Los Sueños Fishing Report — June 2026: 196 Sailfish Released, and a Black Marlin Goes Airborne
Los Sueños Resort & Marina, Playa Herradura, Costa Rica · Published July 14, 2026 · By the Maverick Sportfishing crew
Quick summary: In June 2026, Maverick Sportfishing boats out of Los Sueños, Costa Rica released 196 sailfish (up 128% from 86 in June 2025), landed 153 yellowfin tuna and 79 mahi mahi, and released 4 blue marlin and 1 black marlin. The mahi bite was up nearly 9× year over year. Scroll down for the black marlin video and the full species-by-species table.
Watch: black marlin jumping boat-side in Los Sueños
The highlight of the month, and maybe of the season so far: a black marlin lighting up next to the boat, jumping and tail-walking across the spread before a clean, healthy release. Black marlin are the rarest of the three billfish species we see here — this is why June fishing in Costa Rica belongs on your calendar.
Video: a black marlin goes fully airborne during the fight, June 2026, off Los Sueños, Costa Rica. Released healthy.
June 2026 vs June 2025: the full catch numbers
Every fish below was logged by our captains and crews across the Maverick fleet. All billfish — sailfish, blue marlin and black marlin — are released.
| Species | June 2025 | June 2026 | Year over year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sailfish (released) | 86 | 196 | ▲ +128% |
| Yellowfin tuna | 105 | 153 | ▲ +46% |
| Mahi mahi / dorado | 8 | 79 | ▲ +888% |
| Blue marlin (released) | 19 | 4 | ▼ −79% |
| Black marlin (released) | 1 | 1 | Even |
| Roosterfish | 7 | 5 | ▼ −29% |
| Snapper (incl. cubera) | 52 | 4 | ▼ −92% |
| Grouper | 9 | 1 | ▼ −89% |
| Spanish mackerel | 1 | 1 | Even |
| Jack | 2 | 0 | — |
| Shark | 0 | 1 | New |
| Pompano | 0 | 1 | New |
| Rainbow runner | 0 | 1 | New |
The June catch report at a glance. Share it — and tag us.
How good was the sailfish bite in June 2026?
Historic for the month. 196 sailfish releases is more than double last June's 86 — a 128% jump — and it came during Costa Rica's green season, well outside the December–April peak. When the offshore current lines set up like they did this month, the sails stack up on the bait and double and triple hookups become the norm rather than the exception.
Why did the mahi mahi numbers explode?
79 mahi mahi against just 8 last June is the biggest year-over-year swing on the board (+888%). Early-season rain pushes debris and weed lines offshore, and this year they formed early and held fish. Expect the dorado bite to keep improving as the green season builds through the fall.
What about the marlin?
Four blue marlin and one black marlin were released in June. Blue marlin numbers were down from an unusually strong June 2025 (19 releases), but the quality was there — and the black marlin, the fish in the video above, was the show-stopper of the month. As the seamount season approaches, marlin numbers out of Los Sueños typically climb.
Inshore: roosterfish, snapper and more
Inshore effort was lighter this June as most trips ran offshore chasing the sailfish and tuna bite, which explains the smaller snapper and grouper counts. The fish are there: 5 roosterfish, 4 snapper (including a cubera), a grouper, plus a pompano, a Spanish mackerel and a rainbow runner for the variety hunters.
Fish it yourself in July
The sailfish are still here, the dorado bite is building, and the marlin season is on the way. Dates in July and August are going fast.
Data source: Maverick Sportfishing fleet catch logs, June 1–30, 2026 and June 1–30, 2025, Los Sueños Marina, Costa Rica. All counts are fish landed or released by our boats; billfish counts are releases.