue marlin between July and October. 

Black marlin

Fishermen can target black marlin in Huatulco’s waters as well. Anglers have to follow the catch-and-release rule when targeting black marlin.

Trolling is the fishing technique to go for black marlin. Sometimes, it’s possible to see the fish near the surface of the water. July is the best month to target black marlin in the region. Go fishing in the afternoon to catch black marlin.  

Jacks

Anglers have an opportunity to catch jacks during their Huatulco fishing trips. It’s important to know that jack crevalle fishing is very productive during the cold months. Fishermen, who are interested in targeting jacks, should go to the Huatulco Marina of Santa Cruz. 

Sailfish

Fishermen can also catch sailfish in Huatulco. Anglers choose to target sailfish near the place where the Copalita River goes into the ocean. The season to fish sailfish is high between June and August. It would be great to fish for sailfish during the morning hours. 

Mahi-mahi

The village has gained popularity among the anglers, who prefer to target mahi-mahi. The place where the Copalita River drains into the sea is suitable for mahi-mahi fishing.

The season to fish for mahi-mahi starts in the early winter and ends in the early spring. The fish actively feeds in the early morning or in the evening.     

Sharks

Huatulco is the perfect place for anglers, who give a preference to shark fishing. Some anglers in Huatulco choose to catch sharks all year round.

Oftentimes, sharks are found near Santa Cruz port. You can book a charter and go 10 to 20 miles offshore to enjoy shark fishing. It’s recommended to fish for sharks in the evening.      

Yellowfin Tuna

It’s a great idea to target yellowfin tuna in Huatulco. Anglers need to know that yellowfin tuna is seasonal fish. The season to fish for yellowfin tuna begins in December and ends in March.

It’s possible to catch yellowfin tuna in Huatulco National Park. Ideally, anglers in Huatulco should target yellowfin tuna between dusk and dawn. 

Wahoo     

Fishermen, who are interested in targeting wahoo, should take advantage of deep-sea fishing in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s possible to fish for wahoo all year-round. However, it would be better to fish for wahoo during the winter months.

Snook

Snook fishing in Huatulco is excellent. It’s worth noting that snook actively feeds in warm waters. The season to fish for snook begins in the spring and ends in the early fall.

Anglers in Huatulco often catch a trophy snook during the summer months. Snook can be found in the inlets and in the bays. It makes sense to try snook fishing near the Huatulco Marina of Santa Cruz.   

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 Huatulco

The best time of day to fish Huatulco depends a lot on the time of the year. It’s also important to note that anglers have to take into account target fish species. The vast majority of fish species get active in the morning during the summer months.

Also, it’s not hot to fish during the morning hours. Fishing is more productive in the afternoon during the cold months.

Anglers should also go fishing when their target fish species are active. That’s why it’s so important to study bite times before going on a Huatulco fishing trip.     

Huatulco Fishing & Tidal Impacts

It’s no surprise that fishing times depend a lot on tide times. That’s why it’s so important for anglers to study tide times in Huatulco. Fishermen should know both high tide and low tide times in the area.

It would be great to fish Huatulco during an incoming tide. An incoming tide brings oxygen-rich waters to the area. This results in increased fish activity.            

Storms & Huatulco Fishing

Huatulco is also known for its severe storms. The wind blows at a speed of 100 km/hr in a storm. And of course, it’s impossible to fish in the area in such bad weather conditions. Bad weather negatively affects fishing. Fish usually go deep in the waters and don’t bite during the storms.   

However, fishing is good before and after storms. Storms have an impact on the activity of fish. For example, sailfish actively feed at the beginning of the rainy season. That’s why it’s good to go fishing after it rains. So, anglers find it easy to catch it. 

Raining aerates the surface water. Oxygen-rich waters have a positive effect on the activity of fish. It’s fair to say that storms activate fish. Fishing before and after a storm provides anglers with great opportunities.

If you fish around storms, you have a chance to catch a trophy fish. After storms fish can be found near shore, near underwater structures, in the bays, and in the inlets. That’s why anglers should fish in these areas.  

Is Winter Fishing Bad or Good in Huatulco?

Winter fishing is very productive in the region. Many species of fish are active during the winter months. Winter is a great time to target amberjack, jacks, mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna, wahoo, and some other species of fish. 

Night Fishing in Huatulco

Some species of fish actively feed during the nighttime. For example, anglers can catch mahi-mahi, snook, yellowfin tuna, and wahoo at night. It’s also important to note that nighttime allows fishermen to target swordfish.   

Shore/Surf Fishing: Best Times & SeasonsHuatulco is the paradise for those anglers, who give a preference to shore/surf fishing.

There are many great places where anglers can enjoy shore/surf fishing in the region. There are 9 bays, 36 beaches, and about 30 kilometers of the coastline in Huatulco and in its surrounding areas.  

man holding a fish
(Image courtesy of Huatulco Fishing Adventures – 35′ (Crucecita) & Fishing Booker)

Top 5 Fishing Spots in Huatulco

There are many places where anglers can go fishing in Huatulco. Here, anglers can enjoy fishing in bays, on beaches, and on the unspoiled coastline.

Now, we’ll describe some of the best fishing spots in the area. Here, you’ll find information on fishing spots and target fish species.  

Huatulco National Park 

Huatulco National Park offers excellent opportunities to the anglers, who choose to target yellowfin tuna during their trips.

Among the other popular fish species that you can catch in the area are mahi-mahi and sailfish. It would be great to fish in the area between November and March.

Boca Copalita

Boca Copalita is a stream in the area of Huatulco. This stream is very popular among anglers. Here, it’s possible to catch such species of fish as black bullhead, Spanish mackerel, tuna, snook as well as largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and rainbow trout. These fish species are active all year round. It’s possible to fish Boca Copalita at any time of the year.      

San Agustin Bay

San Agustin Bay is one of the most popular bays in the area. The bay impresses fishermen with its unusual beauty and abundance of fish. San Agustin Bay offers spectacular natural views.

The bay is well-known for its coral reef that attracts different species of fish. Here, it’s possible to fish all year-round and catch dorado, marlin, jacks, and snook. 

La Bocana

La Bocana is another popular fishing spot near Huatulco. Here, anglers can try offshore fishing and inshore fishing.

La Bocana is the perfect place to target dorado, grouper, marlin, sailfish, tuna, wahoo, and other species. Winter is the best time of the year to fish La Bocana. Fishing is the most productive during the winter months. 

Bahia de Santa Cruz

Bahia de Santa Cruz is another good place that anglers can visit during their fishing trips to Huatulco. Among the most common species of fish that anglers can target in the area are black marlin, mahi-mahi, tuna, Spanish mackerel. You can enjoy fishing in the waters of Bahia de Santa Cruz all year round.              

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Ensenada, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Cabo San Lucas, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Mazatlan, please check out this helpful article.

For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish the Sea of Cortez, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best time to fish Baja, please check out this helpful article. For a complete breakdown of the best times to fish in Mexico, please check out this helpful article.

Booking Charters in Huatulco

It goes without saying that you’ll enjoy fishing in Huatulco with highly experienced and friendly captains. They are real experts in what they do. The captains will help you explore some of the best fishing spots near Huatulco and give you deep sea fishing tips during your trips. So, you’ll have a nice day of fishing in the area.  

– Best season to go 

Summer is the best time of the year to fish Huatulco. Fishing is the most productive during the summer months. On the other hand, summer is the busy fishing season in Huatulco. The demand for fishing is usually growing and prices on charters are high in the summer. So, it makes a lot of sense to fish the area between December and March. The demand for fishing is lower, but angling opportunities are still excellent. It’s a good time to fish for dorado, yellowfin tuna, and other fish species.      

-Morning vs. afternoon

Anglers should also select the best time of a day to go fishing in Huatulco. You can go fishing either in the early morning or in the late afternoon. The reality is, each time of day has its own pros and cons.  

Many anglers in Huatulco choose to go fishing in the early morning. Water cools down in the morning in the summer and this has a positive impact on fish activity. Fish begin to feed actively during the morning hours. It’s also important to note that anglers don’t have to spend time in the sun when fishing in the morning. However, fishing in the morning has its own drawbacks. Fishermen have to wake up early in the morning. It’s not recommended to fish during the morning hours in the cold months. 

The water heats up and fish start feeding actively in the late afternoon. That’s why it would be great to go fishing in the afternoon during spring, fall, and winter months. Nevertheless, afternoon fishing is not comfortable during the hot summer months. 

That means that anglers have to select the best time of a day to go fishing depending on target fish species and the time of the year. It’s necessary to go fishing in the morning during the summer months. However, it’s recommended to go fishing in the afternoon during the spring, fall, and winter months.        

-1/2 day, full-day, multi-day charters 

Anglers also need to decide how much time they want to spend on fishing during their trips. It’s important to know that 1/2 day, full day, and multi-day charters are available for anglers in Huatulco. 

Are you a beginner, who just wants to book a trip to master the basics of fishing? If so, you should book a half-day fishing trip. However, your time fishing will be limited. A half-day trip allows anglers to fish either in the morning or in the evening.

Would you like to spend more time fishing? In this case, think about full-day fishing trips. Such a trip provides anglers with more time for fishing. Anglers can fish from dawn to dusk. A fishing trip starts in the early morning and lasts till the late evening. However, full-day fishing trips are more expensive than half-day ones. 

Those anglers, who want to catch a trophy fish, should consider booking multi-day charters in Huatulco. Such trips give anglers more fishing time and increase the chance to catch a big fish. Anglers can visit more fishing spots and get the most out of fishing during multi-day trips.  

For a complete breakdown of the cost of fishing charters in Cabo San Lucas, please check out this helpful article.

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