Warm-Weather Winter Fishing Trips

From December through March, many northern lakes are frozen and rivers are cold. That is when a handful of warm coasts have some of their most commonly fished seasons. Sailfish move along the Florida Keys reef, billfish peak along Costa Rica’s central and southern Pacific coast, and Los Cabos keeps producing tuna and a wide mix of species.

A winter fishing trip somewhere warm is part escape and part serious fishing. Plan it like both.

Seasons here are broad patterns from tourism offices and fishing publications, not promises. Water temperature, bait and weather shift from year to year, and some weeks are better than others.

Where the fishing is in winter

Florida Keys

The Florida Keys are a drive or a short flight for many U.S. anglers. The Keys tourism office lists sailfish season as November through March. It also lists kingfish as most active from September to March, and redfish and snook as best from December through July. Bonefish are present year-round, though the prime months it lists start in March.

Around Marathon, Sport Fishing magazine describes Spanish mackerel gathering on the banks in winter, and spring tarpon season starting in March. Islamorada, which bills itself as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World, names sailfish alongside tarpon and bonefish as its main draws. Key West charters run reef, wreck and offshore trips.

Who it suits: couples, families on a winter break, and anglers who want a short flight and a range of styles, from reef trips to offshore sailfish.

Costa Rica Pacific Coast

For billfish, the Costa Rica Pacific Coast is a strong winter choice. Sport Fishing magazine’s billfish guide puts peaks from November through April in the central and southern regions. Operators it lists in the central region (Los Sueños and Quepos) and the south (the Golfito and Puerto Jiménez area) name January through April as their sailfish peak. The north follows a different calendar, with peaks from May through December.

Who it suits: anglers focused on sailfish and marlin, and couples who want a nature-and-beach trip alongside the fishing. For January through March, the central and southern coast is where the published peaks fall.

Cabo San Lucas

Cabo San Lucas describes its sportfishing as a year-round activity. Visit Los Cabos lists yellowfin tuna as running hard from September through January, describes fall and winter as excellent for all-around action, and notes hammerhead, thresher and mako sharks in winter and spring. Bottomfishing for species such as roosterfish, grouper and snapper can happen all year.

Who it suits: travelers who want a resort base with easy charter access, and groups mixing fishing with other plans.

Louisiana Gulf Coast

The Louisiana Gulf Coast is not tropical in winter, but Louisiana’s tourism office describes redfish as a year-round target in its coastal marshes. It is a good option for a drive-to winter trip from much of the South and Midwest when you want fish more than sunshine.

A cold-water bonus: Outer Banks bluefin

If big fish matter more than warm weather, the Outer Banks visitors bureau lists giant bluefin tuna from early January through late March, usually caught and released. The bureau suggests telling your captain ahead of time if you want to target them. Dress for cold weather on the water.

How to plan a winter trip

Book early for holiday weeks. Holiday and school-break weeks can fill flights, rooms and charters at warm destinations.

Build in spare days for fronts. Winter cold fronts bring wind that can cancel offshore trips. Two or three spare days make a big difference. See safety and weather.

Choose the right coast for the month. Costa Rica’s north and south run different calendars. In the Keys, the end of sailfish season and the start of spring tarpon meet around March.

Mix styles. If offshore is blown out, a backcountry or inshore trip in protected water may still run.

Check licenses and rules. Florida, Louisiana, Mexico and Costa Rica each have their own license and regulation systems. Charters can often advise; see fishing licenses.

Pack for both. Light sun-protective clothing for warm days, plus a rain shell and warm layer for early runs and windy fronts. See our packing list.

Weather and timing notes

Winter falls outside the official hurricane seasons. NOAA’s National Hurricane Center lists the Atlantic season as June 1 to November 30 and the eastern Pacific season as May 15 to November 30. That does not mean calm seas: winter fronts and strong wind can still keep boats in port.

Bites can also change quickly with water temperature. Ask your captain what the last few weeks have looked like, and be ready to switch species or styles.

Pitfalls to avoid

• Assuming warm means calm. Wind is the main winter trip-killer.
• Booking the wrong coast in Costa Rica. From January through March, the central and southern Pacific are where the published peaks fall; the north’s peak runs May through December.
• Leaving booking too late for holidays. Charters and rooms near marinas go first.
• Skipping regulations. Seasons, closures and limits change. Check the current rules before you keep any fish.

Month by month

• December: Keys sailfish season underway, Costa Rica central and south entering peak, Cabo tuna.
• January: Keys sailfish, Costa Rica peak, Cabo tuna, Outer Banks bluefin begins.
• February: Keys sailfish, Costa Rica peak, Louisiana redfish.
• March: Keys sailfish winds down as spring tarpon begins, Costa Rica still in peak.

For more ideas, see our saltwater fishing vacations and couples’ fishing getaways guides.