Best Times & Seasons to Catch Tuna in Costa Rica (Guide)
Tuna are one of the top targeted fish species in Costa Rica waters. Knowing the best times and seasons to target them in Costa Rica helps anglers plan great fishing trips.
The best times to catch mahi-mahi in Costa Rica are from May to October but they can be caught year-round in Costa Rican waters.
Costa Rica has some of the best tuna fishing in the world. Tuna fishing is possible both on the Pacific and Atlantic coasts.
Seasonal Breakdown of Tuna Fishing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica offers tuna fishing all year, and you will always have a chance at its variety of tuna species. However, to be more specific about each month’s offering here is a detailed breakdown.
- January-April: Conventional wisdom says the green season (May to December) is best for tuna in Costa Rica. Though this is true, do not overlook January to April, especially if you are along the central region of Costa Rica’s Pacific. During this time, the weather fluctuates as the year progresses from summer to spring. With these temperature breaks, tuna will often feed on the warm side of a break or after the water temperature changes by 1-3 degrees. Furthermore, the accidental catch of a tuna while trolling for marlin or sailfish is very likely. So don’t be surprised if your bright-colored lures for billfish attract a few yellowfin tuna.
- May-August: This is considered peak season for Costa Rica tuna, in both numbers and size. Most tuna caught is “football size” and in the 10-20 pound range. However, as Costa Rica’s winter months continue, the cooler water temperatures bring tuna up the water column and offer surface action. If you and your captain can get ahead of a school of spotted tuna, a popular tactic is to throw live bait off the back and poppers off the front. Don’t be surprised if you and a buddy start doubling up in these circumstances.
- September to December: As we have said, tuna are available year-round but will begin to taper in size and numbers. During this time, their migratory patterns will search for more favorable water, so you might have to fish further offshore (15-40 miles) and deeper (300-700ft). Consider September to December a fair time to catch tuna, but not at the rate of May-August.
Costa Rican Tuna: Quick Facts
There are a variety of tuna species available in Costa Rica- on both the Caribbean and Pacific coasts. However, Costa Rica’s Pacific coast will offer the best opportunity, as tuna are found throughout Costa Rica’s northern, central, and southern Pacific.
This is due to upwelling, where the deep, nutrient-rich water of the Pacific is washed up and moved closer to the coastline, creating excellent habitat and healthy water. Below, we have provided some brief information for each species of Costa Rican tuna.
Recommended Fishing Charters in Costa Rica
These Costa Rica-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 |
| Sea Breeze Fishing & Adventures | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Bucket List Sportfishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Snook Sportfishing | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Jackpot Sport Fishing | Quepos, Costa Rica |
| Capullo Sportfishing/Rainbow Runner | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Luminare Sport Fishing | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Allin Sportfishing Charters | Jacó, Costa Rica |
| Pacific Boat Rentals – Mad Marlin | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Capullo Sportfishing | Tamarindo, Costa Rica |
| Chino’s Sportfishing | Herradura, Costa Rica |
| Flamingo Sportfishing Charters | Playa Flamingo, Costa Rica |
| Gitana Fishing Charters | Herradura, Costa Rica |
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.
Yellowfin Tuna
Ideal Water Temperature: 68-76 degrees.
Best season: May to October during Costa Rica’s “green season.”
Size: the most common size for yellowfin tuna will be 20-100 pounds. However, yellowfin of over 200 pounds are available during the peak season.
Strategies: Work with porpoises and follow bait along currents and breaks.
Favorite Baits: chum, bonito, crustaceans.
Favorite Lures: trolling ballyhoo and other bright lures is a great tactic, but tuna are finicky and leader-shy. Using fluorocarbon with your lighter lures is recommended. Using poppers to catch surfacing yellowfin is the pinnacle of tuna fishing.
Bigeye Tuna
Ideal Water Temperature: 64-74 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best season: May to October during Costa Rica’s “green season.”
Strategies: bigeye are primarily nocturnal feeders, so fishing near dusk, dawn, or night is ideal.
Favorite Baits: mullet, bonito, squid.
Favorite Lures: trolling ballyhoo, particularly a blue/white color pattern.
Skipjack Tuna
Ideal water temperature: 58-65 degrees Fahrenheit.
Best season: May to October during Costa Rica’s green season.
Size: most skipjack caught are within the 5 to 20 lb. range.
Best Lures: you can catch skipjack on trolled plugs and bright-colored lures.
Best & Worst Months
The best months for all three of Costa Rica’s tuna species will be between May and October, with June, July, and August being the peak time. These peak times can vary slightly depending on your Costa Rican location, but more on this later.
May to October is considered Costa Rica’s “green season,” so although you will likely encounter rain, you will visit when Costa Rica has its lowest crowds and prices but the highest tuna yield. During the green season, day temperatures may cool, bringing tuna closer to the surface for exciting action on topwater lures and poppers.
The slower months for tuna will be during the dry season, mainly November to January. However, you should note that an accidental catch is common while trolling for marlin, sailfish, or mahi-mahi.
Best Time of Day
Catching Costa Rican tuna during both day and nighttime is possible, and both offer advantages. Tuna will hunt at night, as their large eyes are made for hunting in low light. This will also provide a time to use heavy gear due to tuna’s finicky nature in clear conditions.
Like so many fish species, the nighttime will offer the best opportunity to catch large predators. However, there are a few main advantages and age-old adages during the day. Specifically, “Follow the birds” and “Look for the porpoises.”
Anglers have found a sneaky trick while hunting tuna, which is to follow any organized and diving birds, but especially to take note of any pods of porpoise.
Tuna, especially yellowfin, are known to swim alongside and work bait with spinner and spotted dolphins. If you spot dolphins and diving birds, especially Shearwaters, you can guarantee there are yellowfin near.
Best Water Temperature
The variety of tuna species means there is a variety of optimal temperatures. Fortunately, yellowfin, bigeye, and skipjack’s favorite temperatures fall within a similar range of low 60 to mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Below is a detailed list of each fish’s ideal temperature range.
- Yellowfin = 68 to 76 degrees.
- Bigeye = 62 to 74 degrees.
- Skipjack = 58-64 degrees.
Best Tidal Conditions for Tuna in Costa Rica
Tuna are considered offshore fish, so most of your fishing will occur between 7 to sometimes 40 miles off of Costa Rica’s coast. Tuna, especially yellowfin, are most often found around 300 feet deep.
Despite their depth and distance from the coast, the tide still affects tuna, and many fishermen point to slack tide as the best time. During this time, baitfish are often slack, making attacks and hunting easy for this predator.
Night Fishing Tuna in Costa Rica
Night fishing for tuna can offer some key advantages compared to the daytime bite. First and foremost, you can break out heavier gear that the fish won’t be intimidated by compared to the daytime hours. Yellowfin can be notoriously picky and fussy, making heavy gear a deterrent for yellowfin.
At night, your best bet is to chum or use chunks of bait such as mackerel and bonito, though live bait such as sardines are also popular. Chunks of bait are particularly effective at catching large tuna, so consider fluorocarbon leaders, which are recognized as more abrasion resistant.
The best moon phase for night fishing is debated by many, as there are two schools of thought: the first is that a full moon offers a giant lantern for feeding. But to some, that big lantern affects tides and currents, which moves bait out of their favorable slack, lazy position.
On the flip side, many people point to a boat’s illumination during a new moon as a key attractor for tuna. My opinion? Ask the local captain.
Best Seasons for Costa Rica Tuna (by Region)
Despite the condensed coastline of Costa Rica, each region will have some variation in its peak tuna seasons.
East Coast
There are tuna available in Costa Rica’s Caribbean waters. However, the unpredictable weather of the Caribbean makes for difficult offshore tuna fishing. If you’re going to fish Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, you’re better off chasing tarpon and snook.
Pacific Coast
Along Costa Rica’s northern Pacific coast, September and October will be your best opportunity for yellowfin over 200 lbs. Along the central Pacific coast of Costa Rica, June to August will be your peak chance for a “cow,” and January to August will provide solid numbers for tuna. Along Costa Rica’s southern Pacific, May to July will be an excellent time for size and numbers.
For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch snapper in Costa Rica, check out this guide. For a complete breakdown of the best times to catch mahi-mahi in Costa Rica, check out this guide.
