Jaco Fishing Report – May 2026

May was a transition month in Jaco, and if you fish here every season you can feel the change almost day by day. The dry season edge starts to loosen, the mornings stay hot, the afternoons start building clouds over the hills, and the water begins shifting from clean April blue into the green-blue color that usually wakes up the inshore bite around Herradura.

We fished May out of the Jaco and Herradura area with water around 84°F, sunrise coming fast around 5:30am, and the best departure window right around 6:00am from Herradura Beach. That early start mattered. The boats that left on time had a much better shot at quiet water, cleaner bait, and less afternoon weather.

May was not a simple one-species month. It was a captain’s month. Some days the tuna moved and made everyone look smart. Some days they disappeared. Mahi mahi were around offshore, but more scattered than April. Roosterfish started showing better signs inshore around Herradura, the rocky points, and the nearby current edges. Marlin was possible, but not something I would call consistent for May.

Quick May 2026 bite summary

• Best inshore sign: roosterfish starting to activate around Herradura.
• Mahi mahi: present offshore, but more spread out than April.
• Tuna: moving hard; a few excellent days and a few dead ones.
• Marlin: occasional, not consistent enough to sell as the main plan.
• Water: green-blue, good visibility, about 84°F.
• Best departure: 6:00am from Herradura Beach.

The water started changing

The biggest May change was the water color. In April, we had more of that clean blue offshore water that makes every captain feel good before the first line goes out. In May, the water started showing that green-blue mix closer to shore. A lot of visitors think green water means bad fishing. That is not always true here.

For inshore fishing around Herradura, a little green in the water can help. It brings bait closer. It can make roosterfish more comfortable feeding near structure. It can also fire up snapper and other coastal fish when the tide lines set up right.

Offshore, the mahi bite was not as packed as April. We still found dorado, but we had to work more for them. Instead of running into obvious birds and floating debris right away, we spent more time checking current seams, small trash lines, and pieces of floating wood. The productive days were still fun, but it was not automatic.

Roosterfish started waking up around Herradura

The best inshore sign for May was roosterfish. Around Herradura Beach and nearby rocky points, the rooster bite started to feel alive again. We saw better bait movement early, quieter water before the wind came up, and more chances near structure.

Roosterfish are not lazy fish. They do not usually sit there and give you five easy chances. You need to be ready. In May, the best shots came early in the morning before boat traffic picked up and before afternoon weather started building over the mountains.

Our best setup was live bait when we could get it clean. Mullet and sardines were the kind of bait we wanted. Poppers and casting gear can work too, but for most guests trying to get their first roosterfish, live bait gives the better odds.

Mahi mahi were there, but scattered

The mahi mahi bite in May was present, but it was not as easy as April. In April, you can get days where dorado seem to be on every piece of floating debris. In May, they were more spread out.

We had to cover more water. Some days the fish were there but smaller. Other days you could see birds, bait, and flying fish, but the mahi would not commit the way they did earlier in the season.

That is why I do not like overpromising mahi in May. Can you catch them? Yes. Can you have a very good dorado day? Also yes. But if someone comes expecting April-style numbers every single day, May can humble you.

Tuna was moving — some days excellent, some days dead

Yellowfin tuna was the most unpredictable part of May. We had some excellent signs and some slow days where it felt like the tuna left the country overnight.

That is normal for tuna here. They move fast. They follow bait. They follow birds. One day the water is alive and you find fish pushing bait under birds. The next day the same area looks empty.

For tuna in May, we watched birds first. If the birds were high and lazy, we did not get excited. If they were tight and diving hard, that got our attention. We also watched for spinner dolphins, bait schools, and any surface breaking.

Sailfish and marlin in May

Sailfish were around, but not in the same numbers you can see during the better dry-season stretch. We still had billfish possibilities offshore, especially when the water cleaned up and bait was present.

Marlin was occasional. Possible, but not consistent. I would not recommend May to someone whose only dream is marlin and nothing else matters. But if you want a mixed offshore trip with chances at mahi, tuna, sailfish, and maybe a surprise marlin, May can be a fun month.

Weather pattern in May

May mornings were hot. The kind of heat where you want light clothing, a hat, and sunscreen before you even step on the boat. The rain started showing more in the afternoons, which is normal for this time of year.

If you are fishing May, be ready before 6:00am. Do not show up late with coffee in your hand asking if the captain can wait. The ocean does not wait. The calm morning window is the best part of the day, and once the heat builds, clouds start stacking over the mountains.

Half day or full day in May?

If you want roosterfish, snapper, or inshore action around Herradura, a half day can be a very good option. You leave early, work the structure, fish the morning bite, and get back before the afternoon weather.

If you want mahi, tuna, sailfish, or a shot at marlin, I prefer full day. The offshore bite was too spread out in May to count on a short run every time. A full day gives us more water to check and more time to adjust.

Bryan’s May tip

If you are coming in May, bring light long-sleeve clothing and be ready early. The sun is already strong before breakfast, and the best water is often before 9:00am.

For inshore, do not underestimate Herradura. Premium boats do leave from Los Sueños Marina, and they are excellent. But our standard boats from Herradura Beach can put you right on productive inshore water fast.

Message us on WhatsApp before you book, and we will tell you honestly what has been biting, whether the better shot is inshore or offshore, and which boat makes the most sense for your group.

A few local notes from May

May also showed why we do not plan every Jaco trip from a calendar alone. Two days can sit beside each other on the same week and fish completely different. One morning the bait is tight, birds are honest, and the inshore water around Herradura feels ready. The next morning the same stretch can look sleepy and the better move is to push out and check the current lines.

That is why I like guests to send a message before they book, not only ask for a price. Price matters, but the better question is what the water has been doing. In May, a family wanting action might be happier with an early half day inshore. A group wanting tuna or mahi should give the captain a full day to work. Same month, different plan.