Best Time of Year for Fishing in Puerto Vallarta: A Month-by-Month Guide

Ask ten captains in Marina Nuevo Vallarta for the best time for fishing in Puerto Vallarta and you'll get ten answers, all of them right. That's because Banderas Bay has no off-season: something is always biting. What changes through the year is what bites, where it bites and how far you need to go to find it. This month-by-month guide shows when to come for marlin, sailfish, yellowfin tuna, dorado and roosterfish — and what the weather and the sea are doing while you're out there.

Puerto Vallarta Is a Year-Round Fishing Destination

Banderas Bay is deep, wide and fed by currents that swing between warm tropical water and cooler, nutrient-rich water through the year. Inside the bay, species such as bonito, jack crevalle, sierra and snapper are around in every month. Offshore, the seamounts and islands at Corbeteña and El Banco pull in the big pelagics — yellowfin tuna, marlin, sailfish and dorado — as the water temperature shifts.

So the real question isn't "when can I fish?" but "what do I want to catch?" If you want steady action and a fish dinner, any month works. If you have your heart set on a specific trophy, timing matters. One honest caveat before the calendar: these are typical patterns, not guarantees. Water temperatures, currents and bait move a little every year, and peaks arrive early or late. Our captains fish this bay every week, and they'll tell you what's actually biting before your trip.

Fishing Calendar: Month-by-Month

Here's the typical Banderas Bay fishing calendar at a glance. ● = peak season, ○ = present / good chances, blank = possible but less likely.

Read it month by month and a few patterns jump out:

• January–March: sailfish and big offshore tuna, the last of the dorado, and humpback whales everywhere. Dry, calm and cool. Possibly the best all-round months of the year.
• April–May: sailfish still around, roosterfish arrive near shore, big yellowfin at Corbeteña and El Banco. Warm, dry and the start of the afternoon breeze.
• June–August: marlin season heats up with the water, roosterfish peak, dorado start to show. Hot, humid, rainy-season storms mostly in the afternoon or at night.
• September–October: peak dorado and marlin, with fewer boats on the water. The heart of the rainy season — fish early.
• November–December: sailfish build, dorado are still strong, big tuna return offshore and the first whales arrive. The rain ends and the bay turns blue again.

Marlin Season

Blue and black marlin follow warm water, and in Banderas Bay that means roughly June through November, with the best odds in the hottest months. Marlin are offshore fish: plan on a long day out to the open water beyond the bay, to Corbeteña or El Banco. On our charters, eight to ten hours reaches Corbeteña and ten or more reaches El Banco.

Marlin fishing is a game of patience — trolling big lures over deep water for hours for one shot at a fish that can top several hundred pounds. It's why a bigger, more comfortable boat like our 53-foot Hatteras Steel n Time, with an air-conditioned salon and a full kitchen, is so popular for these days.

Sailfish Season

Sailfish are present in and around Banderas Bay practically all year, which is one reason Puerto Vallarta is such a good sailfish destination. Their strongest runs usually come from late fall through spring (November to April), when they push closer to the mouth of the bay and sometimes inside it.

That's good news for anglers who don't want to run far: a six- to eight-hour trip just outside the bay often has a real shot at a sailfish, and they're the fish behind so many of the photos on our gallery — families included. Many anglers release them after the photo; we explain why in our guide to keeping your catch in Puerto Vallarta.

Yellowfin Tuna Season

Yellowfin tuna can be caught year-round off Puerto Vallarta, but the trip everyone talks about is the run for big tuna at El Banco and Corbeteña, usually at its best from December through May. These offshore seamounts and rocks rise from deep water far beyond the bay and hold schools of large yellowfin — the kind of fish that turns a fishing trip into a full-body workout.

• Corbeteña: a lone volcanic rock far beyond the mouth of the bay. Plan 8–10 hours on our charters.
• El Banco: a seamount even further offshore. Plan 10 hours or more; it's the furthest we run in a day.

Smaller "football" tuna and their cousin, the bonito, turn up much closer in, sometimes inside the bay — great action for shorter trips. Note that on the long offshore runs a fuel surcharge applies; the details and full price table are in our fishing charter cost guide for Puerto Vallarta.

Dorado (Mahi-Mahi) Season

Dorado are the fish that fill coolers, and they're the best eating fish of the big four. They show up with the warm water in summer and usually peak from September or October through January, when they hang around floating debris, weed lines and buoys. Dorado are spectacular to catch — electric green and gold, jumping and changing color — and fun for anglers of every level.

Because they often come in schools, a good dorado day can mean several fish for the group. Mexican rules limit dorado to two per angler per day, and our crew fillets them for you at the dock.

Roosterfish Season

Roosterfish are the exception to the "go offshore" rule. They hunt close to the coast — along sandy beaches, rocky points and river mouths — and they're most active from April through September, with a peak in the warm early summer. The north end of the bay around Punta de Mita and the rocky stretches of the coast are classic spots, which suits charters leaving from Nuevo Vallarta perfectly.

The "comb" of their dorsal fin slicing through the water behind a bait is one of the great sights in sportfishing. They fight hard and are usually released. Roosterfish trips also fit well into shorter four- to six-hour charters, and combine nicely with a beach stop or snorkeling.

Matching Your Trip Length to the Season

The calendar tells you what's around; your trip length decides whether you can reach it. On our charters, hours translate into range like this:

• 4–6 hours, inside Banderas Bay. Bonito, jack crevalle, sierra, snapper and small tuna all year; roosterfish near shore from spring through summer. The best choice for families and for mixing fishing with a beach or snorkel stop.
• 6–8 hours, just outside the bay (about 5–8 miles). More open water and a real shot at sailfish from late fall to spring, and dorado in the fall.
• 8–10 hours, Corbeteña. Big yellowfin from winter to spring, marlin in the warm months.
• 10+ hours, El Banco. The furthest single-day run and the top choice for serious tuna and marlin anglers.
• Multi-day trips (1–3 days at sea) on Steel n Time, which sleeps up to eight — for anglers who want to fish the offshore banks at dawn and dusk.

A simple way to plan: pick the fish you want, check its season in the calendar above, then book the hours that reach it. If you just want a great morning and a fish dinner, four to six hours in any month will do it.

Booking around high season

December through March is high season in Puerto Vallarta — the holidays, whale season and perfect weather all overlap — and our three boats book out first on those dates, especially Christmas, New Year, spring break and Easter week. If you're coming then, reserve as early as you can. The fall months (September to November) are the opposite: fewer visitors, easy availability and some of the best dorado and marlin fishing of the year.

Weather and Sea Conditions by Season

Dry season (November–May)

Sunny days, almost no rain, low humidity and the calmest seas of the year, especially in the morning. Water is a little cooler in winter. From around March, a breeze usually picks up in the afternoon, which is one more reason to fish early. Humpback whales are in the bay from roughly December to March, with the official whale-watching season usually from the second week of December to the third week of March — see whale watching charters.

Rainy season (June–October)

Hot and humid, with tropical showers that usually arrive in the late afternoon or at night, leaving mornings clear. The water is at its warmest — perfect for marlin and dorado. The jungle turns bright green and there are far fewer boats on the water.

Hurricane season

The Pacific hurricane season runs from June to November, with the most activity typically from August to October. Banderas Bay is well sheltered and direct hits are rare, but on some days a storm far out at sea brings swell or wind, and the harbor master can close the port. When that happens nobody goes out, and we move your charter to another date. Booking early in your trip gives you room to reschedule.

For a deeper look at the weather itself, Visita Vallarta has a good Puerto Vallarta weather by month guide.

Best Time of Day to Fish

In every season, the answer is the same: early morning. The sea is flattest before the breeze picks up, the air is cooler on the run out, the bait is near the surface and the fish are feeding. Long offshore trips need early departures anyway to reach Corbeteña or El Banco and get home in daylight.

Shorter trips inside the bay are more flexible: four to six hours can leave later in the morning or even in the afternoon, and sunset runs are beautiful — just not as productive as the dawn bite. Our charters depart between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. If an early start sounds hard from your hotel, ask us to coordinate the ride: fishing charters with hotel pickup.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best month for fishing in Puerto Vallarta?

For an all-round trip, January to March is hard to beat: calm dry-season seas, sailfish and big offshore tuna, the last of the dorado and humpback whales in the bay. For marlin, aim for June to November. For dorado, October to December.

Can you fish during whale season?

Yes, and it's one of our most popular combinations. We fish while watching for whales, stop when we find them and fish again on the way to a beach. Mexican rules keep boats at a respectful distance from the whales.

When is marlin season in Puerto Vallarta?

Blue and black marlin are most common from about June through November, when the water is warmest. They're offshore fish, so plan a long charter of 8 hours or more.

Is it worth fishing in the rainy season?

Yes. Rain usually falls in the late afternoon or at night, mornings are often clear, and the warm water brings marlin and dorado. There are also fewer boats out. Just book morning departures and keep a flexible day in case of storms.

How far do you have to go for big tuna?

The big yellowfin are usually offshore at Corbeteña (8–10 hours on our charters) or El Banco (10+ hours), with the best season from about December to May. Smaller tuna can turn up closer in.

What can I catch on a short 4-hour trip?

Inside the bay: bonito, jack crevalle, sierra, snapper, small tuna and, in season, roosterfish near shore. Sailfish and dorado are sometimes possible near the mouth of the bay. On Guanatuna, 4 paid hours give you 5 hours on the water.

Do fishing seasons change from year to year?

Yes. Water temperature and currents shift every year, so peaks can come early or late. Ask us when you book and your captain will tell you what's biting that week.

Found your month? Pick a boat and check live availability on our private fishing charters page, compare the three boats, or message us on WhatsApp and we'll match the trip to the fish you're after.