black MARLIN SEASON
January - February
JANUARY is one of the most popular months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), big Sailfish (over 100 pounds), and big Dorado (50 to 60-pound range). It can get bumpy at this time as the north trade wind brings cooler water and tailing marlin with a great shot at getting a grand slam.
black MARLIN SEASON
January - February
JANUARY is one of the most popular months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), big Sailfish (over 100 pounds), and big Dorado (50 to 60-pound range). It can get bumpy at this time as the north trade wind brings cooler water and tailing marlin with a great shot at getting a grand slam.
FEBRUARY is very similar to January. Blue Marlin and Sailfish are being released offshore with the occasional Stripped Marlin. The Black Marlin are on the Zane Grey Reef and shallower waters around the Lodge. February is one of the best months for Grand Slams.
INSHORE SEASON
MARCH - MAY
MARCH is our transition Month and the Billfishing can be hot or not. It is one of the top months for big Yellowfin Tuna, and great inshore fishing for big Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and Grouper as the colder water makes its way inshore. Bait fish are hatching in the shallows bringing the Grouper and Snapper to feed inshore. This time of year brings the famed Snapper boils and great Broom tail grouper fishing.
APRIL the inshore bite is excellent and record-sized Roosterfish are biting along with Cubera Snappers, Grouper, possibly even Tarpon and a host of other inshore game fish. Groups of school-sized Yellowfin Tuna (20 to 60 pounds) invade the coastal waters surrounding Piñas Bay. Billfishing is sporadic and the seas are typically flat and calm. Most boats are concentrating inshore during this period.
MAY Tropic Star Lodge hosts an annual Roosterfish tournament. The numbers of Roosterfish at this time of year is great and anglers are also hooking up to Cubera Snapper, Bluefin Trevally and Grouper in the shallows. The Sailfish start coming through and anglers are seeing them just a few miles offshore. The seas are typically flat and calm.
INSHORE SEASON
MARCH - MAY
MARCH is our transition Month and the Billfishing can be hot or not. It is one of the top months for big Yellowfin Tuna, and great inshore fishing for big Roosterfish, Cubera Snapper and Grouper as the colder water makes its way inshore. Bait fish are hatching in the shallows bringing the Grouper and Snapper to feed inshore. This time of year brings the famed Snapper boils and great Broom tail grouper fishing.
APRIL the inshore bite is excellent and record-sized Roosterfish are biting along with Cubera Snappers, Grouper, possibly even Tarpon and a host of other inshore game fish. Groups of school-sized Yellowfin Tuna (20 to 60 pounds) invade the coastal waters surrounding Piñas Bay. Billfishing is sporadic and the seas are typically flat and calm. Most boats are concentrating inshore during this period.
MAY Tropic Star Lodge hosts an annual Roosterfish tournament. The numbers of Roosterfish at this time of year is great and anglers are also hooking up to Cubera Snapper, Bluefin Trevally and Grouper in the shallows. The Sailfish start coming through and anglers are seeing them just a few miles offshore. The seas are typically flat and calm.
blue MARLIN SEASON
June - September, DECEMBER
JUNE The Sailfish season is in full swing with multiple bites per day including double hookups. Black Marlin and Blue Marlin can be hooked at this time. Inshore can be a bonanza. June and July are some of the best months for big Roosterfish, some over 70 pounds.
JULY is one of the best months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and Dorado. Grand Slams are common. Inshore fishing can be very productive for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper.
AUGUST is an incredible time for big Blue Marlin and Sailfish, with some Black Marlin being hooked closer in shore. Very good month for a Grand Slam. The Yellowfin tuna will also be feeding in frenzies and those giant 50lb. Dorado are coming through. Inshore fishing for Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper can be very good.
SEPTEMBER can be excellent for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin and Sailfish. The Offshore bite for large Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado is excellent. Inshore fishing is normally very productive, the Wahoo bite should be at its best.
DECEMBER is a great all-round month for most species. Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), and Dorado (50 to 60-pound range) are biting. Inshore fishing for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snappers can also be targeted on occasion.
blue MARLIN SEASON
June - September, DECEMBER
JUNE The Sailfish season is in full swing with multiple bites per day including double hookups. Black Marlin and Blue Marlin can be hooked at this time. Inshore can be a bonanza. June and July are some of the best months for big Roosterfish, some over 70 pounds.
JULY is one of the best months for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, and Dorado. Grand Slams are common. Inshore fishing can be very productive for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper.
AUGUST is an incredible time for big Blue Marlin and Sailfish, with some Black Marlin being hooked closer in shore. Very good month for a Grand Slam. The Yellowfin tuna will also be feeding in frenzies and those giant 50lb. Dorado are coming through. Inshore fishing for Roosterfish and Cubera Snapper can be very good.
SEPTEMBER can be excellent for Black Marlin, Blue Marlin and Sailfish. The Offshore bite for large Yellowfin Tuna and Dorado is excellent. Inshore fishing is normally very productive, the Wahoo bite should be at its best.
DECEMBER is a great all-round month for most species. Black Marlin, Blue Marlin, Sailfish, Yellowfin Tuna (100 to 250 pounds), and Dorado (50 to 60-pound range) are biting. Inshore fishing for big Roosterfish and Cubera Snappers can also be targeted on occasion.
When is the best time to fish?
| SPECIES | SIZE RANGE | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Marlin | 200 - 1000 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Blue Marlin | 200 - 1000 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Striped Marlin | 100 - 250 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Pacific Sailfish | 80 - 150 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Yellowfin Tuna | 10 - 300 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Dorado | 10 - 70 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Roosterfish | 10 - 100 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Cubera Snapper | 20 - 70 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Almaco Jack | 20 - 100 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Wahoo | 20 - 80 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Tarpon | 40 - 100 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Grouper | 20 - 100 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Bluefin Trevally | 10 - 30 lbs | lodge closed | |||||||||||
| Excellent | The species chart and monthly breakdown is a general guideline. Several factors such as water temperature, wind and current can cause normal patterns to fluctuate, which can affect the migratory path of ocean gamefish. | ||||||||||||
| Fair | |||||||||||||
| Good |
| The species chart and monthly breakdown is a general guideline. Several factors such as water temperature, wind and current can cause normal patterns to fluctuate, which can affect the migratory path of ocean gamefish. | |||||||||||||
| Excellent | |||||||||||||
| Fair | |||||||||||||
| Good | |||||||||||||
| Black Marlin | 200 - 1000 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Blue Marlin | 200 - 1000 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Striped Marlin | 100 - 250 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Pacific Sailfish | 80 - 150 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Yellowfin Tuna | 10 - 300 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Dorado | 10 - 70 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Roosterfish | 10 - 100 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Cubera Snapper | 20 - 70 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Almaco Jack | 20 - 100 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Wahoo | 20 - 80 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Tarpon | 40 - 100 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Grouper | 20 - 100 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
| Bluefin Trevally | 10 - 30 lbs | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEPT | OCT lodge closed | NOV | DEC |
