There is no bad month for every fish, but there are good months for each fish. Sámara sits in the middle of the Nicoya Peninsula, with deep water close to shore. Here is what we catch through the year, and what the weather is like.
The short answer
December to April is the dry season: sunny days, the best months for sailfish and great roosterfish. Marlin are best from March to May. May to August is the green season, with sunny mornings and afternoon rain, strong tuna, mahi-mahi and snapper, and often a calm sea. September and October are the wettest months, and our boats are out of the water. Roosterfish, snapper and jacks live near the coast all year.
December to February
This is the high season. Sailfish come closer to the coast, and yellowfin tuna are around. Marlin can be caught too, but less often than later in the season. Near the coast, roosterfish are strong. In January and early February, strong wind comes for short spells, usually two to four days at a time, then the sea settles again. This is also the busiest time for visitors, so book early.
March to May
Hot, dry and very sunny. This is when marlin are at their best, and sailfish are still good. Mahi-mahi start to arrive in March. Roosterfish and snapper are steady near the rocks. In May the first rains come, usually in the afternoon, and mornings are often perfect. We take a short break from mid-May to the end of June, so come early in May.
July and August
A quiet secret. The sea is often calm, and the crowds are gone. Tuna are strong, sailfish are good, and August can bring good marlin fishing. Cubera snapper near the coast are very good. We fish in the morning, before the afternoon rain.
September to November
September and October are the wettest months on this coast. We take our boats out of the water to keep them safe, so enjoy the waterfalls and the green hills, and come fishing another time. In November the rain stops and the hills are green. Mahi-mahi are strong and marlin start to return. It is a good, quiet month before the high season.
Which trip for which month
For marlin, choose an offshore trip from March to May. For sailfish, December to April is best. For roosterfish or a shorter day, an inshore trip is good in every month we are open. Wahoo turn up now and then, but they are not a common catch here, so we never plan a trip around them. The ocean does not read calendars: these are the patterns we see, not promises.