Fishing in May in Costa Rica
Every fishing enthusiast who has ever fished Costa Rica water knows that May is one of the best months to fish in Costa Rica water. And if you visit Costa Rica in May, you will be able to take many different fishing trips. There is a change of water where cooler water meets warmer water. This is advantageous in many ways because the warmer water attracts bigger fish and a variety of baitfish. As the beginning of the rainy season in Costa Rica, you should expect excellent fishing all over the Pacific Coast. There are great fishing activities for all species in Costa Rica, but Blue Marlin, Roosterfish, and Snapper are at their peak this month.
While a lot of days in May will experience rain in the form of afternoon showers, the mornings are usually clearer and ideal for a fishing trip. The wind conditions usually remain calm similar to those in the months before May. In places like Jaco and Los Suenos, the temperature often ranges between 79 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. The sun rises around 5:20 in the morning and sets around 5:50 in the evening. This gives you about 12.5 hours of daylight each day if you are fishing Costa Rica water in May.
May Offshore Fishing in Costa Rica
The mahi-Mahi season begins in late May, and for offshore fishermen, these fast and colorful fish bring a lot of fun. This is also a great time to land some yellow-fin tuna from your fishing boat. The black marlin tends to start showing up in greater numbers in May. They are always exciting to catch because they can easily grow up to 600 pounds. You can still catch blue marlin and sailfish in May. Offshore fishing is all year round with the transition months beginning in May. Billfish are abundant during this period and you can catch sailfish, marlin, roosterfish, wahoo, and many more when fishing offshore around May.
May Inshore Fishing in Costa Rica
May is the beginning of the season with the highest density of wahoo in Costa Rica water. Roosterfish and even some Yellowfin Tuna can also be found feeding close to shore. The showering rain in May sends bigger fish into feeding frenzies, this is the right time to get your fishing tackle and take advantage of the less crowded seas. Costa Rica’s inshore waters provide excellent light-tackle activity every month of the year. The rocky islands, reefs, and river mouths that make up the tropical Pacific Coastline are the perfect home for grouper, snapper, mackerel, snook, and the famous roosterfish. These are not all you can catch on your inshore fishing trip; you can still bring home other species found nearer to shore such as snappers, wahoo, grouper, mahi-mahi, and tuna.
Fun Fishing Activities in Costa Rica in May
Pelagic Pura Vida Inshore Tournament: The official slogan of Costa Rica is Pura Vida, which translates to “Pure Life” or “Simple Life.” This phrase captures the country’s love of nature as well as its cheerful, happy, and positive attitude. The Pura Vida Inshore Classic is a fun event for everyone that exploits the abundant inshore fishing that can be found along the coastlines and rocky shorelines of the Pacific in Costa Rica.
The major competition is a one-day shootout when teams compete to earn cash prizes and awards by releasing the most roosterfish or by bringing in the biggest trio of coastal large fish. It also includes a half-day fishing derby for kids where tournament teams are encouraged to support the youth fishing movement by taking a child out fishing in a fun and competitive environment.
Best Spots to Fish in May
If you are planning a fishing trip to Costa Rica in May, but don’t know the best spot to go fishing or where you can catch your favorite species, then read on. The following are some of the best spots to fish in Costa Rica water in May.
Gulf of Papagayo: The easiest fishing spot for visitors to reach is the Gulf of Papagayo, it can be reached in about 30 minutes from Liberia International Airport. Mahi-mahi, tuna, and sailfish are the common fish in this location. This is one of the best spots to fish in May.
Tamarindo and Flamingo: These are other excellent spots for offshore fishing. Flamingo has a large marina and Wahoo, Mahi-mahi, and Sailfish are some of the common species here in May.
Drake Bay, Zancudo, Puerto Jimenez, and Golfito: Fishing is excellent in all these three locations. Zancudo is especially good for marlin, while Wahoo, Mahi Mahi, roosterfish, and sailfish are the common species in these spots.
Cahuita: Compared to the Pacific, the Caribbean coasts offer a wider variety of fish. Snook, Tarpon, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, and mahi-mahi are just a few of the fish you can catch here in May.
Best Fishing Methods
Trolling: This is the most common fishing method in Costa Rica, when trolling for Sailfish and Marlin, the common set-up consists of running four, five, or even six lines. The sound of the engines, the wash from the propellers, the bubble trail created by the teasers, and the hull itself are what initially lure billfish to the boat, which attracts Sailfish and Marlin.
Jigging: Among all the fishing methods available, jigging can be one of the best methods in some of the spots in May. If you want to target bigger species like tuna in May, jigging can be one of the best fishing methods.
Popping: This is another great fishing method available in Costa Rica. If you are interested in fishing for bigger species, poppers give you a chance of landing some of these species on heavy spinning tackle.
There is no denying that fishing in Costa Rica is among the greatest in the world. May is without a doubt one of the best months for catching a lot of fish in Costa Rica, regardless of whether you are targeting blue marlin, roosterfish and snapper, wahoo, sailfish, and many others. With the warm waters, gorgeous landscapes, and wonderful weather, you will enjoy a fishing experience you will remember for the rest of your life. May comes with an incredible variety of exciting species to entice with your bait.