Fishing in Costa Rica in June
June is one of the best months to fish in Costa Rican waters, especially as it marks the beginning phase of the green season. The temperatures remain relatively constant this month throughout the region: between 73 °F and 87 °F. Most days witnessed sporadic showers. Costa Rica offers unending opportunities for excellent fishing, with almost every kind of fish you can imagine showing up this month. Black marlin catches rate increase during June, especially if you are fishing the North Pacific coast. There are varieties of fish found in Costa Rica waters during this month, but roosterfish are the most fun fish for inshore anglers. They follow high tide into the shallower waters, chasing baitfish toward the beach, especially on cloudy days in the mornings or evenings.
Wahoo season also kicks off this month due to their speed and tendency to move alone. They can be hard to find. Despite this, they still make a satisfying catch. They mainly bite offshore with Dorado and sailfish, but you can also find one around a reef. Yellowfin tuna are hooked in large quantities, with June being the best time of the year to catch the big sizes. This is when seasonal rains can elicit feeding frenzies in various gamefish species.
June Offshore Fishing in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is the best location for world-class offshore fishing. With its great weather all year round and calm flat sea, Costa Rica has remained a fishing paradise for fishermen all over the globe. This makes it a great place to get out and explore the ocean. Tuna, Marlin, and Dorado remain great in all parts of Costa Rica. The weather continues to be excellent this month, and the North Pacific sailfish bite begins to heat up.
June is a great month to fish yellowfin tuna, as the largest ones are in the spring through early summer. You will find them with Sailfish and Dorado, and while live bait is best for yellowfin, you can also hook one with the same hook and ballyhoo you use for a sailfish. Dorado is one of the angler’s favorites; they are beautiful, good fighters and can reach speeds of 50 mph in short bursts. Billfish are Costa Rica’s biggest attractions, and you can also catch marlin, roosterfish, and many more on offshore fishing trips. The most popular places for offshore fishing in Costa Rica are Flamingo, Quepos, Herradura, Drake Bay, and the Gulf of Papagayo.
June Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica
Inshore fishing in Costa Rica is excellent in June, as wahoo is abundant during this time of year. They are hard to find and are primarily located near rocky points. Wahoos are excellent fighters with a top speed of nearly 60mph. Wahoos can be caught yearly, but most anglers hook them in the green season months closer to inshore rock piles and reefs. Rooster Fish is another excellent Costa Rica inshore species; they are Silver in color with a unique dorsal fin and can be found along the surf, over sandy areas, and near river mouths.
Fishing live bait is best, but you can also try swimbaits or poppers. Roosters are aggressive fighters that sometimes jump when hooked, so you should be ready when you catch one. Other inshore fish are also in good numbers around this period. Snapper, Wahoo, grouper, mahi-mahi, and tuna are just a few of the fish that roam closer to shore. The Caribbean, Papagayo Bay, Samara, Quepos, and Tamarindo are some of the best places to fish inshore in Costa Rica.
Fun Fishing Activities in Costa Rica in June
Summer Solstice Shootout: This is a fishing tournament that takes place at Marina Pez Vela in Quepos, Costa Rica. Summer Solstice Shootout is owned by Marina Pez Vela Quepos, S A; a company set up under Costa Rican law. The tournament is a one-day team event in which first-team honors are awarded to the team that accumulates the most species points during the tournament. Prizes are paid to third place. The tournament awarded cash and prizes to the teams with the most points.
Each boat must always have a designated captain and at least one designated mate/Angler on board. Captain and crew changes are allowed, but the tournament committee must be notified before the fishing day. In this tournament, there is a limit of five registered anglers per boat, but if any angler withdraws, a replacement can join the team if he/she records before the day’s fishing begin.
Best Spots to Fish Costa Rica in June
Tamarindo: Tamarindo offers excellent fishing conditions year-round, and the beach is easy to access. You will not regret exploring Tamarindo in all its beauty, and the summer months bring many sport fishing competitions. June is one of the best months for billfish, but it’s great for year-round fishing. Some species are found in this spot: marlin, snapper, sailfish, amberjack, dorado, roosterfish, mackerel, and wahoo.
Gulf of Papagayo: This is the most easily accessible fishing spot for tourists because it is only 30 minutes from Liberia International Airport. You can take an inshore or offshore fishing trip to this location to catch tuna, Mahi-mahi, sailfish, and many more.
Drake Bay, Puerto Jimenez, Zancudo, and Golfito are excellent fishing spots. Zancudo is especially good for marlin and sailfish. Zancudo Lodge and Crocodile Bay Resort provide excellent fishing on and off the beach.
Best Fishing Methods for Costa Rica fishing
Trolling: This is the primary method of fishing for sailfish in Costa Rica. Trolling with Ballyhoos while running teasers & dredges from the outriggers helps attract sailfish. This fishing method is exciting and visual, as you can see the fish behind the boat chasing the teasers before taking the bait.
Popper: This is one of the most exciting ways to fish in offshore and inshore water glasses here in Costa Rica. For popping enthusiasts, you have plenty of options both offshore and inshore. Fishing the beach and shallow reefs can produce a mixed bag of Rooster, Snapper, Trevally, Sailfish, Dorado, and Trevally.
Jigging: If you love having a jigging rod almost ripped from your hand as a big fish inhales your jig, this may be the most exciting method to catch anything that swims these Costa Rica waters, like yellowfin tuna, amberjack, Cubera snapper, and many more.
Conclusion
As you can see, June is arguably one of the best months to fish Costa Rican waters, with a great variety of fish to sink your hook into, whether you are fishing offshore or targeting a coastal species like Wahoo, snappers, or grouper in the Gulf of Papagayo, the Caribbean, and many other places. You will have a fishing experience that you will never forget, thanks to Costa Rica’s warm waters, beautiful landscapes, and great weather.