Jaco Fishing Report – June 2026

June was a good month on the water around Jaco and Herradura, especially if you wanted action instead of waiting all day for one big bite. The main story was mahi mahi. Not huge bulls every trip, but steady fish, good numbers, and enough bites to keep guests busy.

On the better offshore days, our boats were seeing 10 to 20 mahi mahi per trip. That is the kind of fishing most vacation groups enjoy. People get to fight fish, take photos, bring some dinner back, and still have a real Costa Rica story without pretending every fish was a monster.

We also had good tuna and sailfish movement. Marlin stayed quiet for us this month. I am not going to dress that up. Our boats did not land marlin in June, and that is part of real reporting. A fishing report should tell you what happened, not what sounds best for sales.

Mahi mahi carried the month

The mahi bite was the most reliable thing we had going. The fish were spread offshore around current lines, floating debris, and the kind of scattered blue-green water we normally start watching hard in rainy season. Some trips found them quickly. Some trips had to run and work, but when the boat found the right water, the bites came in bunches.

Most of the mahi were not giants. We had some nice fish, but the pattern was more about numbers than trophy size. For groups with kids, couples, and first-time anglers, that is not a bad thing. A day with steady mahi action is usually more fun than sitting eight hours hoping for one big marlin bite that never comes.

When the first fish came in, we usually slowed down and worked the area. Mahi often travel together. If one rod goes off and the water has bait, birds, or debris, you do not run away from it. You stay patient and let the school show itself.

Tuna and sailfish were moving

Tuna was not every day, but there was enough movement to keep us watching the birds. The best tuna signs came when birds were working low and tight. Lazy birds sitting high did not mean much. Diving birds, nervous bait, and fast-moving surface activity got our attention.

Sailfish were also around. They were not the whole show, but we had enough movement to keep offshore trips interesting. For sailfish, I still like the full day because the boat needs time to reach better water and stay with the signs. A short trip can get lucky, but offshore fish do not care about your return time.

Marlin was quiet

Marlin was the slow part of June for our boats. We did not land any, and I would not sell June 2026 as a marlin month based on our own trips. Could a boat in the area see one? Sure. This is Costa Rica. Big fish can surprise you. But consistent marlin action was not what we saw.

If a guest asked me in June what to target, I would have said mahi first, then watch for tuna and sailfish. If marlin is the only fish you care about, ask before booking and be ready to choose the boat and trip length carefully.

Weather and sea conditions

The weather felt like rainy season. Hot mornings, clouds building later, and rain in the afternoons. The first week brought a stormy stretch that forced us to cancel a couple of trips. We do not like canceling, but safety and comfort come first. No fish is worth taking guests out in bad conditions just to force the schedule.

After that first week, the sea settled down well. We had calm water on many mornings, and that made the fishing comfortable. The best plan was simple: leave early, fish the good window, and be back before the afternoon rain started pushing in from the mountains.

Best trip choice for June

For June, I liked the full day offshore if the group wanted mahi, tuna, or sailfish. The extra time helped because the fish were not always sitting close. Some days the bite was farther out or took time to find.

For families that wanted a shorter experience, a half day from Herradura still made sense, especially if they were okay with inshore or nearshore action. But if someone told me June was their only fishing day and they wanted the best shot at action, I recommended full day.

Departure notes

Our standard private boats usually depart from Herradura Beach. Premium boats depart from Los Sueños Marina. Both can fish well. The right choice depends on your budget, group size, comfort level, and how far offshore we need to go.

June is exactly why that matters. If the bite is close, a standard Herradura boat can be great value. If the better water is farther offshore and your group wants more comfort, a premium Los Sueños boat can be the better fit.

My June takeaway

June 2026 was not a perfect month, but it was a good one. Mahi mahi gave us the most consistent action, tuna and sailfish kept offshore trips interesting, the sea turned nice after the first stormy week, and the afternoons reminded everyone that rainy season had arrived.

If you are planning a trip around this time, message us before booking. Tell us your dates, group size, and what you hope to catch. I will tell you what has been biting and whether I would go half day, full day, standard from Herradura, or premium from Los Sueños.