July 2026 Fishing Report: Bottom Fishing Stole the Spotlight
July brought a completely different kind of action! While offshore fishing remained strong with excellent yellowfin tuna numbers, bottom fishing truly stole the spotlight. Snapper and grouper were especially active, helping July reach an impressive 470 confirmed catches and proving once again that every season in Costa Rica brings something unique.
Here is the full board, alongside July of last year.
The Numbers: July 2026 vs. July 2025
| Species | July 2026 | July 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yellowfin Tuna | 229 | 105 | +124 |
| Snapper | 163 | 51 | +112 |
| Sailfish | 32 | 86 | −54 |
| Grouper | 32 | 9 | +23 |
| Mahi Mahi | 4 | 8 | −4 |
| Triple Tail | 3 | — | +3 |
| Blue Marlin | 2 | 19 | −17 |
| Wahoo | 2 | — | +2 |
| Tilefish | 2 | — | +2 |
| Amberjack | 1 | — | +1 |
| Roosterfish | — | 7 | −7 |
| Jack | — | 2 | −2 |
| Cubera | — | 1 | −1 |
| Spanish Mackerel | — | 1 | −1 |
| Black Marlin | — | 1 | −1 |
| Total Confirmed | 470 | 290 | +180 |
Offshore Stayed Strong with Excellent Yellowfin Tuna Numbers
229 yellowfin! That is more than double last July's 105, and nearly half of everything we put on the board this month.
The tuna fishery off Los Sueños keeps getting better every season, and this July it was the most reliable action on the water. Fish were found working with the spinner dolphin schools, and our crews ran a mix of live bait and topwater plugs depending on how each school was behaving. When a school comes up feeding and you can cast poppers into it, there is nothing more fun in Costa Rica — and plenty of our July anglers got exactly that.
Sizes ranged all over, which is part of the excitement with this fishery. A single school can hold 30-pound fish and 200-pound fish in the same patch of water, and you never know which one ate until it turns and runs.
Bottom Fishing Has Been on Fire
This month brought some incredible bottom fishing action, with great catches of snapper, grouper, and other reef species. It has been a fantastic option for anglers looking for steady action and plenty of excitement closer to shore.
The numbers back it up: 201 bottom and structure fish across snapper, grouper, tilefish, amberjack, and triple tail. Last July those same categories produced 61.
Snapper alone jumped from 51 to 163. Grouper more than tripled. And three species turned up on the board that were not there at all in July 2025 — triple tail, tilefish, and amberjack.
If you are planning a summer trip, this is worth knowing. Bottom fishing means steady rod-bending action close to shore, shorter runs, and some of the best eating fish in Costa Rica going straight into the box. Bring your snapper or grouper to one of the Los Sueños restaurants and they will cook it for you that same evening. For families, mixed groups, and anyone who loves having a rod bent every twenty minutes, it is a fantastic way to spend a day on the water.
Billfish in July: A Different Season, A Different Bite
Every season in Costa Rica brings something unique, and July is a good example. We put 34 billfish on the board this month, compared to 106 last July — 32 sailfish and 2 blue marlin.
There are two reasons for that, and both are good news for anyone planning ahead.
July sits well outside our billfish season. The peak here runs from mid-December through the end of April, when sailfish and marlin move through in numbers that are hard to believe until you see them. A July board never looks like a January board, and it is not meant to.
The bigger factor is simply where the action was. When the tuna are that thick and the bottom is producing the way it did this month, everyone fishes what is biting. A day spent on a hot snapper spot is a day not spent trolling for sailfish, and in July our anglers had every reason to chase the sure thing.
The billfish that were out there still came. Both blue marlin releases came off the offshore grounds, and anyone who set out specifically to raise a sailfish got their shots.
Crew Spotlight: Sea Fly
This month's Crew Spotlight goes to the Sea Fly crew for leading the way in bottom fishing action!
Sea Fly stood out as the top crew for snapper this month. They also put together a strong mixed catch, adding yellowfin tuna, sailfish, grouper, and even amberjack to the board.
Carlos "Pollo" Espinoza — A family man with a natural way of connecting with children. Pollo makes younger guests feel comfortable and included through the whole day.
Antonio "Pato" Aguirre — Young, energetic, and impossible to miss. Pato brings a big presence to the Sea Fly crew, both in personality and in size.
Urias "Woody" Porras — Recognizable by his signature look, Woody brings experience and a steady, calm presence to the cockpit.
What to Expect in August and September
If July is any indication, the tuna and the bottom fishing are going to keep producing right through August. Snapper and grouper hold on structure year-round, and the tuna schools have been consistent enough that we are planning around them rather than hoping for them.
Mahi usually picks up as the rains build and more structure moves offshore. Billfish numbers stay lighter through the summer and start climbing again in November as the season turns toward peak.
Our recommendation for a summer day on the water is simple: go after both. Run offshore while the morning is right, then work the bottom. That is exactly how those 470 catches came together.
Book Your Trip
Boats are open through the summer and this is the most affordable time of year to fish with us. If you want the kind of action July delivered, get in touch and we will match you with the right boat and crew.
All numbers are confirmed catches reported by Maverick Costa Rica Sportfish Charters crews for the calendar month. Sailfish and marlin are released per Costa Rican law.